Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/102968
Sarasota News Leader January 11, 2013 Page 19 SETTING A PRECEDENT 10 years and I think we've found it," he said. "Have a couple of community meetings and Not everybody was wild about the comproa site plan review, but no Planning Board remise. Local realty mogul Michael Saunders view. It's nice to walk out with something betsaid, "We worked long and diligently to create ter than what we had going in." the system we have now. It creates a certainty of cost and time for developers." "I will support this," said Atwell. So did evSaunders has a dog in the fight, as owner of erybody else, and the compromise passed 5-0. what she called "a prime piece of property for Even Saunders thought the idea held promise. development" on the neighborhood's edge. "I can live with this," she told The Sarasota "What is before you is to create something to News Leader after the vote. "I'd love to see make this one section of your jurisdiction dif- how they clean up this draft." ferent from all the others," said Saunders. "If THE CURIOUSLY SIMILAR WALMART this passes, there will be different rules and EXPERIENCE regulations for these properties. It creates an unlevel playing field." The future of a new Walmart store in the old Then Mike Taylor showed up. He was a se- Ringling Shopping Center hung in the balance nior city planner who retired in October. He as well on Jan. 7. Neighbors asked the Saraalso is the author of many, many city planning sota City Commission for permission to apdocuments. "A community meeting is much peal the 3-2 Planning Board vote approving better than a public hearing. It's intended to the project. The decision to appeal required a foster communication back and forth," he "supermajority" vote of 4-1 or 5-0. said. "Maybe it should be considered in lieu And the neighbors got it. Only City Commisof a review of site plans — for use citywide." sioner Paul Caragiulo voted against the apAfter the public hearing ended, City Com- peal proposal. It was a moment of drama — missioner Shannon Snyder picked up on Tay- neighbors cheering the decision inside City lor's remark and ran with it. "We've stumbled Hall while protesters outside defaced an old across something to makes things cheaper, Walmart logo with molasses and feathers. faster and better for the entire city," he said. "This could be a model for the rest of the city." On the face of it, the two neighborhoods — Laurel Park and Alta Vista — were staring at Right now "administrative approval" applies dissimilar problems. For Laurel Park, it was a only to downtown zoning and certain areas matter of residential condominiums towering of north Sarasota near Dr. Martin Luther King over their bungalows; for Alta Vista, it was Jr. Way. "I think we're onto something," said a low-rise, big-box store planning to operate Commissioner Paul Caragiulo. 24/7/365. But the Laurel Park proto-comproSnyder piled on. "We've been grappling with mise is almost exactly the process Alta Vista expanding administrative review for the past actually experienced.