Information page for Quads Critical Area Plan Workshop

The planning workshop that seeks public input on rezoning the public lands at the Celery Fields will be held at 6 pm, May 14, at the Church of Hope, 1560 Wendell Kent Rd, Sarasota, FL 34240. 

The Planning Department has posted community input and proposals here:

>>Index to county planning links <<
   
      Documents prepared by the Planning Department include:

1. Memorandum from Planning

2. Community proposals via the 2018 Fresh Start process:

• Proposals Submitted to Fresh Start_Part1
• Proposals Submitted to Fresh Start_Part2
• Proposals Submitted to Fresh Start_Part3
• Proposals Submitted to Fresh Start_Part4

3. Reports to the Board from Fresh Start: 7.11.17 and 9.12.17

4. Update: New proposals submitted from the community 

     Proposals are still coming in, so more will probably be added to this page.

5. Information on how the public may comment

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This is the one opportunity for all who love the Celery Fields to come, listen, and voice their thoughts and concerns. The workshop begins at 6 pm - 

at the Church of Hope, 1560 Wendell Kent Rd, Sarasota, FL 34240, where James Gabbert introduced his proposal for a waste processing facility in January 2017. 

The public record of this workshop goes to the Board, which will decide the future of these public lands. Here are some of our concerns:

Not everyone on the Board sees the point of using public lands for the public good. With thoughtful stewardship, public lands can provide needed public facilities and activities. Why sell them to enrich a couple of private developers?

Industrial uses will generate traffic, noise, dead space incompatible with the developing natural beauty of the Celery Fields area, and its recreational potential.

The scope of this process is narrow. When Gabbert proposed his waste processing facility, the county failed to acknowledge the existence of the Celery Fields. This plan should not exclude important considerations that PLANNING should be thinking about now:

1 - future protective measures for wildlife, residents and visitors;
2 - the impacts of coming growth in East County;
3 - quality of life benefits from safe roads and a tranquil environment.

With care and intelligent stewardship, this very special area will return investments a hundredfold -- more about this here.

Public Input on uses for public lands - workshop set for May 14

The planning workshop that seeks public input on rezoning the public lands at the Celery Fields will be held on May 14 at the Church of Hope, at 6 pm. 

Photo courtesy of Chuck Behrmann

That's the same hall where Mr. Gabbert presented his proposed waste processing facility in Jan. 2017. It is located at 1560 Wendell Kent Road Sarasota, Florida, 34240.

Fresh Start's proposals for the Quads -- public lands at Apex and Palmer -- will be among those presented at the workshop. To make sure all the essential materials, reports and proposals are open for consideration, we're sending the following documents to the Planning Dept.:

Fresh Start Final Report

Fresh Start Sept. 12 PowerPoint with Notes

Fresh Start July 11 Report

Video: Common Sense and Uncommon Opportunity: Our public lands at the Celery Fields 

Community proposals and ideas

Audubon Eco-Tourism Report

We'd welcome co-signers from the communities that care about this issue on the email that will accompany these documents. Please let us know quite soon if you'd like it to include your name.

Leveraging a triptych of public lands for all to benefit

Florida’s ideal outdoor recreation system will be a diverse, connected, accessible and balanced system of resources, facilities and programs that provides the state’s residents and visitors with a wide range of local recreation opportunities. Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan

A careful look at the public “Quad” parcels at the Celery Fields reveals a key area in radical transition. Sarasota County’s Critical Area Plan is now studying the parcels and surroundings for compatibilities and potential enhancements.

The Board’s commendable decision to do this study plays into a stunning new opportunity for residents and visitors. We must seize it now, because East County is about to change dramatically. 

In a few years, a highway flyover will connect UTC/Benderson west of I-75 with roads and trails to the East and South.

Planned Benderson/Waterside Flyover

From Benderson, Lakewood Ranch Boulevard will run east through SMR's Waterside, continuing south through the Quad parcels to the Celery Fields. This will form a "triptych" of three key areas, all linked without need of the highway.

Safe circulation through this large interconnected area will open new possibilities for bicyclists, pedestrians and runners. Marathons, triathlons, and cycling events can begin at Nathan Benderson Park, “fly over” the highway, and circulate on public trails through Waterside to Mt. Celery. Such iconic visibility will bring new visitors to the entire area.

At UTC/Benderson visitors will enjoy restaurants, shopping, the rowing park and eventually Mote Aquarium; in Waterside they’ll explore trails before reaching the tranquil environment of the Celery Fields for hiking, birding, kayaking and picnicking (as well as the lions, tigers of Big Cat Habitat) in one of the most beautiful spots in Sarasota.

Everyone going to Audubon or Big Cat at the Celery Fields has to pass through the Quads parcels on the way. These lands sit at a key intersection, where they can strategically serve to:

• Buffer the Celery Fields with gardens and an urban forest on Parcel #1;
• Provide parking, food, a bus loop and visitors center on parcels #2 and #3 to meet future needs; and,
• Optimize the experience for residents, businesses, schools, and visitors. Tree canopied sidewalks and trails will integrate stranded assets like the Celery Fields' north waterway and Ackerman Park with Audubon's birdwalks and Big Cat Habitat.

Public land stewardship should leverage our properties to realize broad value and meaningful public benefit. The result of this new framework will be a powerful economic catalyst, revitalizing surrounding neighborhoods and business districts.

A modest investment of tourist tax dollars will optimize the Quads and the Celery Fields area to safely handle future visitors. So much is here to offer. Let’s create a superb inland environment -- an ecological and recreational Triptych we can all be proud of.

Note: The above is a summary. Read the full proposition at this link: "Diverse, connected, accessible and balanced:" a Community Proposition for the Quad Parcels

- Submitted to the Critical Area Plan Workshop May 14, 2019

-- Tom Matrullo

Our chance to speak for public lands

Courtesy of the Sarasota News Leader

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May 14 workshop first step in analyzing potential future development around the Celery Fields

May 2, 2019 by Rachel Brown Hackney, Editor & Publisher

Sarasota County staff seeking public participation in session at Church of Hope on Wendell Kent Road

A graphic shows the three ‘Quads’ parcels (outlined in red) originally under consideration for sale as surplus land. The Northeast Quad is home to a stormwater pond. Image courtesy Sarasota County

On Tuesday, May 14, Sarasota County staff will hold a workshop to begin discussions that could lead to new policies regarding development in the vicinity of the Celery Fields.

Formally, the event will focus on an analysis of the Critical Area Plan (CAP) for the Interstate 75/Fruitville Road Major Employment Center area. The County Commission authorized the scope of work for the study after a staff presentation on Jan. 30.

In preparation for the May 14 session, supporters of the Celery Fields have been at work on new proposals for the adjacent, county-owned parcels called the “Quads.” Last year, the County Commission allowed a group called the Fresh Start Initiative to recommend potential uses on the Quads that its members felt would be compatible with the Celery Fields, which has grown into an internationally known bird-watching park.

Although the Celery Fields was created as a major stormwater project, it is home — especially during the annual migratory season — to a vast array of avian species, its advocates have stressed to the County Commission.

Commissioners heard the final Fresh Start presentation in September 2018. After months of meetings conducted to winnow ideas from representatives of about 50 homeowner associations in the vicinity of the Quads, Fresh Start leaders implored the board members to take a commonsense, holistic approach to future planning in the area.

Among the ideas the Fresh Start group suggested for specific parcels of the Quads were an outdoor sports complex, a multi-use pavilion and buffer/visitor center, and an ecotourist lodge with a restaurant.

The commissioners did not ask staff to pursue any of the ideas.

This graphic shows the area of the Fruitville Road/I-75 Major Employment Center CAP and surrounding areas. Image courtesy Sarasota County

Additionally, in late November 2017, the commissioners directed staff to hire a consultant to analyze the potential for the sale and development of the county-owned Northwest Quad. After listening to an October 2018 presentation on the resulting report, then-Commissioner Paul Caragiulo cited ongoing concerns about the insufficiency of the road infrastructure in the area of the Quads to support any development. He indicated that a new industrial use — as the consulting firm, Lambert Advisory LLC of Miami, had suggested — could lead to greater safety issues.

Addressing Eric Luff, a principal of Lambert Advisory, Caragiulo referred to the area of Palmer Boulevard and Apex Road, saying that “just about anything [except] a lemonade stand not seating more than five people” would exacerbate the traffic problems.

