Becky Ayech: Write to the Board Now

The formal application for the Hi Hat Ranch change said that the modification will provide “flexibility to respond to market demands and the needs of tenants, and residents" Sarasota News Leader

This commission has put community preservation behind short-term profits.  David Guest, Letter to the Editor, Herald Tribune.

What Sarasota County officials did the other day with the Hi Hat Ranch was "devastating," says Becky Ayech. The Commission threw out the planning principles designed to bring order and common sense to developers' supersized plans. 

The Board's action will affect us all, says Ayech. She's asking us to tell the Board that it's unacceptable.

Three quick steps (more background below):

======================================================

1. Copy the Commissoners' addresses into your email:

amaio@scgov.net

mmoran@scgov.net

ncdetert@scgov.net

rcutsinger@scgov.net

cziegler@scgov.net

commissioners@scgov.net

2. Tell the Board that abandoning rational plans for the sake of market trends is an abdication of their responsibility. Use her words or your own:

Commissioners: 

As a resident and taxpayer of Sarasota County, I ask that you use Facts and Supporting Data to determine a Comprehensive Plan Amendment -- NOT MARKET TRENDS. 

DENY CPA-2019-D

or,

Commissioners, 

None of the “Directions for the Future” contained in the principles to guide Sarasota County's long range planning and sustainability initiatives include “flexibility to respond to market demands."  

DENY CPA-2019-D

or,

        Commissioners, 

        In sound planning practice, 

Either: Facts and supporting data matter and market trends do not, 

Or: Market trends dictate planning and FACTS DON'T MATTER. 

DENY CPA-2019-D

 

3. Share a copy of your email with Becky at miakka1945@gmail.com

========================================================

Image from Sarasota News Leader

Thank you for helping. 

Clearly, a plan to put 13,000 homes on 10,000-acre Hi Hat Ranch will irrevocably alter the character of rural Northeast Sarasota County. But what Ayech is concerned matters to all, countywide: What the Board is doing to the practice of planning itself could be even more devastating. 

Here's how she put it the other day:

HI HAT RANCH. The BOCC voted to transmit to the State the comp plan amendment that changed the 1,200 acre Hi Hat Hamlet, with a limit of 1 unit per acre to Village with a limit of 5-6 units per acre. Again, thanks to those who sent emails and spoke.

The MOST EGREGIOUS act was allowing our Comp Plan (our Vision for the Future) to be dictated by market demands instead of facts and supporting data. Translated, that means whatever density will make the most money is the density the County will give to the developer. FORGET PLANNING PRINCIPLES. IN FACT, JUST FORGET ANY PLANNING FOR OUR FUTURE. This not only affects us, but everyone throughout the County. So, before, there was some comfort provided by the Comprehensive Plan, now THERE IS NONE.

So, where do we go from here? There is more to be written.
The Comp Plan Amendment goes to the State for review. Our attorney is determining if the public can ask to have different agencies review the Amendment. Currently, they must be asked to do a review. 

The Comp Plan will come back to the BOCC for a final vote. The June 9 meeting was for transmitting the Amendment to the State. This will be for adoption of the Amendment. 

We need to be a political force. We will need broad base support throughout the County like we had before. You need to reach out to all those folks you did in the past and ask them to help. Again, this decision affects EVERYONE. When this comes back to the Commission, we need to pack the room. We need to overwhelm the Commissioners with emails.

Email the Commissioners and ask that Facts and Supporting Data be used to determine a Comprehensive Plan Amendment, NOT MARKET TRENDS. DENY CPA-2019-D

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Venice City Council drafts letter on Fish Farm

Update:  Venice City Council approves letter urging more study of Ocean Era aquaculture permit 

VENICE – The Venice City Council approved drafting a letter asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to rescind its permit for the Ocean Era aquaculture demonstration project Tuesday, but not before listening to Ocean Era project manager Dennis Peters clarify details about the project. ...

