In June 2017, the DSCA Zoning Code Committee sent out a survey to the member condo associations requesting feedback on the most critical issues affecting residents with regards to land development and construction projects in our greater downtown neighborhood. The responses were grouped and the committee’s findings were provided to the DSCA Board with the following four major actions to address the residents’ concerns.

Survey Comments	DSCA Recommendations
Public input: The majority of respondents wrote that they were unaware of the opportunity for them to make their views known during the development approval process, or if they were aware they didn’t think the chance for citizens to be heard were adequate.	DSCA to propose a Zoning Code Amendment requiring Community Workshops, when requested by a specified number of residents, be held prior to submission of a development or site plan application within the Downtown Transect Zones (DTC, DTB, DTE, DTN).
Compatibility with Neighborhood:  Respondents felt that the City staff need to understand that the current residents are also important to the success of the City, not just new development.  The size & dominance of buildings is out of proportion to neighboring buildings.  The health of a city is in its walkability for residents & tourists alike.  Trees along sidewalks and greenspaces are necessary.	DSCA to advocate for City staff to make an affirmative statement that a building project is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood to include the setbacks and streetscape of the other buildings in the community when approving building site plans as specified in Zoning Code Sec. IV‑506(4).
Setbacks should be required: A number of respondents, especially those living in buildings on S. Palm, are opposed to building to the lot line. Several S. Palm Ave residents felt that 18 story buildings with no front or side setbacks are incompatible with their neighborhood.	DSCA to support a Zoning Text Amendment reestablishing the requirement for wider front, rear and side lot-line building setbacks in the community extending from Ringling Blvd. to Mound Street between South Palm and Gulfstream Avenues (a subarea of the Downtown Bayfront [DTB] zone).
Construction Safety:  One respondent summed up the situation regarding accidents, such as debris falling on neighboring property endangering residents and the safety of passing pedestrians and bicyclists this way: “The City has taken a hands-off attitude.”	DSCA to organize a workshop to educate the public on the current Form-Based Zoning Code to include a brief history of how and why the current zoning code that affects downtown Sarasota was adopted; what is and why do we have administrative approval of building site plans, and how residents can make their views known about a development project.  Construction safety issues will also be discussed to include to whom residents should contact when they see a safety problem.

To view the table of findings and recommendations see: DSCA Zoning Code Committee Findings-Recommendations-20171101

November 1st, 2017

February 9, ,2017   SARASOTA, Fla. – The Downtown Sarasota Condominium Association, led by President Patrick Gannon, has succeeded in urging the City of Sarasota to send email notifications about development applications submitted to the city for review.

The policy change makes the development process more accessible to community members who can now subscribe to receive emails from the Office of the City Auditor and Clerk alerting them about two aspects of the development approval process – Notice of Filing for new development applications and Notice of Decisions for administratively reviewed applications.

Gannon emailed the City Auditor and Clerk Pamela Nadalini and Development Review Coordinator Lori Rivers on Feb. 6 requesting their office “include an email notification for Land Development applications and staff decisions.”

Gannon stated, “We feel this added electronic notification would help to improve the current situation where citizens feel they are left out of the process; especially for land development projects filed under Administrative Review.”

The city currently mails development notifications to property owners within 500 feet of a potential development as required by the city’s zoning code. The new email notification system will take the communication process a step further, helping Downtown Sarasota Condominium Association members and all community stakeholders become more informed about development in the City of Sarasota.

To subscribe to the city’s Notice of Filing and Notice of Decisions email notifications, please visit http://www.egovlink.com/sarasota/subscriptions/subscribe.asp and select “Development Application Notices” from the list on the page.

February 20th, 2017

How about brick streets, arcades mid-block along Main Street, wider sidewalks, refurbished store fronts that follow the historic underlay, a pedestrian friendly connecting portal from Main Street to the Bayfront, a circulating “people mover” to not only get people connected throughout the downtown and adjacent areas, but also to other public transportation including maybe a water taxi to the keys, and many other creative ideas?

The DSCA along with 5 other organizations (Downtown Improvement District, City of Sarasota, Sarasota County, Downtown Sarasota Alliance, and the Chamber of Commerce) sponsored one of the most important civic workshops of the year AND of the 181 registrants, 93 identified themselves as Residents for a weekend of work and creativity. Thanks to all who turned out and for all your great and valuable ideas to improve the downtown and its historic district.

The next step, according to the SemCon Planning Committee is to gather the many ideas, sketches, drawings, and notes from the conference into a coherent document to present to the Downtown Improvement District for their consideration at a public meeting to be announced in the near future. Stay tuned to the DSCA Website for more information.

October 11th, 2010

It seems as though when the traffic around town lessens, the activities of our City Commission and of the various City Departments increases.

Watching Downtown Improve right before our eyes! So much of downtown is undergoing renovation and upgrades that if you blink you might just miss something. 

Of course, as all of you know by now, improvements to our Downtown area are proceeding and will continue in an active phase right up to mid-December. Construction of the Palm Avenue Garage is under way after many false starts, and I must tell you, we were all extremely pleased to see the coming together of so many of the residents of our Downtown Associations in promoting ideas and concepts that will improve the downtown experience for you and our visitors.

New water, sewer, electrical and other infrastructure upgrades, new sidewalks that in some places are being expanded and landscaped to improve pedestrian accessibility and accommodate the needs of the merchants without whom we wouldn’t have a chance to have a vibrant downtown; and a general cleanup and refurbishing of sidewalks, irrigation systems and the like will make you proud.

The DSCA, through its greenspace subcommittee (Carol Reynolds and Barbara Campo) and its Board, maintained an active dialogue with other organizations such as the Downtown Improvement District (DID), the Downtown Sarasota Alliance (DSA), Chamber of Commerce and others to present the Sarasota City Commission with recommendations and advice that went through a thorough public vetting process representing our member associations and their residents’ best common interests. The DSCA volunteers spent hundreds of hours over the past year making sure our members’ points of view were taken seriously. What a bargain for dues that total only $100 a year for full membership! 

August 23rd, 2010