Oct. 15, 2019 Email to Sarasota Planning

Dear Mr. Osterhoudt, Ms. Grogg, and Mr. Kirk,

I wish to point you to a concept touched on in a story in today's Herald Tribune, entitled Celery Fields lovers keep an eye on the land next door.

The point has to do with the evolution of something new - unplanned, unanticipated. When this happens, and when it's a good thing, is it not in the public interest for this new beneficence to be recognized, its trending potential protected, and its future prospects planned for?

Is the best way to do this to act as if nothing has happened, and it's still 1975? 

It's not every day that a code-based bureaucracy has to grapple with a radically new natural phenomenon. But you know, that's where you might find something to be enthusiastic about -- a challenge to entrenched ways of seeing and doing, an unexpected grace of Nature that calls for an equally unexpected grace of human imagination and spirit.

It is profoundly disappointing that our elected officials have so far been unmoved by self-evident natural beauty and community commitment to the Celery Fields.

It's not clear from our reading of the CAP [Critical Area Plan] that you've taken a close enough look at the community that will be impacted by whatever goes on the Quads. How many of the questions below does your CAP actually explore?

Please request more time if necessary to do a full visioning plan for the entire Celery Fields Area. There is no rush - no one is at the door, seeking to build there. This would be a very good moment to explore the beauty and graces of the New.

Questions appended below.

Respectfully,

Tom Matrullo

There’s a great deal of knowledge about the area that this CAP should see as its duty to address -- real-life factors for thousands of people who now live there:

1. What do actual trends in the industrial park show in terms of vacancies, land prices, rental prices?
2. Why is no one seeking to purchase the MEC parcels in the 240 acres of the Fruitville Initiative for industry? 
3. Where are the vectors that would demonstrate the obvious fact that Board actions have changed the area in an overwhelming way to residential and recreational?
4. Traffic analysis should include the peak times, patterns and needs of the immediate community.
5. How many school children ride how many buses to school that stop on Palmer Blvd.? Why do they stop right in front of the Celery Fields Parking Lot and block all traffic in both directions? How can this be improved?
6. How many people use the Celery Fields, at what times of day, what days of the week, for what purposes?
7. How many groups use the Celery Fields for sports training, environmental studies, teaching, birdwatching, picnicking, stargazing, photography, dogwalking, kayaking, exercise, wedding photos and so many more purposes?
8. With evermore recreational users and visitors - human and avian - from elsewhere, what plans are underway to to meet  anticipated needs for parking and complementary activities such as a place to sit and enjoy a meal?

Without fully studying the area, how can you possibly plan in a way that offers reliable estimates of probable impacts?

Above except from Comment of Oct. 5.

Statement to the Board regarding Quads Critical Area Plan

This statement on reopening the Critical Area Plan (CAP) of the public lands near the Celery fields was presented in Open to the Public and via email on Jan. 29, 2019. It is necessary to remind our elected officials that this is public land because they make decisions like this. 

1.29.2019

To:      The Board of Sarasota County Commissioners
From:  Tom Matrullo
RE:     Critical Area Plan for the Quad Parcels/Celery Fields Area

Commissioners,

As you know, the Quad parcels have galvanized public attention here for the past two years.

The excellent planning memorandum on the CAP clearly indicates that this process holds promise for a new vision of these public lands and the Celery Fields area. Mr. Osterhoudt and Mr. Kirk state:

An analysis of the general conditions should be performed for the entire CAP area.

Further, they describe possible uses for these public parcels, including #6:

Park, recreation indoor/outdoor, civic/cultural

The Memo promises to examine mobility, buffering, landscaping, aesthetics, architectural design, and connection with the Celery Fields, as well as to identify incompatible uses. All this is music to the ears of the communities of the Fresh Start Initiative.

We fully agree that all citizens of Sarasota County are equal stakeholders, as the memo states:

… ensure public input from interested individuals and organizations, property owners and occupants within the CAP area, as well as users of the Celery Fields facilities.

As fiduciary stewards of our public lands, your Scope of Work needs to be open, transparent, and inclusive. We recommend that you incorporate three clarifying elements in this process:

1. Make unambiguously clear that no preference or deference will be given to any particular group who might provide input to the amendment process. The phrase “stakeholders and the general public” be amended to clarify that all citizens are equal stakeholders. 
2. The Board might legitimately seek input from specific subgroups of “stakeholders,” so long as the openness of this process is honored. Make sure every meeting is advertised and open to all. 
3. The process might find compelling reason to amend the boundaries of the CAP. Your Scope of Work should allow flexibility of boundaries for such contingency. 

Finally, make the most of this opportunity to meet pressing community needs -- affordable workforce housing, athletic facilities, civic spaces for thousands of future residents. The Celery Fields is an exceptional eco-tourist destination in need of parking and supplementary facilities. 

This process can address all these considerations.

Commissioners, the people of Sarasota want this to succeed. At the end of the day, if done right, our community will have a new vision of the area -- one that respects these important assets, protects them for future synergies, and connects them with crucial community benefits.

Thank you.

Tom Matrullo

Public "Quad" parcels

Quad parcels and Celery Fields