The board specifically did not oppose the aquaculture project. Vice Mayor Rich Cautero noted that the issue had become a political football. [Full story]

Text of Venice Council's letter

A story published in Sarasota Magazine reveals the scale of Ocean Era's ambition:

If the results are positive, you can expect to see another farm with as many as 2 million fish in the Gulf. According to [Neil Sims, Ocean Era’s chief executive officer] that size is an industry standard. “There are certain economies of scale,” he says. “Two thousand tons a year is the minimum for any aquaculture operation.”

Other companies may also join Ocean Era. “By blazing this trail through the permitting process, we want to build an industry,” says Sims. “We don’t want to just be one farm out there.”

=====

May 22, 2021 HT:

The Venice City Council has voted to support a letter authorized by its Environmental Advisory Board urging the EPA to rescind its permit for the Ocean Era fish farm off the coast of Sarasota. 

Venice would join the cities of Sarasota, Anna Maria, Sanibel and Holmes Beach. Apparently the public can observe but not participate -- except to send advance email and mail comments:

Photo from Herald Tribune

Sarasota voters want single-member districts

OPINION: Sarasota voters want single-member districts

May 26, 2021 Herald Tribune

Pat Rounds and Bill Zoller

In November 2018 – in a countywide referendum to amend the county charter – Sarasota County voters approved the election of commissioners by single-member districts by an impressive 60% margin across all five districts.  

Board of Sarasota County Commissioners

To get such a mandate requires support from Republicans, Democrats, and No Party Affiliation independents. Voters were clear that they wanted district-level representation and accountability.

Last November three county commissioners were successfully elected by single-member district in Sarasota County. Yet just two weeks later the same county commission began to sow seeds of doubt about district-level representation.

With only three of five commissioners elected by single-member districts – and before allowing voters several election cycles to decide whether they prefer single-member districts to At-Large voting – our commission has intervened and asked the Charter Review Board to review single-member districts.     

Here's why this is a bad idea:  

• Nineteen other Florida counties – both smaller and larger than Sarasota County – currently elect commissioners by single-member district. Like Sarasota, voters in these counties recognize the value of direct representation; it requires a commitment from commissioners to serve the best interests of the entire county. 
• The Florida Legislature and the U.S. Congress are elected by single-member district. Would our county commission suggest that the Legislature convert to At-Large voting, which would allow Miami-Dade County voters to help decide who represents Sarasota County in Tallahassee? Not a chance.
• In 2018, 60% of Sarasota County voters endorsed single-member districts. Now – nearly three years after the fact – our commissioners are suddenly citing a few anecdotes about voter confusion with the ballot language? The county commission should post the 2018 single-member district ballot language on the county website. Why? Because it would remind everyone just how clear and concise the language was –and it would remind everyone that voters were not confused when they endorsed single-member districts.
• Ironically a current county commissioner previously served in the Florida Senate – and was elected to that seat by single-member district. If election by single-member district was OK back then for this current commissioner, why is it a problem now?

Sarasota County voters deserve accountability from all of their elected officials, and in 2018 the voters spoke clearly on how they want their representatives to be elected. Stoking doubts about our chosen election system does a disservice to Sarasota County's voters. That's why the Charter Review Board should reject any unseemly effort by the Sarasota County commissioners to undo the voters’ will.

Pat Rounds is the past secretary of the Sarasota Alliance for Fair Elections. Bill Zoller is the past president of the Council on Neighborhood Associations.

Sarasota Citizens come out in support of Single Member Districts

Angered by County scheme to undo the citizens' Single Member District
Voting Amendment, people filled the CRB meeting 

Here's the official video of the Charter Review Board meeting of May 19, 2019. 

The first thing CRB Chair Joe Justice did was cut the attendees' allotted speaking time from five minutes to two minutes.

Nonetheless, many citizens from all around the county stayed for the entire time to offer sense and eloquence in support of Single Member District Voting, which was approved by 116,000 voters from all parties and districts.

"Every single voter should be infuriated about what the county commissioners are doing,' said Louise Machinist (10:15), adding "Single member commission districts benefit voters, not wealthy powerful vested interests."

