Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/218481
Sarasota News Leader November 29, 2013 Page 39 for a lease price of $1 per year for 50 years major birding destination in Sarasota County. with the option of two 25-year extensions. The Celery Fields is adjacent to the 42-acre site. Robinson specifically cited buffering to Benderson Development offered $2.5 million limit noise and lighting problems for birds in in cash for the property, but Fineberg pointed the Celery Fields. out the firm had not had a clear understanding from county staff about stormwater and Because of the site's location and importance floodplain issues that would increase the to the Fruitville Initiative, Robinson further value of the 42 acres. According to county requested that staff work with Benderson staff, the appraised value of the property about the design of the buildings "and come ranges between $4.1 million and $4.6 million, up with some language to depict what is enviwith the difference linked to an assessment sioned … in light of the conversation that we of the stormwater factors. have had today from the dais." After the split vote, Robinson proposed a list of issues to be considered by staff in negotiations with Benderson over final details of the proposal and price. That motion passed unanimously. Although Fineberg emphasized that landscaping — especially the use of ponds — would make the project look less like the typical industrial site, Patterson told him the schematic the firm provided the board prior to the Nov. 6 discussion "looks like a bunch of Army Among her points was a request that barracks." Benderson employees work with members of Sarasota Audubon regarding concerns the Given the information Benderson received organization has about the Celery Fields, a from the county during the Invitation to Benderson Development Vice President Larry Fineberg listens to a question from Vice Chairman Charles Hines. Photo by Rachel Hackney