Planning Commission to consider plans for Quads parcels at Celery Fields

 

The Quads 2021

The Sarasota County Planning Commission is set to consider the county's proposed Critical Area Plan (CAP) for the area that includes the Quad Parcels and Celery Fields on May 6, 2021. 

The plan proposes rezoning the Quads to Government Use (GU) and delineates constraints and recommendations to preserve the aim of encouraging birding habitat and an open gateway on Palmer Avenue to East County.

County Planner Steve Kirk put a lot of thought into this presentation, which seeks to honor the intent behind the county's grant of a permanent easement over three of the four parcels (outlined above) to the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast and to Sarasota Audubon, which has had s strong commitment to the Celery Fields, and which will manage the future redevelopment of these parcels. 

Here's my email to the Planning Commission:

As one of the founding members of the Fresh Start Initiative, a community group that spent 10 months gathering community input and recommendations for the Quads parcels, I invite the Planning Commission to now weigh in on the CAP as it now stands. 

1. The Critical Area Plan seeks to realize the vision of a Gateway to East County, with an open viewshed, new Audubon-guided bird habitat, and stresses compatibility of architectural style, setbacks, building height, and more. However, while these constraints will certainly enhance the three parcels under easement, the Northwest Parcel has 4+ acres of developable land that will simply be labeled GU. This acreage could be developed by the County or sold to a developer, with options for light industry, commercial, or residential uses.

Wide range of options for the NW Parcel

It would make perfect sense for the Planning Commission to strongly recommend that the NW parcel's 4+ developable acres have binding language stating that any proposed use must be found compatible with the larger vision for the Quads and Celery Fields Area.

For example, a four-acre warehouse serviced by giant 18-wheelers on the Northwest parcel would hardly be consistent with the purpose of the perpetual easement, or for that matter with the roads and residential neighborhoods on and near Palmer Blvd.

The Fresh Start group did present a few community suggestions for the Northwest parcel. One that would both be consistent with the easement vision and offer practical help to motorists would be a bus loop enabling schoolchildren to get on and off buses without stopping traffic both ways on Palmer. 

  

The loop could have a pavilion with tables where children could sit out of the rain or strong sun, and perhaps eat a snack. Snacks could be provided by a rotating series of food trucks on an area set aside for this purpose.

Not only would this use be an asset for our children and help the flow of traffic, but it would also fit with the fact that the Northwest parcel, as public land, already holds a brand new fire station in suitable Old Florida style.

2. Another noteworthy element of the permanent easement reserves an option that would allow the County to construct a building on six acres of the Southwest parcel. While the Board has spoken of using the land for a history museum, nothing in the CAP specifies this use. This would seem to leave open the parcel open to some other Government Use. 

GU allows a great many things, including firing ranges, bus terminals and asphalt manufacturing. It would be a valuable enhancement to the Planning Commission review to recommend binding the use of the Southeast parcel to consistency and compatibility with the "Prime Directive" of the permanent easement -- protection of bird habitat in the Celery Fields.

Finally, it would be helpful to remind our community that Sarasota Audubon has taken on the task of shaping the parcels under easement. It will be raising funds for the purpose and we all should be both grateful and mindful that the commitment of Audubon deserves the support of all those who love the Celery Fields.

Very truly yours, 

Tom Matrullo

Waechter: Trucks before Community

Before the presentation given by Fresh Start to the Board of Sarasota County Commissioners on Wednesday, Sept. 12, Robert Waechter told Sarasota County officials that large trucks are incompatible with pedestrians, and therefore should rule out community uses on 30 acres of public lands near a valued bird sanctuary and public recreation area.

Waechter, an influential political operative and owner of industrial warehouse properties next to Quad parcel #2, addressed the Sarasota Commission on Sept. 12, 2018.

The semi-truck traffic Waechter alluded to occurs on thin, fragile Apex Road, which runs North/South and connects the Celery Fields to Fruitville Road.

The presence of these large trucks is "incompatible" with uses that draw residents, children and tourist-visitors, Waechter said. Noting that the area is hazardous to pedestrian traffic now, he added, "It's going to get worse," because, apparently, more industrial development will be coming in.

Waechter and his friend James Gabbert are among those most resistant to the changes occurring around the Celery Fields -- changes which, due to an absence of proactive planning, has led to the simultaneous development in the same area of industry and residences, along with schools, a park and recreational uses. This has led to a clash of two distinct visions of the area.

In their presentation, Fresh Start noted that the County has approved new housing within easy walking distance to the public lands, which are adjacent to a large open bird sanctuary, a rare (for Florida) plateau, wetlands and recreation area.

With 2,500 new homes approved within walking distance of the Celery Fields preserve and recreation area, the County had a rare economic opportunity to create a walkable, community friendly area on the public properties, the group said.

With all the new homes, walkability in this area will become a much-needed, even essential asset, the group said.

Waechter, a former head of the Republican party in Sarasota County, Florida, has used money and connections to stuff government boards such as the Charter Review Board with developer and business associates. He has opposed advocates of using public lands for the community, and has advocated that the County sell the public lands to a private industrial developer such as himself.

Here's a photo of Mr. Waechter's nearby warehouse property on a recent day:

With new homes, and a new park and recreation area, such tensions with older industrial uses is inevitable. Which is why the Fresh Start group offered a recommendation for future planning in Sarasota County:

"We assert the people’s right to a vigilant public stewardship that addresses private development within a higher mandate: to raise the quality of life for all."

The conflict has come about as the county has abdicated any role as steward of lands, especially the public lands, says Fresh Start, adding:

The conflict between older industry and new opportunities near the Celery Fields, with eco-tourism blossoming and new construction running to tens of thousands of homes and apartments, deserves nothing less than a deliberate honest dialog between the County and its citizens. 

Fresh Start's presentation: