Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/344348
expansion. "The reason we agreed to the R-ROD was because there was one rental project we wanted to jumpstart in that area," said Vice Mayor Susan Chapman. "Adding the Jefferson Center and The Players [Theatre] could be the end of The Players, who might sell and move on. And the end of the Jefferson." "Approving density because it feels good is not good planning," said Snyder. "I'd rather have quality planning." Mayor Shaw joined them in a 3-2 vote to deny the application to expand the district. On the other end of the scale, the board unanimously approved a staff-sponsored plan to force banks to maintain foreclosed properties. Neighborhood and Development Services Director Tim Litchet said it would require banks to register with the city's Code Compliance Division, designate a local agent to be responsible for maintenance and pay an annual fee of $250 per property. "Banks that do not register will be cited," said Litchet. An earlier effort to manage the prob- lem with unsightly properties in foreclosure was up-ended by the Florida Supreme Court, which ruled against the priority of a code enforcement lien. Prior to that, the city could seize and re-sell property if the owners failed to maintain it to a minimum standard. Litchet said the new procedure avoids the lien priority issue and follows "the tool used by other jurisdictions." He added that staff has identified 425 properties that would require registration. People sit under tents on a rainy day at Trinity Without Borders. Photo by Stan Zimmerman Sarasota News Leader July 11, 2014 Page 33