Caragiulo then won unanimous support from his colleagues for staff to reopen the CAP that governs development of the area near Fruitville Road and I-75, so the Quads could be included in that CAP. The May 14 workshop is one step on that path.

The workshop has been scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Church of Hope, located at 1560 Wendell Kent Road.

This is one vista from the Celery Fields in eastern Sarasota County. image courtesy Sarasota County

A county news release about the session explains, “The purpose of this workshop is to provide the public information on the nature of the CAP study, and for staff to hear public comment on the study and other issues of concern in the area.”

Those unable to attend the workshop who would like to offer comments or ideas may mail them to Planning Services, 1660 Ringling Blvd., 1st Floor, Sarasota, FL 34236; email them to Planner@scgov.net; or call the county Contact Center at 861-5000, the release points out.

“Background information and supporting documents for the workshop can be found on the Planning and Development Services Calendar online at https://www.scgov.net/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/10155/5467or www.scgov.net; keyword: PDS Calendar, the release adds.

Proposals aplenty

The Planning and Development Services webpage already lists a number of proposals people have submitted for consideration as part of the CAP analysis.

Last year, the YMCA proposed a sports complex on one of the county-owned parcels next to the Celery Fields. Image courtesy Fresh Start Initiative

Further, leaders of the Fresh Start Initiative have offered comments in advance of the workshop. “The public record of this workshop goes to the [County Commission], which will decide the future of these public lands,” they wrote. Among their concerns, they added, are the following, with their emphasis.

• “Not everyone on the Board sees the point of using public lands for the public good. With thoughtful stewardship, public lands can provide needed public facilities and activities. Why sell them to enrich a couple of private developers?” (In late 2017, facing gaps in future budgets, the County Commission talked at length about selling surplus county property. The Quads were part of that discussion, though no effort is underway to market the parcels, pending the outcome of the new CAP analysis.)
• “Industrial uses will generate traffic, noise [and] dead space incompatible with the developing natural beauty of the Celery Fields area, and its recreational potential.
• “The scope of this process is narrow.… This plan should not exclude important considerations that PLANNING should be thinking about now, such as “future protective measures for wildlife, residents and visitors”; “the impacts of coming growth in East County”; and quality-of-life “benefits from safe roads and a tranquil environment.”

The following is a sampling of other comments county staff has received:

• The Community Land Trust of Sarasota, which describes itself as a not-for-profit entity “chartered to hold land in stewardship for all mankind, present and future, while preserving and protecting the legitimate use-rights of its residents,” proposes the Celery Fields Community Estate (CFCE).

This graphic shows potential development of Quads 1 and 2, as proposed by the Community Land Trust of Sarasota. Image courtesy Sarasota County

This graphic from the Community Land Trust of Sarasota shows potential development on the Northwest and Northeast Quads. Image courtesy Sarasota County

Among the components of the CFCE, the organization says, would be additional public parkland, a multi-use conference center, a farm-to-table restaurant, a public pavilion and café, and tiny home developments.

• Former Sarasota City Commissioner Susan Chapman suggests that the Quads be used as an auxiliary location for Selby Gardens’ greenhouses “and protected storage for priceless collections. A library could be built for the preservation of the rare horticultural books.”

• Jono Miller, retired director of New College’s Environmental Studies Program, wrote that he would “love to come brainstorm” the following idea with knowledgeable birders: how to simultaneously increase stormwater capacity, diversify the habitat types at the Celery Fields, create two types of roosting/nesting areas over water, create a restaurant “with great two-story views of the roosting/nesting areas” and provide a place for birders to stay next to the Celery Fields.

• A combination of a community co-op garden, a butterfly garden, a sculpture garden and an area with affordable housing for artists that would incorporate studios and teaching and production space.

• Greg Para, who has operated his nonprofit Sarasota Parrot Conservatory out of his home office and a large sanctuary in Manatee County, wrote that he would like to relocate the nonprofit’s facilities to the Quads. From that location, he indicated, he could continue to provide avian therapy for military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); undertake excursions with the birds to senior centers; and plan events for pediatric cancer patients.

