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Sarasota News Leader December 6, 2013 Mark Sultana is designing the condo complex, which is planned for three levels over parking at 129 Taft Drive. The site is just north of the popular "mangrove tunnels" on the southeast coast of Lido Key. Page 47 so some of the questions and issues had not yet been addressed. GULFSTREAM FLOWS ALONG The DRC then faced a much larger proposal at a signature Sarasota crossroad. Plans call for an 18-story tower at the northwest corner of the Tamiami Trail and the John Ringling Causeway. It would hold 250 hotel rooms and 144 residential condominiums. His plan took hits on a variety of aspects. Why were four stairwells needed to access the roof? Landscape plans showed the use of public right of way and used too many non-native plants. "You'll need a right-of-way agreement for landscaping outside of public property," The proposal — called the Sarasota Gulfstream said City Engineer Alexandrea DavisShaw. — has been before the DRC before; it was "That's county parkland." back Wednesday so the developer could clear Sultana held his own. When asked why the up any lingering details before moving ahead plans did not show the percentage of imper- to seek permits. vious surface, he quietly showed city staffers Bruce Franklin, a development consultant where the information was on the plans. But for the project, asked what credits the team the hits kept coming. would receive on impact fees for the Holiday "There are some concerns about bedroom Inn that previously stood at the intersection. door access to the stairwell," said Senior "We can give you room-for-room credit if Planner Courtney Mendez, who chairs the the building was still standing 10 years ago," DRC. "You can't have an access as a fire escape replied Murphy. if it goes through a sleeping room, which can Franklin then asked about credits for the be locked." Denny's restaurant that used to be adjacent to Larry Murphy with the city Building the Holiday Inn on the 2.9-acre site. "For the Department said automatic fire suppression Denny's, I'll have to research it," said Murphy. sprinklers are required in the building, as is a City Planner David Smith reminded everyone "Class One" standpipe in all the stairwells. He the Denny's was eventually closed and the did toss out a bone by reminding the devel- structure became a sales office for the conoper that a building was demolished on the dominium project originally planned for the site some time ago, and the developer could location. use it to claim some credits on impact fees. DRC Chairwoman Mendez closed the agenda Attorney Brenda Patten said that in fairness item saying, "It looks like we are in pretty to her group, the development team had just good shape and should be able to get a sign received the staff's comments the day before, off on these plans." %