07/11/2016
This is an editorial submission that was sent to Herald Tribune but
may or may not be published. Laurel Kaiser 941-587-1009
The County Parks Department has applied to the City of Sarasota for a zoning modification) that would legalize commercial activity in Ted Sperling Park on South Lido Beach. Notice of the public meeting to discuss the proposal on Monday July 11, was given only to "affected" property owners within 500 feet of the subject property which is a county owned park subject to city zoning regulations, and a primary recreation area for paddling enthusiasts area wide. City zoning officials contacted county park staff in December and required staff to immediately enforce the city code which prohibits commerce in parks. Most of the 13 permit holders do not occupy the park or engage in commerce in the park, using it only for the drop off of rentals and the conduct of guided tours that are booked and paid for from off site premises. The rules of the three year old Commercial Recreation Tour Operator (CRTO) program, selectively, maybe purposefully, included the County ordinance prohibiting solicitation in County parks but left out any reference to the specific agreement with city zoning officials to enforce the city zoning code which strictly prohibits commerce in all parks located within the City of Sarasota and has, when enforced, governed the allowable use of this park for tours and delivery of rentals provided by off- site companies for more than twenty years. I suggest that parks with water access are in short supply and this and other county owned water access areas, like Turtle Beach on Siesta Key, are being systematically re-purposed by covert efforts of county staff, for the benefit of tourism and profit of a few park based business owners who are galvanized with County Park Administration, to secure the position of on site businesses in this and other parks. Please attend the meeting if you can, and support responsible recreation and eco-tourism in parks. Please also contact your City
Commissioners and County Commissioners letting them know that this has gone too far in the wrong direction. Numerous businesses with garish advertising and free rent do not and should not belong in this or any county park. This is my own opinion and does not necessarily reflect the position of either City or County Park Advisory Board of which I am a member.
Laurel Kaiser,
Tour Operator at Ted Sperling Park since 1994