Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/91307
Sarasota News Leader November 2, 2012 Lowman said city regulations do not provide enough protection. "It is not possible for the zoning code to define what and how each thing will be built," she said. "Where is the genera- tor located? How much noise is allowed? Will the lights shine in my bedroom? What are the mechanics of trash pickup? These are things neighbors want to have some choice about." The overlay would require a builder to notify the neighborhood, hold a public meeting and then seek site-plan approval from the Plan- ning Board even if he just wanted to build something adjacent to — but not inside — the neighborhood. Lowman presented a map showing the how much property would be af- fected. DEVELOPERS SPEAK Physician Mark Kauffman is a major property owner and developer focused on downtown. "I've had two encounters with this neighbor- hood on two projects," he said. "And both were delightful." He most recently worked with Laurel Park on the development of a new P.F. Chang's restau- rant on Mound Street, and he made changes to the plans based on neighborhood input. Kaufman suggested that instead of embark- ing on the 18-month process to change the city's comprehensive plan and zoning texts, the neighborhood simply lobby the City Com- mission to demand notification of any projects in the yellow zone denoted on the proposed overlay district map. "I don't see why you can't look at the plans when we go to the city. What you're asking for is not unreasonable," he said. "But you could get everything you want if you get notification from the city." Page 24 Real estate doyenne Michael Saunders is in the middle of the fight. "It would be so easy not to take a year-and-a-half to get this over- lay. Instead you could get a settlement agree- ment that would bind the city in some way," she said. "Make the City Commission demand meetings and then work with the developer." Whatever policy the current City Commission makes, however, can be unmade by a subse- quent City Commission. And Laurel Park has had some experience with that level of be- trayal since the administrative approval factor was implemented without public input; hence, the neighborhood residents' desire to enshrine the overlay in the comprehensive plan. Both Saunders and the director of the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange, Mary Dough- erty-Slapp, urged a faster resolution to the neighborhood's concerns. "This recovery is about to happen," said Dougherty-Slapp. "It is important for builders and developers to know what the rules are." In other words, leaders of the real estate, de- velopment and builder communities agree to notification of residents regarding construc- tion plans on the borders of Laurel Park. But they disagree with the neighborhood on the mechanics, and they do not appear to support the idea of a mandated visit to the Planning Board. Saunders and Kauffman want a City Commis- sion policy to set the terms of the overlay dis- trict. Lowman and the neighbors want policy spelled out in the comprehensive plan and zoning code.