Proposal makers offer a glimpse of ideas for lands at the Celery Fields

Sarasotans took time from their Valentine's Day festivities Wednesday to hear from residents who have proposals-in-progress for the public lands at the Celery Fields. The meeting was held by the Fresh Start Initiative, a community effort to find value-adding uses for three parcels owned by the County near the Celery Fields.

The ideas are among more than 25 proposed uses that the Initiative has received so far. The process is open to anyone interested -- proposals should be sent to FreshStartSarasota@gmail.com by March 1.

Three who are developing proposals came and offered thumbnail sketches of their ideas:

Chris Bales shared her concept of an athletic facility that would feature Pickleball, and possibly Tennis and Soccer on Parcel #2. The facility would offer parking, restrooms, and could have room for a cafe or other eatery, she said.

John Pether described what would be the largest and most advanced historical exploration center in Florida -- a 100,000 s.f. facility where visitors would experience the natural and cultural history of Florida via virtual and augmented reality. Soundbite:

And Susan Chapman described an "Adaptation" facility consisting of greenhouses and a library for Marie Selby Botanical Gardens' rare horticultural books -- a protected storage facility for valued parts of its collection well away from the low-lying downtown floodzone.

Concern for the area has attracted wider attention. On Feb. 6 while visiting Sarasota, Florida's head of the Department of Environmental Protection pointed to the community's concern for the Celery Fields. Noah Valenstein said:

Conservation efforts “really become powerful when you have that connection to the community,” Valenstein said, highlighting the Celery Fields in Sarasota as a prime example of the community rallying to protect a natural resource. Herald Tribune

And on March 12, the president of the National Audubon President David Yarnold will address environmental concerns, among them the Celery Fields.

Proposals for the Quad Parcels at the Celery Fields: How-To Guide

If you’re considering a use or activity that would genuinely enhance public parcels that lie between the Celery Fields and the Packinghouse district, the Fresh Start Initiative wants to hear from you before March 1.

The Fresh Start Initiative is a community-based effort that began after Aug. 28, 2017. That day, thanks to a huge turnout of concerned, articulate advocates, the Sarasota County Commission voted 3-2 against a proposed Waste Facility on Parcel #2 of “The Quads,” the parcels at Apex Rd. and Palmer Blvd.

Thanks to you, visitors to the Celery Fields today do NOT see a 16-acre, open-air waste processing facility under construction. Better ideas are out there, and we know where. They're in the minds and hearts of Sarasotans who know the Celery Fields, and what is necessary to make this area a vibrant and diverse gateway to East County.

The County says it needs to sell or use these parcels to help close a budget gap. Fresh Start has a goal to facilitate a few really good conceptual proposals that meet four criteria:

1 - enhance the beauty of the surrounding area

2 - provide practical benefit for residents and businesses who live and work nearby

3 - serve as a catalyst for a new and diverse destination that includes a fabulous natural landscape within walking distance of urban life.
4 - provide economic benefit to the county.

What to do?

• Submit your proposal FreshStartSarasota@gmail.com by March 1st.
• Attend the initial Proposal Review set for March 15th (details to come)
• Come to the April 10th public workshop where the community will choose proposals.

What should the proposal contain?

-- Fresh Start has compiled relevant info about each of the two parcels (SE and SW) which the County has given us a limited time to consider -- dimensions of the parcels, images of the area, underlying land use designations, and other conditions (see “Tools” below).

-- A proposal should present a vision of the use(s) it describes, and provide estimates of structures, sizes, costs. Would the parcel be purchased in whole or part by whoever is doing the proposed use, or leased? Or given to the entity that would make the necessary improvements?

-- A proposal need not have highly detailed plans, but should contain clear conceptual descriptions, accompanied if possible by visual aids, and a statement as to why the concept would be a good fit for the parcel and the area.

Some Tools for Proposals for Quad Parcels #1 and #2

Basic factsheet on the parcels

Specific Dimensions

Duany Study of Celery Fields Area 2006

County Land Use Data for Quads

Background & Context

That’s it. Please share this information with your neighbors, and bear in mind the March 1st deadline. Feel free to direct any questions to FreshStartSarasota@gmail.com

Thank you.

The Executive Council for the Fresh Start Initiative

Tom Matrullo, Marguerite Malone, Carlos Correa, Glenna Blomquist, Gary Walsh

Planning a proposal? Here's a factsheet on the Quad Parcels

If you plan to work on a citizens' community proposal for the Quad Parcels, some basic info is below.

Timing:

We ask that proposals be submitted to CeleryFieldsForever@gmail.com by March 1. A review of proposals is tentatively scheduled for March 15, and a public workshop to determine which proposals will be submitted to the County is tentatively set for March 30th -- confirmation of dates, times and locations TBA.

Quad Parcels #1, #2, #3 at Apex Rd. and Palmer Blvd.

The Quad Parcels:

Parcel #1: 13 acres, Southeast Quadrant of Palmer Boulevard and Apex Road:

Immediately adjacent to Celery Fields wetlands, this parcel can buffer the preserve and offer low-intensity commercial and public uses on the east side of Apex Road that are compatible with the Celery Fields as an international birding area. 

Goal: Identify compatible and enhancing public and commercial uses for the community.

Update: The County Commission took this parcel off of the Surplus Lands List on Jan. 30, 2018. For now it is Open Use Rural Zoning, but further land use changes are possible. 

Parcel #2: 10.7 acres, Southwest Quadrant of Palmer Boulevard and Apex Road:

A planned, already approved, 6-acre waste transfer station is adjacent to the west side of the parcel, separated by a treeline.   

This parcel is a transition parcel between the Celery Fields and the Packinghouse district, west of Apex.

Currently authorized future land use: Office-professional with Apex corner set aside for commercial. 

Goal: Identify uses consistent with transition from Celery Fields to Packinghouse.

Linear Dimensions of Parcels #1 and #2

Not for community proposals:

Parcel #3: 6.9 acres in the Northwest Quadrant of Palmer Boulevard and Apex Road (currently has temporary fire station).

The Board has decided to hire a commercial broker to rezone Parcel #3:

Coordination between Fresh Start and County is recommended.

Aerial close up

Courtesy of the Sarasota News Leader