At-large voting puts elections in the hands of wealthy interests, noted Andrea Shlasko. The high rent districts get a big fake lake to watch rowing, while North Port doesn't have a hospital, she added (12:15).

"Once again, we're here to undo what the voters have chosen for their life," began Valerie Buchand (47:20).

"Many Republicans are talking about "stopping the steal," in a fantasy way. But this would be a real steal, if this happens," said Carol Lerner, (50:00)

"I am probably the best example of the success of Single Member Districts," said Mike Hutchinson, who described himself as a staunch Republican, a Trump supporter who nearly defeated Mike Moran in District 1. Moran, the incumbent, won by a very small margin. (58:48)

"This is not about partisan politics; this is about integrity in our government," said Dan Lobeck, an attorney and self-described conservative Republican (1:06:40). "Almost no county our size or larger throughout the 67 counties in the state of Florida has countywide elections," he added. "You're having contempt for the people if you put this back on the ballot." 

A small number of companions of Jack Brill, Republican party chair for Sarasota, offered well-worn talking points against Single Member Districts. 

The only actionable reason to question the SMD amendment would be proof that the majority of voters were misled by the language of the ballot amendment. Not a single speaker said they did not understand what they voted for.

Other outstanding voices included Lourdes Ramirez (7:30), Kindra Muntz (27:30) Dan Lobeck (1:06:40), and Mike  Shlasko. "Single member districts bring government closer to the people," noted Shlasko, noting that Florida's state legislature has been shifting much decision-making power away from the local level. (1:32)

Charter Review Board gets an earful from citizens regarding Single Member District Voting

The Board has a by-law that requires it to schedule substantial discussion of new business to the following meeting, which is set for October 20, 2021.

===

If you have more to say, feel free to contact the CRB, copying the County Commissioners:

jim.gabbert@scgcrb.net

kennedy.legler@scgcrb.net

ray.collins@scgcrb.net

david.samuel@scgcrb.net

scott.williams@scgcrb.net

elaine.miller@scgcrb.net

alexandra.coe@scgcrb.net

richard.dorfman@scgcrb.net

joe.justice@scgcrb.net

deborah.lapinska@scgcrb.net

commissioners@scgov.net

Citizens to Board: The confusion is all yours

Commissioner Al Maio says 60% of Sarasota's voters must have been confused when they voted for Single Member Districts back in 2018. The County Commission has asked the Charter Review Board to look into whether that citizen initiative should be reversed. The CRB meets Wednesday, May 19, at 6 pm to consider that possibility. 

 

Here's how to attend that meeting and give them piece of your mind

If you can't get there in person, 

Write to them - the email addresses are below. Here's what folks are writing to Mr. Maio:

Hey, Al:

I saw that you have said you are waiting for that one person who is happy with Single-Member Districts:  wait no longer…I am very happy with them!  I’m not even the slightest bit confused.

Best,

Z

Bill Zoller

---

I’m very confused about Al Maio’s comments and his confusion. We all worked hard on this much needed change for many years. Just like the countless hours out in on the 2050 plan, which has now become the victim of death by a thousand small cuts.

                                                                                    Ray Porter 

.....

The only people who benefit from going back to the countywide campaign format are the candidates who are funded by the 5 or 6 developers who are hell-bent on developing every inch of the county. But you already knew that, because you are those very candidates. You will succeed in reversing the will of the people by claiming that we didn’t know what we were voting for, and it’s a done deal. You have all the leverage, with enough money to ensure re-election, and the people have none. I have no illusions on that score. But I don’t have to like it. I hope I live long enough to see you judged by history.

                                                                                Andre Mele

.....

I hope each and everyone of you will consider the value of integrity in relationships to citizen's voting for Single Member Districts.

I entered a county public records request a few years ago when Commissioner Detert began her claims that she had received tons of questions from constituents about their confusion over Single Member Districts. The records request search showed that Commissioner Detert had received zero emails from any citizen living in Sarasota about being confused about SMDs. This implies that Commissioner Detert had either been bombarded by constituents while she was out grocery shopping or playing golf. Or she is simply lying.

