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Sarasota News Leader August 9 & 16, 2013 straints which are best addressed through a set of unique policies and design guidelines," Stantec Senior Principal James Paulmann wrote to county officials in March. Stantec is part of the team handling the 2050 change request for LT and 3 H. But the Clark Road proposal just needlessly "complicates" 2050, argues Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations President Lourdes Ramirez. A vocal critic of the decision to overhaul 2050, she says there are "so many things wrong with this project." For one, according to county analysis of the proposal, 50 percent of the land in question "is located within the 100-year floodplain," but county policy is to "protect floodplains," per the comprehensive plan. Page 20 counting the event. "Rather, this is a policy plan amendment which is the first step in a very long process." (Bailey did not respond to a News Leader call; neither did property owner John Hales.) But some details did emerge. "Our vision is to create a master planned community approach similar to what you see in Grand Palm in the Venice area," Paulmann told meeting attendees. "We want to meet the intent of the goals that were identified in the 2050 Plan, better utilize infrastructure and design the development to meet the market conditions." Paulmann also explained that the property owners want to eliminate the requirement that the commercial portion of the mixed-use plan be located in the center of the neighborhood, In that staff analysis, sent to Paulmann in May, a New Urbanist principle intended to make county employees posed a number of ques- neighborhood residents less dependent on tions about the proposal and asked for a "de- cars. tailed narrative" answering questions such as, "That has proven not to work," Paulmann said. "What about this property is unique that jus- "It is better to be located at a more efficient tifies the proposed modifications?" Ramirez location for providing goods and services. We stresses that point: "What makes this parcel first saw that in The Meadows. That commerso special?" (County staff did not respond to cial area still struggles to survive. The same a News Leader request for more information.) thing is seen in other noted New Urbanist developments, like Disney's Celebration." "You can't call it Sarasota 2050," says Ramirez, a likely County Commission candidate next "If they can't make it work in Celebration," year. "It's sprawl." said Williams Parker attorney Jim Turner, "we certainly can't make it work here." At a neighborhood meeting held at nearby Twin Lakes Park in April, Charlie Bailey, the The Sarasota County Planning Commission agent for the proposal and an attorney with will consider the proposed 2050 changes at Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen, a public meeting 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. emphasized "that no development is contem- 15, at the Sarasota County Administration plated at this time," according to a memo re- Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. %