The City of Sarasota has an identity problem. It’s not the entire city; the problem lies in its appointed city planning board. This advisory board has decided it wants to become a second city commission. Ignoring the advice of staff and the advice of the City Attorney’s office, it has decided it will use the…

We have had a successful quarter and an incredible year of accomplishments so far!

“A subjective political process for approval changes the redevelopment landscape of the community and makes investing in Sarasota risky and uncertain,” Argus Foundation Executive Director Christine Robinson said. “If you don’t like what’s going on, change the code, not the process.” Although staff presented a proposal that would lower the standards for holding public hearings downtown, a…

But in a letter to commissioners, Christine Robinson, executive director of the business group Argus, argued against politicizing the planning process. “Requiring community workshops are one thing,” she wrote, “but a subjective political process for approval changes the redevelopment landscape of the community. It makes investing in Sarasota risky and uncertain.”

On Monday, the City Commission will be considering a staff proposal for altering, or, eliminating administrative review for projects. Administrative review was an important part of The Downtown Master Plan 2020, which received input from hundreds and hundreds of people.  It was adopted in January 2001.The concepts of administrative review were contained in this plan.