Integrity in relationship to the value of a person's vote is something that Florida political leaders allude they care deeply about.

With Governor DeSantis' recent voting law being passed, I hope each member of the Charter Review Board will take their role seriously and respect the will of the voters that passed Single Member Districts. Voters took the time to vote in favor of SMDs; there is an implication that the people of Sarasota who vote are stupid when Commissioner Maio and Detert continue to say that we didn't know what we were voting for. We knew what we were voting for and just because Commissioners don't like the the way the vote turned out does not mean they should twist the reality of stating people are clamoring for SMDs to be dissolved.

At the very least, a real survey, that Commissioner Detert said would be conducted, should be done before anything is changed in relation to Single Member Districts in Sarasota County. The survey should be developed, without leading questions and the survey then should be executed by the Sarasota Republican party, the Sarasota Democrat party and whomever is leading the Libertarian party. This way voters are reached and have the ability to really give you the feedback that is needed.

Respectfully,

Adrien Lucas

---

Dear Commissioner Maio:

The Sarasota News Leader states you said "After he tells constituents how Single-Member Districts functions, Maio pointed out, “Not one of those people walks away very happy. They are upset. … I’m still waiting for that [one] person [to say he or she is happy about the election system], and I’m never going to meet that person, ’cause they can’t possibly be happy” about having a single vote for representation on the County Commission.”

Well meet yours truly that was delighted and EXTREMELY HAPPY to see the single member district initiative pass and by such a large margin – 60%

We are not “confused” or “misinformed”. We need to be represented at the Commission level by the majority of those residing in our district and no one else. Under the at large election system, a candidate could technically win the majority vote of their district but LOSE the election. How in your mind does that make sense?

What I am VERY unhappy with is the notion that the way you get elected affects how you operate. It's a very poor rationale. Do we in Florida currently vote for every district race in the Florida House and Senate? No, we vote only for our own districts. And guess what? It works. Commissioner Detert, as  past member of the Florida House and Senate, would you support all Floridians voting for each candidate running for the Florida House and Senate? Would that makes sense to you? Would you like t run that campaign? I doubt it. It is ludicrous logic.

I urge the Charter Review Board members to respect the voters wishes and turn down the Commissions request to review this issue at the May 19th meeting. If Commissioner Maio is correct then all the “unhappy” voters should be willing to get the 10% required signatures for a petition to put this issue on the ballot. That is the only way it should get on the ballot.

Thank you.

Best regards,
Marilynne Martin
Venice

======

No confusion over single-member districts

Regarding an article about Sarasota County commissioners scheming to overturn single-member voting districts, and their comments regarding confused voters: I am not confused, I do know what I voted for and I want single-member districts (“Sarasota County Commission looks to redistrict again and repeal voter approved initiative,” April 22)! I have lived here for over 50 years and am an active registered Republican who will do all I can to vote every one of our deceitful, money-grubbing, development- loving commissioners out of office. I will be “pretty glad and absolutely delighted” when they are gone!

======

Members of the Charter Review Board:

The 2018 decision by Sarasota voters to move to a Single Member District electoral structure was neither an aberrant impulse nor the result of voter confusion, despite what some elected officials reportedly are saying.

In actuality, the effort was rational, thorough, and due to the work of many who believe that district-specific issues and interests deserve careful public attention during the campaigns of those seeking to represent us. The clear way to do this is to give a district focus to each candidate's campaign.

Why allow 4/5ths of the county's entire voter base to decide who will best represent the specific interests of residents of North Port, Venice, or other portions of Sarasota? The result of that system has thrown into doubt whether a Commissioner in fact knows and represents the interest of residents of his/her district, or whether other interests -- financial, ideological, etc. -- took precedence. 

Whether or not this doubt is valid, it is there, and will hang over every Sarasota office holder so long as specific district representation is suppressed.

