Latest facets of Siesta Promenade proposal to be focus of CONA program on Feb. 12

Meeting to kick off at 6:30 p.m. with social at Sarasota Garden Club

A graphic shows traffic access points proposed for Siesta Promenade. Image courtesy Sarasota County

On Monday, Feb.12, the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) will host a presentation by Sura Kochman, an organizer of the Pine Shores Neighborhood Alliance, about the latest plans for the proposed Siesta Promenade development.

The residential/office/retail project is planned for the northwest corner of Tamiami Trail and Stickney Point Road.

“The location is bounded by commercial development on the three other corners of the intersection and includes the southern access road between the mainland and Siesta Key to the west, and to the east, Clark Road, which leads to Interstate 75,” a news release points out. “This already is a major intersection with extensive congestion,” the release adds.

During CONA’s November 2014 meeting, the release continues, Kochman provided “a comprehensive analysis of the original proposal by the developer” — from the perspective of the neighborhoods directly affected. Then the project became stalled by public concerns and the Great Recession, the release notes.

After the proposal was resurrected in 2017, the release says, Kochman reviewed it again at CONA’s November 2017 meeting. Details about the project have evolved, the release adds. The plans are under review by Sarasota County Planning and Development Services Department staff.

“Since the entire community and many of our member organizations will be affected by this project,” the release explains, CONA members will be following the process “and providing updates as warranted.”

A question-and-answer session will follow the February discussion.

A social at 6:30 p.m. will precede the presentation.

The meeting will be held at the Sarasota Garden Club, located at 1131 Boulevard of the Arts in Sarasota. The club building is situated at the intersection of North Tamiami Trail, south of the Municipal Auditorium. The parking area and the entrance are reached from Van Wezel Way.

Visit www.conasarasota.org/meetings.html for more about CONA.