Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/309372
because we don't know if it is one or two buildings," said Freedman. "This may be a completely different building if the two sites are not combined." Patten pressed the concept one structure. "Our purpose is to see if we can combine these two buildings," she told the DRC. "The cost to design is pretty significant, design- ing two connecting buildings. If the Planning Board doesn't want to combine them, my cli- ent would be throwing good money away." While the first Biter proposal required only "administrative approval," the addition of a quarter of an acre has pushed the plan across the aforementioned "boundary" to the place where it needs Planning Board and maybe City Commission approval. "Otherwise, this would be a [Downtown Residential Overlay Project]," said Patten. "We could have gone straight to the building permit stage. You have issues you have to sign off on, I understand." "You put us in a difficult position," responded Gretchen Schneider, a senior building and zoning official. "You're asking us to sign off on a project we have not seen plans for." "I understand it's awkward on your side," replied Patten. "It's awkward on our side, too." A number of issues remain unresolved, including the status of "guest bedrooms," trash pick-up and traffic concurrency. The two sides agreed to continue consideration of the project. "We'll discuss this more," said Courtney Mendez, chairwoman of the DRC. "If we have a higher level of comfort, we'll distribute the sign-off sheet." AND IN THE PUBLIC PIPELINE … On May 3, City Manager Tom Barwin spoke to the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations, giving an overview of public projects in Sarasota. He noted that rehabilitation of two sewer lift stations recently was completed. Work on Lift Station 16 in J.D. Hamel Park, located on Gulfstream Avenue opposite Marina Jack, and Lift Station 21 in Indian Beach is finished. And three miles of sewer piping has been relined, connecting Lido Key with the main- land, preventing stormwater from infiltrating the sewer system. Barwin said efforts to fight sign pollution have resulted in the removal of more than 100 signs from public rights of way. "We're tak- ing down more signs than we're putting up," A flag marks the location of Coast Cadillac in Sarasota at 2200 Bee Ridge Road. Image from Google Maps Sarasota News Leader May 9, 2014 Page 17