Residents and stakeholders of St. Armands Key, one of Sarasota’s “crown jewels” in destinations, showed overwhelming support for more focused help for those on the barrier island before and after storms, nearly a year after it was inundated by Hurricane Helene’s storm surge.
The survey, conducted by the St. Armands Residents Association, received 167 responses and was conducted this summer. The association says it represents more than two-thirds of homes on St. Armands Key; its survey had a response rate of 59%.
The survey found:
- 99% of respondents said that after a storm, they want barrier island residents and business owners to have priority access to return before the general public. “During hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, it went from ‘nobody is allowed onto the city’s barrier islands’ to ‘everybody is allowed onto the city’s barrier islands,’” the association said in a blog post.
- 98% said that residents should be given priority access to public parking garages by the city when an evacuation order is issued.
- 94% said the St. Armands Key stormwater system is inadequate.
- 87% want the city to bury the island’s utilities, though results were split on how to pay for it, with 40% saying property owners should pay an additional tax for it and 37% saying every property should pay a fixed assessment. A survey note said the choices may have reflected the self-interests of respondents: Those who owned or resided in a house were more likely to choose that every property pays the same amount, while those in condos tended to want higher property taxes.
- 77% said they do not want buildings taller than 3 stories on the island.
- 64% of residents want the city of Sarasota to take over stormwater management from Sarasota County, even with the possibility that it could increase their property taxes.
Chris Goglia, president of the association, also emphasized in an email to the Herald-Tribune the dissatisfaction with the stormwater systems, the support from residents for underground utility systems and worries of large buildings sprouting on the island…