20181005-5 Oct 2018


TOP STORIES:

 

TST Ventures submits revised site plans to answer county staff concerns about April documents regarding waste transfer station near the Celery Fields

On Oct. 10, County Commission scheduled to consider consultant’s report recommending rezoning of county’s ‘Northwest Quad’ parcel near the Celery Fields

With the Sarasota County Commission preparing to consider next week the rezoning of one of the four parcels the county owns next to the Celery Fields, county staff is reviewing the latest documents filed for the construction of a waste transfer station on property next to those “Quads,” The Sarasota News Leader has learned. (Read more »)


Attorney warns that county staff has not followed county procedure for approving Critical Area Plan designation Benderson seeks for Siesta Promenade

Representing the Best Western Plus Siesta Key Gateway Hotel, Morgan Bentley makes argument for separate public hearings on project issues

In January 2017, a Sarasota County resident with years of expertise as a planning board member and a consultant who served as a senior Sarasota County planner for 22 years first raised an issue about Siesta Promenade that never has been addressed. (Read more »)


SOSS2 gives Army Corps of Engineers formal notice that it will file a lawsuit to try to stop dredging of Big Pass

The nonprofit earlier requested that the federal agency conduct an in-depth analysis of 50-year renourishment proposal for South Lido Key, but agency never responded

On Sept. 28, SOSS2 formally gave the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) the required 60-day formal notice of its intent, arguing that the USACE has violated a number of federal regulations in designing a 50-year beach renourishment initiative on South Lido Key. (Read more »)


Saturday public hearing to be held on plans to redevelop Lido Pavilion and Pool

City Commission agrees to hold session in the daytime at a city facility large enough to accommodate anticipated crowd

Because of the potential length of the session and the anticipation that the number of attendees will exceed the City Commission Chambers’ capacity, a public hearing on the redevelopment of the Lido Beach Pavilion and Pool will be held on a Saturday, the Sarasota City Commission decided this week. (Read more »)


Lawsuit seeks to remove Cosentino’s proposed Charter amendments from the Nov. 6 ballot

County files cross claim against Cosentino, seeking court’s declaration that the amendments are inconsistent with state law and vague

Siesta Key resident Mike Cosentino warned the Sarasota County commissioners in late August that if they agreed to the Office of the County Attorney’s Nov. 6 ballot language for two proposed County Charter amendments Cosentino wrote, they were going to get sued. (Read more »)


On 4-1 vote, Sarasota City Commission approves interim agreement to allow planning for 10-acre Phase I of The Bay to proceed

Vice mayor continues to plead for preservation of former G.WIZ building

With Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch in the minority, the Sarasota City Commission voted 4-1 on Oct. 1 to approve an interim agreement with the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization (SBPO) to allow the nonprofit to raise funds and proceed with the design of the first phase in transforming 53 city-owned waterfront acres into a public park called The Bay. (Read more »)


Benderson Development creates website and Facebook page in effort to encourage public support for Siesta Promenade proposal

Project opponents counter company assertions on a number of issues

In basketball terminology, it would be called a “full court press.” On Sept. 25, Benderson Development Co. launched a new website and a Facebook page in an effort to garner public support for its proposed Siesta Promenade project at the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road. (Read more »)


Starting on Nov. 5, City Commission to start its regular afternoon sessions an hour earlier, at 1:30 p.m.

Change approved on 3-2 vote

Starting with their regular meeting on Nov. 5, the Sarasota City commissioners will begin their afternoon sessions at 1:30 p.m., they agreed on a 3-2 vote this week. That will be an hour earlier than the 2:30 p.m. opening specified in the city’s Rules of Procedure. (Read more »)


County’s 2019 fiscal year budget approved with funding for CRA settlement with City of Sarasota, repairs to Ed Smith Stadium and extra assistance to SANCA

Millage rate remains unchanged

With no one signed up to address any issues related to the 2019 fiscal year budget or millage rates, the Sarasota County commissioners voted unanimously on Sept. 27 to approve the overall budget of $1,242,441,007. (Read more »)


OPINION (free):

Cartoon of the Day


OTHER NEWS (free):

Oct. 9 the deadline for voter registration for Nov. 6 General Election


Free trees available to residents through City of Sarasota Community Canopy program


CONA’s Oct. 8 meeting to focus on County Commission races and proposed change to single-member districts for the commission


Sample ballots for Nov. 6 General Election available online for all registered voters


Howl-O-Ween Movie Night Spooktacular to be held at Ed Smith Stadium on Oct. 13


Sarasota County earns national parks accreditation


Sarasota in Defense of Animals to host ‘Thanksliving’ celebration on Nov. 4


Sarasota County Correctional Facility re-accredited