Homesteaders began settling on “Sarasota Key” (now Siesta Key) in the 1880's, but few remained long enough to establish their claims. An exception was Capt. Louis Roberts and his wife, Ocean Hansen Roberts, for whom Ocean Boulevard, Roberts Road and Hansen Bayou are named. In 1906, Capt. Roberts enlarged his house and began calling it the Roberts Hotel. The following year he, along with Harry Higel and E.M. Arbogast, formed the Siesta Land Company. By 1946, the Key was still labeled “Sarasota Key” on government maps, but was called Siesta Key by the County.

In late 1910, E.M. Arbogast began construction of the Bay Island Hotel on the north shore of the Key. Meanwhile, Harry Higel's dredge was busy not only digging the canals and filling low land, but also excavating shell deposits that could be used to surface the roads as they were built.

The canal that leads from Hansen Bayou westward to the recently closed Siesta Fish Market was dug for its shell deposits.

Harry Higel was mayor of Sarasota in 1916 and supported a bond issue that was passed and resulted in the building of the first Siesta Key Bridge in 1917. The second bridge on Stickney Point Road was built by the County in 1926. They platted the subdivision of Siesta on the northern end of the Key.

The Siesta Key Association was founded on November 12, 1948, as a community group which was dedicated to maintaining Siesta Key as an attractive residential area. It is a non-profit organization. It has been a strong advocate for Key residents since then.

The membership of the Siesta Key Association is around 1,700 families. The membership elects 18 members to act as the Board of Directors for a three-year term, meeting once a month throughout the year. They gather facts and figures, consult with government officials, represent the Association at numerous meeting and frequently testifying at hearings before the County Commission and other governmental offices. All are volunteers who serve without compensation.

Throughout the Key, many local neighborhood and condominium associations work for the maintenance or improvement of conditions in their immediate neighborhoods. The Siesta Key Association cooperates with these groups in matters of mutual interest.

Over the years, we have shaped the vision of a prestigious residential beach community within the Sarasota County area. We accomplished this by working with County officials to develop zoning policies that protect our quality of life. In fact, it was the founders of SKA that convinced Sarasota County to develop the first Zoning Code in 1954. The Zoning Code was eventually adopted County-wide in 1960. Since 1960, we have worked diligently to improve the code to prevent overdevelopment, including our involvement in creating the Siesta Key Overlay District in 1999 that separates our zoning from that of the mainland.

Besides zoning, SKA has had a positive impact on many other issues such as "Save Our Sand", which saved our barrier sand bar along Big Pass from being removed to feed the Venice beaches in 1992. In 2009 we are actively involved in the Siesta Public Beach renovations and are encouraging the County to create a sustainable, eco-friendly beach environment. We also are working with the County on the Siesta Beach Stormwater plan to ensure that rainwater drainage is handled in an efficient, ecologically safe manner.

Our Penny Surtax: Serving Siesta Key & Residents throughout Sarasota Co.
Please use the link above to see a "mapping" of all projects and locations being enhanced through the Sarasota County surtax. Siesta Key residents will see numerous projects in areas of environment, parks, and infrastructure. We think you will find it useful and helpful to know the purpose and benefits throughout Sarasota County.

November 12, 2011 started our 63rd year of SKA service to our Key, our members, and all residential property owners. Our Association was formed as a civic community group dedicated to maintaining Siesta Key as an attractive residential area. We are strong advocates for Key residents with County government. The following is a short historical list of our accomplishments during our organization's existence.

2011 — SKA collaborated with our State legislators and County administration to retain our local residential zoning protections. The State legislation would have made our neighborhoods vulnerable to short-term vacation rentals. We successfully developed a plan with FDOT regarding the north Siesta Key bridge rehabilitation, keeping it open at all times during scheduled 2012 construction.

2007–2010 SKA advocated for and received zoning ordinance support from Sarasota County to maintain current laws protecting Siesta Key from increased density and intensity of development.

2005 — SKA discovered county staff illegally issued permits to property owners that doubled their density on undersized lots. SKA hired a legal team to stop the county from changing the zoning laws to justify the illegal practice.

2003 — SKA worked with the county to update the zoning code, including the Siesta Key Overlay District, to close loopholes including one that allowed illegal short-term rentals.

1997-99— SKA convinced the county to create the Siesta Key Overlay District residential standards to separate the district zoning requirements of Siesta Key from the mainland.

1992 — SKA was the leader in the “Save Our Sand” issue, saving our barrier sand bar from being removed to feed the Venice beaches. We continue our vigilance on this matter.

1982 — Led efforts to down-zone building on the Key once again, in support of the County's Comprehensive Plan, resulting in fewer units built on the Key.

1976 — SKA directors voted to request Sarasota County to purchase waterfront lots to increase the Siesta Key public beach area.

1973 — SKA worked with county officials to amend the zoning code to reduce density.

1972 — Led efforts to keep North Siesta Bridge replacement to two-lane versus a four-lane highway.

1968 — SKA led a campaign to replace the 1926 Stickney Point Bridge with the current version.

1966 — After SKA pressed state and county officials, the independent Siesta Key Utilities Authority was created and became one of the best water and sewage systems in the state. It was turned over to the county in 2007 as dictated by the original bond contract provision.

1960 — County decides to expand zoning throughout the county using the Siesta Key Zoning Code as a template.

1953 — Siesta Key Association was instrumental in developing zoning for Siesta Key and working on obtaining 2/3 signatures of property owners required for approval of zoning.

1949 — Met with county officials to encourage the creation of the Siesta Key Zoning Code, the first in the county.