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In the meantime, thank you for your patience, and your support of The Sarasota News Leader!
18 recommendations contained in draft report on affordable housing prepared by Sarasota County staff at direction of County Commission
More flexibility with housing types, creative redevelopment and even educating the public in an effort to overcome negative perceptions of workforce housing among the recommendations
Providing for more flexibility in housing types, offering incentives to developers, providing subsidies and other financial assistance, and encouraging redevelopment opportunities are among 18 recommendations in a draft situational report on affordable housing that county staff has provided to the Sarasota County Commission, The Sarasota News Leader has learned. (Read more »)
Sapphire Shores Park to be exempt from new leash law in city parks, City Commission indicates
Tweaks board has proposed for the ordinance will be made before the final vote on it, city attorney says
The Sarasota city commissioners have given unanimous endorsement to a revised ordinance that will require all dogs to be on leashes in city parks, unless a special exemption has been granted to a facility or the animal is in a designated, enclosed dog park or another park area created for canines. (Read more »)
Proposed Fox Creek development on Richardson Road wins County Commission approval
Project includes 200 single-family homes and 285 multi-family units in the Fruitville Initiative area
One of the “co-mayors” of the East Richardson Road neighborhoods has offered full-fledged support for a new development called Fox Creek that will include single- and multi-family homes on about 137 acres in eastern Sarasota County. (Read more »)
Hyde surpasses Richard Dorfman’s total contributions in 2013 as City of Sarasota runoff looms on May 9
Hyde reported raising more than $74,000 as of April 25
With early voting underway for the May 9 Sarasota City Commission runoff election for two seats, Martin Hyde has eclipsed the total contributions that 2013 at-large candidate Richard Dorfman raised, the latest financial reports show. (Read more »)
Payne Park Village plan for School Avenue scheduled for May 15 City Commission agenda
Development tweaks win unanimous Planning Board approval
With the schedule running a bit ahead of what the developer envisioned earlier this year, the Payne Park Village plan for School Avenue is headed to the Sarasota City Commission on May 15 — the final hurdle it needs to clear. On April 12, the city’s Planning Board members gave unanimous approval to a modified proposal for 135 detached and attached single-family homes on about 8.7 acres. (Read more »)
Siesta Key Association survey on trolley service underscores popularity of the free program
Data as of May 3 show 48.1% of respondents believe the Breeze should operate during season, while 44.9% favor year-round service
The free Siesta Key Breeze trolley service launched on March 20 continues to win rave reviews — a fact reinforced this week when the Siesta Key Association (SKA) announced the results of a survey it sent to more than 1,000 of its members. (Read more »)
City Commission holds off on resolution regarding leases of city-owned bayfront property until it gets clarification from organization working on master plan
Lawn Bowling Club president cites his group’s impact on city tourism as he voices worries about board action that might prevent leases from extending beyond Jan. 1, 2019
After listening to concerns of one leaseholder of city-owned bayfront property, the Sarasota City Commission this week backed away for the time being from approving a resolution it had voiced full support for last month. (Read more »)
Funds from Tourist Development Tax revenue account reauthorized for beach maintenance
Director of county’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department talks of negative impacts on tourism in the absence of the extra money
The Sarasota County commissioners recently — and readily — approved a request by the director of the county’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department for the continuation of a particular funding stream to help pay for beach maintenance. (Read more »)
Siesta Seen
A smaller Siesta Fiesta sparks some criticism; the Chamber plans its next quarterly meeting; the county offers more details on its efforts to fight cigarette butt litter; and an SKA report finds the wastewater plant decommissioning project on schedule
Some business owners have made known their displeasure that vendors during the 39th Annual Siesta Fiesta were not placed north of the four-way intersection on Ocean Boulevard, The Sarasota News Leader has learned. (Read more »)
In spite of ‘Fancy Free’ as the headliner, Balanchine works steal the show during Sarasota Ballet’s last program of the season
Logan Learned and Danielle Brown among the outstanding performers on the bill
The last program of the 2016-17 Sarasota Ballet season included a premiere of Fancy Free, the 1944 wartime ballet that introduced Jerome Robbins to the dance world. I am a fan of Robbins’ ballets, so I was happy to revisit a work I had seen years ago. I also was pleased to see that Sarasota Ballet might begin to explore a new choreographic world. (Read more »)
Sarasota ACLU chapter to present May 9 program on ‘How to Protect LGBT Rights’
Discussion to be held at Unitarian Universalist Church in Sarasota
The Sarasota Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida will continue its monthly discussion series, Ask the ACLU, with a May program on How to Protect LGBT Rights, the chapter has announced. (Read more »)
Sea level rise to be focus of May CONA meeting
Panelists to offer insights based on their expertise, with Q&A session to follow
On Monday, May 8, the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations will host a discussion of sea level rise, its anticipated effects on the community “and local efforts to address how, as a waterfront region, we adapt,” the nonprofit has announced. (Read more »)
Microtunneling under Luke Wood Park underway as part of Lift Station 87 project
Construction of the facility planned to begin in July
The Lift Station 87 contractor for the City of Sarasota began installing the second and final microtunnel segment the week of April 24. “This work connects the Lift Station 87 site with the previously installed 36-inch wastewater main under Hudson Bayou and is critical to the success of the Lift Station 87 project,” a news release points out. (Read more »)
Sarasota County earns its 27th consecutive Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
It also earns Special Capital Recognition for the second consecutive year
Sarasota County recently earned the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the 27th consecutive year, the county has announced. “The award, which is the highest professional recognition in governmental budgeting,” was presented to the Office of Financial Management (OFM) staff during the April 26 County Commission meeting. (Read more »)
Sarasota in Defense of Animals plans May 6 protest against Petland’s continued sales of animals in spite of new county law that went into effect this year
Event will be peaceful, organizers stress
In an effort to persuade the owners of Petland Sarasota to abide by a Sarasota County law that went into effect in January, Sarasota in Defense of Animals (SDA) is planning a peaceful protest from 10 a.m. to noon on May 6 near the store, SDA has announced. (Read more »)
Oaks Women’s Club honors eight high school seniors
Total of $40,000 in scholarship awards presented during April luncheon
The Oaks Women’s Club (OWC) has honored eight high-achieving high school seniors with a total of $40,000 in scholarships as part of its long-standing tradition of supporting local young women bound for college, the club has announced. (Read more »)
Free Comic Book Day on May 6 to offer giveaways at Sarasota County libraries
Children and teens encouraged to participate
“Be a superhero and bring a child to any Sarasota County library Saturday, May 6, for Free Comic Book Day [festivities],” the county has announced. (Read more »)
Manasota Beach Park boat ramp and parking lot closing for renovations on Monday, May 8
Schedule calls for work to be completed this fall
The Manasota Beach Park boat ramp and parking lot will be closed for five months starting Monday, May 8, for a planned capital improvement project, Sarasota County has announced. (Read more »)
‘Variety’ names Ringling College film program chief Bradley Battersby 2017 Mentor of the Year
Studio Lab Program cited as a factor in the recognition
Variety has named Ringling College Film Program chief Bradley Battersby the 2017 Variety Mentor of the Year, Ringling College of Art + Design has announced. (Read more »)