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Sarasota News Leader July 19, 2013 Page 31 with a project to build a campus that would house 35 to 40 classrooms. Plans show two single-story classroom buildings, an administrative and library structure, a gym and an athletic field to be used by both the middle school and high school. Sarasota Military Academy (SMA) submitted its initial proposal to Sarasota County in May. On July 18, construction contractor Fred Starling, representing the school, presented preliminary plans during the county's Development Review Committee meeting. The academy is seeking a rezoning of the 10.5-acre parcel at 8351 Fruitville Road from Industrial and Research (IR) and Open Use Rural (OUR) to Planned Commercial Development (PCD). The project is contingent on the rezoning of Since its opening, Sarasota Military Academy that portion of the property; the County Comhas proven one of the county's more popular charter schools. Image from the website mission would have a final vote on the petition for that action. then expand to 600 to 650 students after a sec"I think we can get you where you want to go, ond phase of construction, Kennedy said. but it will be a little more complex than you might think it is," Kirk Crane, senior planner for Sarasota County, told SMA officials at the July 18 development review meeting. Ultimately, plans call for 800 students in grades 6, 7 and 8. Kennedy said the academy would lease the property with the objective of purchasing it within five years. If the rezoning is approved, Kennedy hopes "We did the same thing with our main camto begin construction of the charter middle pus," Kennedy noted. school in October and open it in August 2014. When Sarasota Military Academy representa"We have a very aggressive schedule, but we tives met with county planning staff before feel we can accomplish it," Starling said. The the DRC meeting, staff told them they should school plans to submit an application next seek a rezoning of the 9.5-acre parcel since week to the Sarasota County School Board, educational institutions are an allowed use on which approves the creation of new charter property zoned as Planned Commercial Development. schools in the county. The school would be constructed to initially According to county planning staff, a prohouse 400 students in the 2014 school year, posed charter middle school at the 8351 Fruit-