• Another person proposed a wildlife and bird rehab center, with, perhaps, a children’s educational center and art center/gallery promoting Florida artists.

• Jono Miller and Rob Wright, conservation chair of the Sarasota Audubon Society, suggest that the county History Center could be relocated to the Southwest Quad, where it would have much more space to showcase its collection.

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Community Proposals shared with Sarasota Planning

Email regarding Community proposals sent to Sarasota Planning 4.23.19:

Dear Mr. Kirk and Ms. Grogg

Thank you for choosing to include proposals received from the community in the Critical Area Plan workshop on May 14 at the Church of Hope.

You have indicated that these will include the community input given to the County via Fresh Start. That initiative brought a lot of ideas to the table, which were presented to the Board on Sept. 12 of last year.

To ensure you have the complete set of our community's ideas, the links below will take you to that body of work. Many in the community wished to co-sign this email; their names are included below.

1. Fresh Start Sept. 12 Report 
2. Fresh Start July 11 Report
3. Video: Common Sense and Uncommon Opportunity: Our public lands at the Celery Fields 
4. Community proposals and ideas

We're happy to answer any questions.

Thank you,

Glenna Blomquist

Gary Walsh, President, Meadowwalk

Tom Matrullo

Signatories

Kathryn Young

Rev. Steve Baran

Phil Eboli

Mary M. Ostermann

Chris Bales

Christine Evans

James C. Wallace

President, Legends at Tatum Ridge (162 Homes)

Cathy Comora

Nicole Graham

Carlos Correa

Vickie French

Margaret Haas

Paula Berkowitz

Margo Rose - Gulfport

Wendy Oster - Bradenton

Dan Shire - Canada

Rhonda Stapleton 

Mona Johnson

Laurel Hamel

Diane Warmbier

Peter Blake

Ken Zajak

Andrea Courtney

Sue Schoettle

Joy de Bruyn

Virginia Pritt Hickey

Luigi Verace

Angy Angel

Suzanne Mauzey

Ximena Griffioen

Pat Coco Gill

Karyn Massi

Michelle Wilfong

Christine Hoffman

Fendell Dustin Pilsbury

Marsha Arrowsmith

Edie Dee

Chuck Behrmann

Ben Davis

Gayle Reynolds 

Conservation Chair, Manatee/Sarasota Sierra Club

Nancy Miller

Diane Wallace

Michelle van Schouwen

Lora Reed

Charles Preston Rawls

Bob Gorevan

Pam Koepf

Laurie Hutson

Pat Kaufman

Patricia Casey

Guy DiLullo

Virginie Zemler

Ligia Dovale-Kiamco

Harold Logan

Bertha Gabriel

Lynn Hautamaki

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Fresh Start Sarasota Blog

FreshStartSRQ

YouTube Channel

Many Proposals, One Proposition

To all who care about our public lands and Celery Fields:

Recently people from the community met with the lead planner for the Quad Parcel study now being conducted by the County. This "Critical Area Plan" will open the area to new possibilities. Below are two ways you can influence the outcome.

1. Proposals -- Many who were involved with Fresh Start either developed proposals or grew attached to one or more of those that were presented to the Board. As you know, the Board chose not to direct staff to work on any of our ideas.

What's next? The planning department is now conducting its study of the area. It will look at land uses, at the roads, and at surrounding areas. It will speak with "stakeholders," including the public - that workshop is being planned for mid-May, but the exact date is not yet set.

The results of Planning's research will be presented to the Board a few months from now - possibly in August or September - and at that time, the Board might direct staff to prepare a rezoning of one or more of the Quad parcels.

It would be great if the Board directs staff to prepare a land use rezoning that would allow one or more of the great ideas the community has birthed - and more ideas are on the way. Some truly remarkable and imaginative new proposals are in the works which you'll be hearing more about soon.

Bear in mind, Fresh Start was a limited Board/community process that is no longer active. People like you who remain committed to a bright future for the Celery Fields area must now remember that the Board can do one of three things with the Planning Dept.'s study:

It can direct staff to

a. rezone for compatible uses beneficial to the community.
b. rezone for industrial, commercial or other uses preparatory to a sale to a private developer.
c. do nothing at all (unlikely after this staff initiative).

