Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/102968
NEW PLANNING PARADIGM PROPOSED City residents opposed to a Walmart in the Ringling Shopping Center fill much of the Commission Chambers on Jan. 7. Photo by Norman Schimmel ANALYSIS: CITY COMMISSION WILL WEIGH APPEAL OF WALMART DECISION FOR RINGLING SHOPPING CENTER SITE By Stan Zimmerman City Editor Two issues fraught with acute neighborhood concern were resolved Monday, Jan. 7, by the Sarasota City Commission. After testimony and discussion, both were approved — a compromise will give Laurel Park two "workshops" on any nearby development before city approval, and Alta Vista will be able to challenge a new Walmart. Suzanne Atwell at the conclusion of the afternoon session. LAUREL PARK'S HALF LOAF Ten years ago, everything was booming in Sarasota except downtown. Developers complained red tape and politics stymied their every effort. A "pro from Dover" consultant named Andres Duany was hired to push "new The two actions — one in the afternoon and urbanism." the other in the evening session — foreshadow what might be a new planning scheme in A new "form-based" zoning code was apthe city. More than the concerns of Alta Vista proved and new zoning categories were creand Laurel Park are at stake. "This could be ated to match the reworked "future land use the beginning of something big," said Mayor map" that remains crucial to the city's com-