I commend to your attention this article on the history of Single Member Districts in Sarasota County, and ask that the CRB show open and rational consideration of these concerns when it takes up this question.

Tom Matrullo

District 1

34241 

=====

To the Charter Review Board:

With overwhelming approval by all five Districts in 2018, Sarasota County voters endorsed the election of Commissioners by Single-Member Districts (SMD). To get a 60% mandate requires support from Democrats, Republicans and NPA/Independents. Voters were clear that they want District-level representation and accountability. The SMD ballot language was simple and concise—not confusing.

 

In November, 2020, three County Commissioners were successfully elected by SMD.  Yet just two weeks later, the same Commission began sewing seeds of discontent with direct representation. So with only a three of five Commissioners elected by SMD, and before allowing any time whatsoever to assess how well it could work, the CRB has been asked to review SMD.  

 

Please respect the voters’ will.  Allow SMD an opportunity to run a full four-year course. 

After all five Districts have at least two years experience with SMD, feel free to assess its viability.    

 

Reasons for maintaining SMD: 

• 19 FL counties currently elect their Commissioners by SMD---both smaller and larger than Sarasota (e.g., Collier, Broward and PB). These counties recognize the value of direct representation which also requires a commitment from Commissioners to serve the best interests of the entire County.

https://www.fl-counties.com/county-districting

• SMD is a long-accepted method of representation.  The FL Legislature (House/Senate) and the US Congress are elected by SMD, and the FL/US Senates  have staggered terms.  Are voters confused when they elect State and US Legislators?  Should the FL Legislature convert to At-Large voting----with Fort Lauderdale voters deciding who represents Sarasota County in Tallahassee?  If SMD is so wrong for Sarasota County, maybe it’s also wrong for Tallahassee.   
• 60% of Sarasota County voters endorsed SMD in 2018.   The BoCC is suggesting that voters were “confused” by the ballot language. Please review the SMD ballot language at your meeting and show county residents how clearly it’s written.    
• A current County Commissioner was also elected as a FL State Senator by SMD.  So SMD was okay then, but not now?  This Commissioner was just re-elected by SMD in  District 5.  Dist. 5 voters were not confused about what they were voting for.   

 

Please respect the voters’ will and allow SMD an opportunity to run a full four-year course.  Assess the value of SMD---but  only after all five Districts have ample experience with it. 

 

Pat Rounds
Sarasota County, District 1
34235

 

Write your own note to the CRB - and copy the Commissioners

jim.gabbert@scgcrb.net

kennedy.legler@scgcrb.net

ray.collins@scgcrb.net

david.samuel@scgcrb.net

scott.williams@scgcrb.net

elaine.miller@scgcrb.net

alexandra.coe@scgcrb.net

richard.dorfman@scgcrb.net

joe.justice@scgcrb.net

deborah.lapinska@scgcrb.net

commissioners@scgov.net

Board seeks to overturn what we voted for: Single Member Districts

 Kindra Muntz said it best:

===

Hello friends,

 

Will you join us at this meeting May 19?

 

In the meantime, will you send a note to the list of Charter Review Board members below to express your thoughts?

Let’s flood them with emails!!

Thank you!

 

Kindra Muntz

Sarasota Alliance for Fair Elections

 

ACTION ALERT: MAY 19, 2021

WHAT: Charter Review Board meeting—where they will start discussion to overturn Single Member Districts

WHEN: 5:30 PM—to buy a T-shirt ($10) to KEEP SMD—or wear a red t-shirt---and get a speaker card (meeting starts promptly at 6:00)

WHERE: Sarasota County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34236

WHY: Show up to KEEP SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS for electing County Commissioners

 

It’s time for people all over the county to stand up for Single Member Districts for electing County Commissioners. 60% of voters of all political parties voted YES to change to single member districts in 2018, to enable principled local candidates to campaign for County Commission, cut the cost of campaigning by 80%, and elect Commissioners who are accountable to all the people in their district, not just the developers, as they serve on the Commission for the good of the county. We elect our State Representatives by single member districts. Sarasota County is so large it includes portions of FIVE state legislative districts: two complete districts (72 and 74) and parts of three others: (70, 71 and 73.) It makes sense to elect County Commissioners by single member districts as well.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Show up on May 19 to KEEP SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS for electing County Commissioners. Just being in the audience will help.

