Burks' Meeting To Discuss School Ave Proposal

An invitation from Ron Burks concerning his proposed plan for the School Avenue property in the Alta Vista neighborhood. The proposal is to change current land use and zoning from residential/multifamily to Downtown Mixed Use/Downtown Core. Nearby residents as well as many neighborhoods and the ppanning staff objected to establishing DTC zoning (the highest and most dense allowed) right next to single family zoning.

You are invited to participate, along with other thoughtful members of our Sarasota community, in an open to the public discussion and idea sharing process concerning the residential/retail development proposed along School Avenue, across from Payne Park.

The development of this 9.52-acre property will be highly visible for many years by all those who visit Payne Park or drive down School Avenue, so it is important that its development be a contribution and enhancement to downtown and to the community and that the community be proud of the quality of the development.

The discussion will take place on Monday evening, October 30th at 7:00 p.m. at the Sarasota Herald Tribune building at 1741 Main Street in the meeting room off the main lobby. Jerry Sparkman (Totems Architecture), President of the Gulf Coast chapter of the American Institute of Architects of Sarasota, will facilitate the discussion and encourage active participation and dialogue from neighbors and concerned citizens starting with discussion about the proposed, proffered Master Site Plan and Building Sections.

This meeting is intended to encourage a more meaningful, productive community dialogue in the redevelopment of this important property using planning concepts of “New Urbanism” to create a functional mixed-use development. Hopefully this meeting will further serve as an opportunity to move toward a consensus as to the most desirable manner in which this property can be developed.

With everyone’s participation, this meeting can serve as an invaluable learning experience for us all and I hope that you will be able to attend on Monday evening, October 30th.

Ronald H. Burks
Quincy Investments, LLC
2151 Main Street
Sarasota, Florida 34237
Phone: 941/366-7000
Fax: 941/366-7097
Cell: 941/223-7800
Email: rburks@quincyinvestments.com

I asked Ryan Chapdelain (City Neighborhood Partnership Office) about this. His response was:

Attached you will see the notice for a voluntary neighborhood meeting that Mr. Burks requested the City send out to all affected parties within a 500-foot radius of the subject property (including adjacent neighborhood associations and CCNA). As you can see, this is not an official City neighborhood workshop, nor was it required by the City. The Clerk's office received this request late Monday and notices should be sent out by tomorrow (if they haven't already). Any questions as to the details of the meeting should be directed to the contact information at the top of Mr Burks's notification memo, as this is the only information the City has received regarding this meeting. However, I was told minutes will be taken, arranged by Mr. Burks.