How can we influence the decision makers to go with A rather than B or C? This is where #2 comes in:

2. Community Proposition: Residents and folks with businesses near the Quad parcels have begun working on a "Community Proposition" for the Quads. The basic idea is, prefer public uses to private development. Encourage beneficial community uses within an enabling positive framework. Note that this initiative doesn't propose specific uses for the parcels. Rather it's about preferring public A to private B - and is offering a way to benefit the entire area.

More about the Community Proposition soon. Meanwhile, if you have a proposal for one or more of the quad parcels, this is the time to send it to lead planner Steve Kirk at SKirk@scgov.net.

Mr. Kirk has indicated that part of the May workshop will involve the planning department's review of proposals that have been submitted up to that time. NOTE: this is likely to include only the 4 final proposals submitted by Fresh Start. If you developed an idea that was not one of the final 4 and still like it, please share it with Mr. Kirk.

All the information we've gathered about the proposals, the workshop, and the critical area plan process are now at this link.

Quads Workshop Info so far

When the date of the workshop is announced, it will be added, and we'll let you know.


Thank you for caring about our public spaces.

Tom Matrullo
Glenna Blomquist

Quads Workshop Info so far

Last fall, the Board of Sarasota County Commissioners directed Planning to undertake a new Critical Area Plan study of our public lands at the Celery Fields known as the "Quad Parcels," or just "Quads." 

Critical Area Plan Scope 

On Jan. 29, the Planning Dept. issued a memorandum outlining the Scope of Work for this study. That memo is here.

Lead County Planner Steve Kirk has been helpful in answering our questions about the process. The County is looking at a date in mid-May for the workshop, probably to be held in the evening. The date and venue have not yet been finalized. 

Note: Mr. Kirk says staff will review and discuss proposals submitted by the Fresh Start Initiative. We are aware that some new proposals are being developed within our communities. Anyone who has a new proposal is invited to submit it to Mr. Kirk at any time -- his contact information is at the end of this post.

Below are the responses to our queries thus far:

The public workshop will be an informal event and staff will be flexible in how it concludes. Timing speakers would be unnecessary, however, domination of discussions will be discouraged. 

Any input regarding CAP should be directed  to me at my address, phone number or email address below. The intent  of the workshop is to present to the public all the information the staff has at the time, and then hear ideas and feedback from those in attendance. The staff presentation will include any ideas related to the CAP or the County properties previously provided by the public, including those previously put forth by Fresh Start.  We will also include anything else we receive  prior to the workshop.  It will be made clear in our presentation that we will continue to take public input, and will welcome conversations on the CAP issues after the workshop, and until the CAP study is completed. 

The staff is beginning the study and preparing for the public workshop. 

We will record audio of the workshop.   

The work of the study will continue after the public workshop and should be completed within the 9 month period.  

As stated in the scope of work, once completed, a presentation and discussion of the study will be scheduled with the County Commission. What happens after completion of the study is at the discretion of the Commission and I would not speculate on what action they may take. However, should the Commission direct staff to amend the Critical Area Plan or rezone any of the County owned properties, the public hearing processes as required and outlined in the UDC and CAP regulations will be followed. The County owned “Quads” parcels are all zoned Open Use Rural (OUR), and industrial uses are not permitted. The establishment of an industrial use  would require a change of zoning to a district permitting such use. 

If the Board directs staff to rezone any of the parcels, staff would prepare and process a rezone application as required by the UDC including all necessary documentation. The preparation and processing of such an application, including public hearings, would likely take a minimum of 6 months. The CAP study authorized by the Board, on which we are now working, is not an application to amend the CAP or rezone any property.  It is intended to provide the Board with information to inform decisions in the area of the CAP. Notice of the public workshop will be posed on the Planning and Development Services Calendar on-line at  https://www.scgov.net/government/planning-and-development-services/pds-calendar.This calendar will link to documents related to the workshop. I cannot at this point tell you exactly when this will be posted, but approximately 2 weeks before the workshop.

Steve Kirk, AICP, ASLA 

Planner III 

Sarasota County Planning Services 

1660 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34236 

Office: 941-861-5202 

Email: skirk@scgov.net