Sarasota News Leader
July 12, 2013
Page 18
encouraging New Urbanism design princiIf we in our choice are going to
ples such as walkability, and fiscal neutrality hire somebody whose job is to sell the
— the "requirement economics of a development, we might as
that any new growth well not do it.
pay its way" through
Nora Patterson
impact fees and taxes.
Commissioner
tal groups and controlled-growth advocates, say the global
recession is to blame
for that inactivity, as
well as the region's
ongoing housing crisis. The Bradenton
Sarasota County
Herald reported just
But developers charge
this week that "the
that 2050 is unworkBradenton-Sarasoable — that its layers
ta-North Port metro area" is now ranked as
of regulations have staunched growth. More
"the third worst foreclosure market in the
than 7,000 units have been approved under
United States."
2050 guidelines, but only one project has broken ground: Neal Communities' Grand Palm. The "intent" of 2050 remains "valid," Parsons
Defenders of the plan, such as environmen- told the commission, but the specifics of its
A graphic shows designations of land applicable to development under the 2050 Plan. Image courtesy
Sarasota County