WELCOME TO MAIN STREET

Frustration was in the air at last nights joint session meeting as the city administration yet again took everyone around in circles.

‘What a mess’, ‘frustrated’, ‘waste of time’, were some of the more polite phrases I heard. There were many others that probably more truly reflected the mood but they are unrepeatable, even on the blog!

There were those who spoke most eloquently and made a great deal of sense - Terry Schaefer, Randall Stover to name but two. Those that made no sense - Sandra Mattick who appears to have missed the fact that it has long been established that there is a parking issue along with Janet Aubry who appeared to be saying let everyone build exactly what they want on their lots. Commissioner Mattick, who continued to argue to the contrary, despite being told by Jim Dye, that in the ROR district mixed use does not necessarily mean ALL uses on one lot.

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And what was achieved. Nothing. The majority refused to even acknowledge that there was a parking plan on the table (presented by Terry Schaefer) that fits our current codes and ordinances. Why? Good question. Because it seems they want Pine Avenue to look like Main Street in Sarasota. Where are they really headed with this? Well if all the parking is moved out on to the street do they then start arguing for bigger buildings and a more intense use ie restaurants and bars? Because suddenly this appears to be all about making this economically viable for PAR. (Should we all be having to pay the price for the fact they did not run the numbers on what was actually allowed on these lots rather than on what they hoped to get on them??)

They had a chance to get it right but somehow they could not get it done.


Commissioner Woodland asked that Alan Garrett, City Planner, come up with all the permutations for how the two scenarios would look. This despite, a parking committee that has spent weeks on this project and now Commissioner Woodland appears to want them to start again???? With the greatest respect what doesn’t he get. Well one thing he clearly doesn’t get are the wishes of the residents who voted against the developers in the November elections and I believe they were counting on him to represent them and it isn’t happening. His sense of fair play is commendable but does he realize the implications of what he asked for last night? By the time these guys make a decision Pine Avenue is going to be built out! Take as long as you like but for heavens sake put a moratorium on in the meantime to protect what we have before its too late.