Siesta Key residents speak out against 'mega hotel' during public workshop

SIESTA KEY, Fla. - Sarasota County residents are speaking out against a proposal to tear down a plaza in the heart of Siesta Key Village, and replace it with an 85-foot hotel, housing approximately 210 rooms. 

Siesta Key residents said it will "ruin" their quaint and quiet beach town, and set a potential precedent that will turn the key into what they said will be another "Miami beach." 

The developer, Benderson Development, held a virtual planning meeting Monday night, but during the question portion of the presentation, heard comments like these: 

• "We wanted to attend and object to all of these proposals… we would like Siesta Key to remain the 1999 siesta community based plan." 
• "I think all these developers want to make it look like Miami Beach and that’s not what the people of Siesta Key want." 
• "You are setting a precedence here, if commissioners approve your application we are going to be opening pandoras box." 
• "Traffic is already ridiculous on Siesta Key, how will an 80-foot hotel help our situation?"

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In November, Sarasota County commissioners moved forward to pursue changes to their comprehensive plan, including allowing unlimited density for hotels on Siesta Key.

"I want the most latitude possible. I've said over and over on this dais there's substitute for a good project," said Commissioner Mike Moran.

A resident and the president of "Protect Siesta Key" told FOX 13 that she isn't just worried about the town’s landscape, but safety, traffic and hurricane evacuations.

"My number one concern is public safety, whether it’s a hurricane evacuation and emergency services for people who live on the key, we don’t have a hospital, how is an ambulance going to get to us?" said Lourdes Ramirez, the president for "Protect Siesta Key." "Almost every commercial property can turn into a mega hotel… you will have these towers in the village and key."

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The developer said they believe it would help traffic to have people parking on the key, instead of driving in. They said it will be a major tourism destination regardless, but they hope they can manage it better. 

There are several steps that Benderson Development will have to go through before the proposal comes back to the county commission for a decision. Some residents are concerned if the Benderson hotel is approved, it’ll pave the way for additional "mega hotels" on Siesta Key.

"Almost every commercial property on Siesta Key can turn into a mega hotel. You’ll have these towers all over the south village area, even Turtle Beach area and, of course, mid-Siesta Key as well," said Ramirez.

She won two legal challenges fighting another high density proposal for the Calle Miramar high density proposal and is already prepared to face another legal battle.

"For the developers to now want to change those laws and eliminate those laws and say we just want to build what we want to build is frustrating, we barely got the decision, and they’re already making changes," she said.

A public workshop will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 9, for the proposed 163-room for Calle Miramar.