July 9, 2018   SARASOTA, FLORIDA

Joint Zoning Code Consensus press release-final-20180709

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Melvin Sykes
melvynsykes48@gmail.com
(443) 871-5879

Four Civic Groups Unite to Adopt Zoning Code Principles

• Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations (CCNA)
• Downtown Sarasota Condominium Association (DSCA)
• STOP!
• SHOUT

Sarasota, Florida July 9, 2018 – Four of Sarasota’s civic groups have united in support of six principles intended to enhance walkability, livability and development compatibility in the City of Sarasota. In combination, these groups represent many thousands of Sarasota residents.  These principles will be used in a collective effort to work with the City Commission to repair the City’s zoning code.

The Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations (CCNA) was formed in 1990 to preserve and enhance city neighborhoods, to address the needs of neighborhoods and to stand in support of those needs. The association has 32 member neighborhoods. At its June 3, 2018 meeting, CCNA members approved a resolution jointly introduced by the Downtown Sarasota Condominium Association (DSCA) and the Granada neighborhood association.

DSCA represents over 30 condominiums with over 6,000 residents in the greater downtown area. DSCA has advocated for mandatory community workshops as part of the development review process and that new construction be compatible with the surrounding community.

SHOUT and STOP! were both formed to address specific zoning issues and have particularly focused on public hearings for new development projects and more generous setbacks and sidewalks.

These four groups have agreed to six principles that should guide zoning code changes and construction site management in the City of Sarasota. Those principles are:

1. The current administrative approval process for the downtown does not provide adequate opportunity for public input during the site plan process and must be changed.
2. The practice of approving site plans through an administrative review process conducted by City staff should not be expanded for the areas outside of downtown.
3. City construction site policies and procedures do not adequately protect pedestrians and adjoining properties from falling debris and other safety hazards. Fines should be meaningful and inspections frequent.
4. City policies and procedures do not adequately incentivize developers to minimize street and sidewalk closures for the briefest period of time possible and should be strengthened.
5. Minimum and maximum setback footage should be increased for the downtown zones. Sidewalk width, especially on arterial streets, should be reviewed for the entire city.
6. Development projects should be compatible with the surrounding community: City staff should be proactive in implementing the compatibility standards already in the City zoning code.

These principles grew from:

• the findings of a June 2017 DSCA survey of downtown residents,
  concerns expressed by citizens at town hall meetings organized by STOP! and bySHOUT members at City Commission meetings,
  the results of a CCNA project which developed a list of hot issues.

It is evident that many city residents are concerned about these development issues, and this frustration is reflected in the overwhelming support of residents for these principles.  The members of these four civic groups expect the City Commission to act immediately on these principles and to repair these specific problems in our zoning code. These problems must not be postponed until the long delayed Form-Based Code is addressed. These four civic groups look forward to working with the City of Sarasota staff and commissioners.

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July 9th, 2018

THURSDAY, MAR. 8, 2018

by: David Conway Deputy Managing Editor

https://www.yourobserver.com/article/downtown-palm-avenue-setbacks-form-based-code

As the city ponders new zoning regulations, downtown residents want more space between them and new construction.

During a period of growth in Sarasota, downtown residents are banding together to ask the city to reconsider its building regulations. As officials prepare to review a proposed citywide form-based zoning code, a segment of people living downtown are asking for relief from the effects of construction.

One of the primary goals is getting some more space between them and new buildings.

The DSCA and Shout have both asked the city to emphasize a requirement in the existing code that states a project must be compatible with its surroundings.

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March 8th, 2018

February 5, 2018

City of Sarasota Commission

1565 1st Street, Room 101

Sarasota, Florida 34236

 

Dear Mayor Freeland Eddie, Vice Mayor Alpert, Commissioners Ahern-Koch, Brody and Shaw:

 

The Downtown Sarasota Condominium Association (DSCA) surveyed its members in June 2017 concerning the impact of land development and construction in our Downtown neighborhood.  Based on the concerns expressed by respondents to the survey, and by our Zoning Committee, the DSCA recommends the following to address those concerns:

1. Setbacks should be required: A number of respondents, especially those who live in the community on S. Palm Avenue are opposed to building to the lot line. They argue that doing so is incompatible with their beautiful neighborhood; poses a danger to adjoining properties and passersby during construction and would ultimately create, what in affect would be, a concrete wall along the south side of S. Palm Avenue. This issue needs to be addressed now before more lot line to lot line construction is approved. Therefore, DSCA recommends the City Commission adopt, without delay, the attached Zoning Text Amendment, which restores the setback requirement to what it was before the community was rezoned. We also recommend that setback requirements be incorporated in the new Form Based Code for other city neighborhoods. 
2.  Compatibility with the Neighborhood: In a matter related to setbacks, respondents to the DSCA survey felt that city staff needs to understand that the current residents are also important to the success of the City, not just new development. The size & dominance of buildings should not be out of proportion to neighboring buildings. The health of a city is in its walkability for residents and visitors alike. Trees along sidewalks and green spaces are necessary. Therefore, DSCA recommends that the City Commission direct that as part of the site plan approval process that city staff make an affirmative finding that the plan is COMPATIBLE with the surrounding neighborhood to include setbacks, streetscape and other criteria found in Section IV-506(4) of the Zoning Code.
3.  Public Input: Several respondents to the DSCA survey 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 opportunities for citizens to be heard was adequate. Therefore, DSCA recommends that the new Form Based Zoning Code apply the existing Laurel Park Overlay Process to the Downtown Transect Zones (DTC, DTB, DTE, DTN). That process provides for a community workshop following a developer notifying the city of an intent to build followed by a second workshop after the developer submits a building permit or administrative site plan application to the city. Affected residents would then have 20 working days to appeal the city staff’s decision to the Planning Board and then to appeal the Planning Board’s decision to the City Commission. To lessen the burden on city staff, DSCA suggests this process only be initiated when at least 5 residents request a community work-shop.

 

These recommendations were finalized after consulting Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown, City Attorney Robert Fournier, City Planning Director Steve Cover, Karin Murphy from the Urban Design Studio and other members of the City staff. DSCA believes they reasonably and prudently address the concerns of downtown Sarasota residents.

 

The DSCA Zoning Committee would welcome the opportunity to meet with each Commissioner to discuss, and answer questions regarding, the recommendations set forth in this letter. The committee chair will contact each commissioner to arrange an appointment.

 

Sincerely.

DSCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

BY: _______________________________________

Patrick J. Gannon, President

 

CC:

City Manager Tom Barwin

Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown

City Attorney Robert Fournier

City Planning Director Steve Cover

• DSCA ltr to City Commission-20180205
• DSCA-DTB Zoning Text Amendment

February 5th, 2018

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