Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/108313
Sarasota News Leader February 8, 2013 city commissioners would be able to "sell" the idea to enough city residents to pursue the necessary comprehensive plan and zoning code changes to make the needed land-use initiatives possible. Page 22 THE TIMING FACTOR Earlier, Jonathan B. Paul, the county's interim transportation planning director — and the principal author of Alachua County's mobility plan — explained that if the two boards Barbetta pointed out, "We get elected to make chose not to pursue the railroad corridor, they tough decisions. Some tough decisions are go- would have until September 2014 to file a new ing to have to be made here, but the alterna- BRT application with the FTA. tive … is a potential 200 percent increase in However, Paul pointed out, County Adminiscity property taxes …" trator Randall Reid needs to know within two He added, "I'm not trying to scare anybody, months whether the commissions definitely but I don't know how else the city can sur- want to pursue a different corridor. "He [just] vive." doesn't need to know all the details of it," Paul said of Reid. "I said a year ago we're broke," Snyder responded. "I have no problem dying on the bat- Turner asked what would happen if the City tlefield, but I'm telling you I don't think our Commission was approaching the September community will fully embrace this." 2014 deadline with no apparent success in A suggested land-use model that would support a successful bus rapid transit system shows people would not have to walk more than a quarter-mile to a bus stop. Image courtesy Sarasota County