2. Get a speaker card and speak up (you have up to five minutes at the Open to the Public Session at the beginning of the meeting.)

3. Email the Charter Review Board members ahead of time to express your thoughts:  (See the list of CRB members and a sample message to send them below)

4. Review the Single Member Districts website: The Case for Reform, Fact Check, and the four short videos in the Media Center to be reminded of why single member districts are so needed.

Remember, your voice is strongest when only you and others in your district elect your Commissioner— not when 80% of voters all over the county can dilute your votes and choose your Commissioner for you. Keep your power. Keep single member districts.

 

Charter Review Board members: (and the email to send your message to all the County Commissioners as well):

jim.gabbert@scgcrb.net

kennedy.legler@scgcrb.net

ray.collins@scgcrb.net

david.samuel@scgcrb.net

scott.williams@scgcrb.net

elaine.miller@scgcrb.net

alexandra.coe@scgcrb.net

richard.dorfman@scgcrb.net

joe.justice@scgcrb.net

deborah.lapinska@scgcrb.net

 

cc:

Commissioners@scgov.net

 

 

What to say: Sample messages—but please write your own PERSONAL message, and don’t just copy these: (because they think people don’t know what they voted for in 2018, and are unhappy with SMD):

 To the Charter Review Board:
 I'm happy with Single Member Districts. 

I was not confused in 2018. 

Perhaps certain elected officials are confused now. 
I'll be paying close attention to your May 19th discussion of Single Member Districts. 
Thank you.

 

Or maybe:

To the Charter Review Board:

Al Maio said he was waiting for that one person who said they were happy with single member districts.

Please let him know he has to wait no longer! 
I am perfectly happy with single member districts.

I knew exactly what I voted for in 2018.

I’m not a bit confused!

Commissioner Maio

============

Come in person - but if you can't: 

How to watch the Charter Review Board meeting:

Editor's Note: Sarasota County makes it difficult to find live meetings of key boards. If you can't make it to the CRB meeting on Wed. May 19 at 6 pm, you can watch it by tuning in to Access Sarasota on Youtube at that time - it's a live feed, and when there's nothing live, it's useless.

or

If you are unable to catch the meeting live, you can find the recorded meeting here in the CRB's archive at some later point, usually within 4-24 hours.

===============

Background

The Board is starting the process of finding reasons to undo Single Member Voting in Sarasota. A brief update.

Here's a history of Single Member Voting in Sarasota - why voters chose Single Member Voting, and how they changed the Charter. By Kindra Muntz

Sarasota County Voters: Were You Confused?

Dear Voter:

When you voted to approve Single Member Districts, were you confused? County Commissioners believe you were. 

Maio

Commissioner Alan Maio says no one could possibly be "happy" about Single Member Districts:

 "I’m still waiting for that [one] person [to say he or she is happy about the election system], and I’m never going to meet that person, ’cause they can’t possibly be happy” about having a single vote for representation on the County Commission. Sarasota News Leader

 

One of the many citizens who worked to change Sarasota's election structure thinks the Board might be confused:

"The people who voted for single member districts in 2018 understood the issue exactly and voted to elect their own commissioner and not have their vote for their own commissioner diluted by 80% of voters all over the county," [Kindra] Muntz said. 

 

"If county commissioners don’t think the voters know what they are doing, maybe they would be so kind as to resign and call for a new election now." Herald Tribune

Perhaps you'd like to let the Charter Review Board know how you feel. At the request of Mr. Maio that Board will discuss this on May 19th. 

Their email addresses are below. Offer your thoughts, or if you prefer, just send them a brief message like this:

To the Charter Review Board:
I'm happy with Single Member Districts. 

