20170106-6 Jan 2017

SOSS2 and Florida Wildlife Federation challenge FDEP’s plan to issue Lido Renourishment Project permit

The nonprofit organizations filed petitions this week, seeking a formal administrative hearing

Two nonprofit organizations this week petitioned the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for a formal administrative hearing in response to the department’s Dec. 22 announcement of its intent to issue a permit to the City of Sarasota and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to dredge Big Sarasota Pass to renourish about 1.6 miles of South Lido Key Beach. (Read more »)


City staff plans to be back before commission in about two months with draft language for Marian Anderson Place development proposal

Vice mayor urges staff to begin discussions with the county about an interlocal funding agreement set to expire at the end of this year

The director of the City of Sarasota’s Neighborhood and Development Services Department told the city commissioners this week that he hopes to be back before them “within 60 days or less” with proposed language for an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) regarding development of the approximately 13-acre Marian Anderson Place site in north Sarasota. (Read more »)


David Weekley Homes hopes to win city approval for Payne Park Village homes by end of year

Development team continuing to meet with city staff members in preparation for Planning Board and City Commission hearings

Having heard suggestions during the City of Sarasota’s Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting this week for a few more tweaks, Martin Frame remains optimistic about opening model homes in the proposed Payne Park Village on School Avenue in the summer of 2018, he told The Sarasota News Leader on Jan. 4. (Read more »)


FDEP grants 10-day extension for administrative challenges to Notice of Intent for Lido project

Sarasota city manager talks of concern that Lido could be ‘one tropical storm away’ from the Gulf breaching the shoreline

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has granted Sarasota County’s request for a 10-day extension of the period during which an administrative challenge may be made to the department’s intent to issue a permit for the joint City of Sarasota/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) plan to dredge Big Sarasota Pass to renourish South Lido Key Beach. (Read more »)


City Commission authorizes process to change tree mitigation standards

Zoning Code amendment would require developers to replace the same number of caliper inches of trees they had to remove

As a result of the extensive new development in the city of Sarasota’s Rosemary District, 3,379 caliper inches of mature trees will be removed, an Arlington Park resident and tree advocate told the Sarasota City Commission this week. (Read more »)


Firm denies any culpability for defects found after renovations to stadium

Gilbane Building Co. has asked the county to provide it copies of numerous documents, including those relating to a geotechnical firm’s study of the Ed Smith Stadium grounds

The Rhode Island company Sarasota County has blamed for defects in the renovations of Ed Smith Stadium has countered that the responsibility for the problems lies with the design work and “third parties.” Furthermore, among a wide-ranging series of documents Gilbane Building Co. formally has requested from the county through the 12th Judicial Circuit Court is all correspondence with Ardaman & Associates. (Read more »)


Mayor rebuffs firm’s offer of settlement in lawsuit over original Lift Station 87 microtunneling project

City’s pursuit of legal action dates to 2013

On Jan. 3, Sarasota City Attorney Robert Fournier told the city commissioners what the firm the city has sued over the previous Lift Station 87 project had offered as a settlement. Mayor Willie Shaw responded, “What?!” That was “similar to what I thought your reaction would be,” Fournier replied. The figure was $1,250,000. (Read more »)


Official candidate qualifying period for city election starts at noon on Jan. 9

Six candidates have pre-qualified

The official candidate qualifying period for two at-large seats on the Sarasota City Commission will begin at noon on Monday, Jan. 9, and end at noon on Friday, Jan. 13, the Office of the City Auditor and Clerk has announced. (Read more »)


Siesta Seen

Sunrise Cove residents still seeking county solution for Turtle Beach parking lot problems; update provided on new Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar; ‘State of the County’ address details announced; Condo Council honors complexes for holiday lighting; and the SKA moves back its January meeting date

Sunrise Cove residents, who live next to Turtle Beach Park on south Siesta Key, remain frustrated with the Sarasota County response to complaints they have aired through emails and in person to the County Commission, one of them told The Sarasota News Leader this week. (Read more »)


Is this really New Year’s on Siesta Beach?

Crowd and the weather reminiscent of a big summer holiday

It cannot possibly be Jan. 1 on Siesta Beach — not with the air temperature around 80, water temperature close to 70 and a perfectly cloudless, azure sky kissed by that beautiful yellow ball of sun. (Read more »)


Rabies detected in a bobcat in Venice on Dec. 30; two bobcat attacks reported

Health Department and Sheriff’s Office advising all county residents to be alert about any contact with wild animals

The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County (DOH-Sarasota) received laboratory confirmation on Dec. 30, 2016 of rabies in a bobcat, the department has announced. (Read more »)


Comprehensive Plan amendment proposed to allow reduction of greenbelt width and open space in 2050 Plan developments

Sessions set for Jan. 18 and Jan. 25

Sarasota County staff will hold two public meetings this month on a proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment that would allow the County Commission to reduce or eliminate the required 500-foot greenbelt width in a 2050 Plan Village and reduce the open space in such a development to less than the mandatory 50% level, the county has announced. (Read more »)


Florida commissioner of agriculture selected to speak at Argus Foundation’s annual meeting

New officers also to be installed during Jan. 12 gathering

The Argus Foundation has selected Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam to speak at its 2017 Annual Meeting, which will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12, at the Sarasota Yacht Club, it has announced. (Read more »)


‘Preventing Opportunistic Crimes’ topic of Jan. 9 CONA meeting

Session to begin at 7 p.m. at Sarasota Garden Club

On Monday, Jan. 9, the public is invited to join members of the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) for a discussion about how to prevent many of the opportunistic crimes that have become common in the community, the organization has announced. (Read more »)


STOP! presentation on city administrative approval of large projects to be part of next CCNA meeting

Session to be held on Jan. 7 at Waldemere Fire Station

The Jan. 7 meeting of the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations (CCNA) will feature a presentation by representatives of the organization STOP! regarding City of Sarasota administrative approval for large projects, the organization has announced. (Read more »)