Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/235968
Sarasota News Leader January 3, 2014 Voters on March 12 narrow a field of six Sarasota City Commission candidates to three: Suzanne Atwell, Richard Dorfman and Susan Chapman. Atwell is running for re-election to an at-large seat. The candidates not receiving enough votes to advance to a runoff were Linda Holland, Kelvin Lumpkin and Pete Theisen. The runoff is set for May 14. On the evening of March 13, Sarasota County residents have the chance to sound off about the fate of Sarasota 2050, the detailed landuse plan approved 11 years ago to preserve open space and to encourage the construction of walkable, mixed-use communities. The plan requires builders to follow a set of specific rules crafted to encourage the construction of village-style neighborhoods Page 27 rather than traditional suburbs — regulations that come in exchange for the ability to increase density. The plan's creation was an attempt to strike a bargain between developers hoping to construct housing in new areas, primarily east of Interstate 75, and communities that were concerned about unchecked urban sprawl. Last September, however, the Sarasota County Commission voted to have Planning and Development Services staffers begin reevaluating 2050, specifically tasking them with meeting with developers who have worked with the plan to solicit recommendations on how to alter it. Meet they did, and the department returned with a list of 38 "issues" developers said they encountered when dealing with 2050. Sarasota City Commission candidates Richard Dorfman (left) and Suzanne Atwell (right) win endorsements from former candidates Linda Holland and Kelvin Lumpkin. Photo by Stan Zimmerman