I was not confused in 2018. 

Perhaps certain elected officials are confused now. 
I'll be paying close attention to your May 19th discussion of Single Member Districts. 
Thank you.

jim.gabbert@scgcrb.net

kennedy.legler@scgcrb.net

ray.collins@scgcrb.net

david.samuel@scgcrb.net

scott.williams@scgcrb.net

elaine.miller@scgcrb.net

alexandra.coe@scgcrb.net

richard.dorfman@scgcrb.net

joe.justice@scgcrb.net

deborah.lapinska@scgcrb.net

cc:

Commissioners@scgov.net

Moran and Maio: County must step up Concierge Services

People might not matter, but DEVELOPERS MATTER:

The county must not brook delay when a massive development with an extremely complex and rather impenetrable master plan needs rapid approval 

On March 23, a scheduled hearing pertaining to the proposed development of new homes on Hi Hat Ranch, in the eastern part of the county, had to be postponed because of what [Commissioner Al] Maio described as “a technical situation.”

Sarasota News Leader Plan amendment related to timeline for County Commission to consider specific type of amendments

Why bother with cumbersome review by staff? Just fire them and say "YES" to all

Sarasota Commissioner Mike Moran

developers.

The commissioners should explore the idea of allowing permits to be approved when staff fails to meet county timelines, [Commissioner Mike] Moran said, characterizing that stance as “healthy pressure” on employees to adhere to what Moran called a “hard, hard deadline …”

Shall planning heads drub painstaking staff into rapid negligent approvals?

Moran said, an employee who delays a project should “be written up."

Sarasota News Leader With streamlining county’s permitting process a top County Commission goal this year, staff creates ombudsman position to help facilitate timely approval of construction applications

Wetlands near you may be in trouble.

More than 1,000 permits to change wetlands have been submitted to a state agency since it took over Clean Water Act powers from the federal government in December.

“There’s a heck of a lot of demand for new development. You need an efficient permitting program so the projects can go forward.”   Herald Tribune

Citizens pleading with the Sarasota County commissioners and waving signs on street corners, aimed at stopping developers from building hotels on Siesta Key and halting the devastation that the Benderson project at Stickney Point Road promises, all seem for naught.

LTE in HT May 3, 2021: Don’t let Sarasota be buried in concrete

Nothing so far has stopped our county commissioners from burying Sarasota and Siesta Key in concrete and massive traffic lines everywhere. Pleasing the monied interests is their only criterion.

With deaf and development-friendly commissioners, there are only two avenues left to preserve our town and stop this headlong rush to pour concrete everywhere.

Get rid of these Republican business types on the commission and vote for environmentalists. Or, sadly, the last resort, the First Amendment: Stand in the streets, peacefully, by the thousands.

It is a pity that just a couple of people on the County Commission can cause so much damage to our town and the environment.

Mike Burns, Sarasota

Tumultuous Growth - Sarasota News Leader

In an April 20 memo to the County Commission , , , the overall number of county permits issued grew to more than 41,000 in the 2020 fiscal year, which ended on Sept. 30, 2020. The county has sustained such a high level “for more than three years,” the memo pointed out.

• The total number of permits the county issued through March, since the 2021 fiscal year began on Oct. 1, 2020, is up 8% — to more than 21,000 — compared to the same period during the 2019 fiscal year. A bar graph listed the exact figure as 21,310, compared to 19,741 from Oct. 1, 2019 through March 2020.
• The number of permits for construction of single-family homes has increased 54% for the fiscal year to-date; through March, that figure was 1,538, compared to 996 for the same portion of the 2020 fiscal year. “We’re running the highest we’ve had” over the past five years, Osterhoudt emphasized. 
• The number of permits for applications filed online is up 42% for the fiscal year to-date — more than 17,750.
• The number of building plan reviews has increased 17% for the fiscal year to-date — more than 18,000.
• The number of inspections performed by the Building Department’s Inspections unit staff has climbed 5% for the fiscal year to-date — more than 76,500.

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