UPDATE on Quads workshop Monday March 22, 6 pm on Zoom

UPDATE: Here are the documents pertaining to the Quads Workshop of March 22, 2021:

Neighborhood Workshop Application

Workshop Powerpoint Presentation - County Planner Steve Kirk 

Recording of Workshop Discussion (Video file 50 min)

Brief Summary of Quads Workshop Public Comments

Related: The Kimley-Horn planning firm held a Neighborhood Workshop on 3.30.21. On behalf of Benderson Development, they propose to revise the allocated retail space of the Fruitville Initiative. Benderson owns the 40-acre parcel that borders the northern edge of the Celery Fields.

More including documents at this link.  

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There's an online public "Neighborhood Workshop" for anyone interested in the planning for the Quads Parcels and surrounding area this Monday, March 22, at 6 pm.

Kids at the Celery Fields

The Zoom meeting conducted by Sarasota Planning will afford people an opportunity to hear the county's thinking about the Quads as a "Gateway" with an open, expansive "viewshed." 

Three of the four parcels, which were placed under a perpetual easement in 2019, are proposed to be designated "GU" -- Government Use. The easement was granted on parcels 1, 2, and 4 to the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast with the supervision of the Sarasota Audubon Society.

The Quads parcels

One parcel -- #3 to the Northwest -- is proposed to be rezoned for a variety of possibly private uses, including light industry, on its "developable" four acres. This was done at the direction of Commissioner Al Maio. The northwest parcel already has a Fire Station.

Proposed rezoning designations

Under terms of the Conservation Easement worked out with the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast and Sarasota Audubon, the easternmost 6 acres of parcel #2 (southwest parcel) can be used for a civic structure. A history museum has been mentioned as one possibility for that section. The remainder of parcels 1, 2, and 4 will be under Audubon supervision as natural habitat consistent with the existing Celery Fields birding areas.

The workshop will be Zoom Meeting:

Monday, March 22, 2021 at 6 PM EDT – 7 PM EDT

  Duration: 1 hr

  Open to the Public

Link to the Zoom meeting

Planning Dept. notice of the meeting

The proposed rezonings are documented at this link

A similar document with proposed rezonings that is geared to the 3.22.21 Workshop

Recap before pending Celery Fields decisions

The Celery Fields offers residents the freedom of walking, exercising, birding, kayaking, fishing - as well as a touch of fresh air, cool breezes at the summit, fantastic sunsets and tranquility.

Celery Fields drone photo courtesy of Emanuel Guzman

While things might be quiet there now, they're not dull. At the moment, our public lands adjacent to the Celery Fields are in a suspended state. We await a critical area plan report that is anticipated to be released in time for a Nov. 6 Board discussion. What the Board decides then is likely to lead to rezonings, area plan amendments, and one or more key public hearings.

Below is a recap of recent activity regarding future possible decisions on the public Quad parcels near the nature and birding sanctuary.

After the Gabbert Waste Facility hearing of August 23, 2017, the Board never swayed from its plan to sell our public land to industrial or other uses. More than 60 people spoke to them at that hearing about all the reasons the public Quad parcels should serve uses that benefit the people. The Board did nothing.

In 2018, after 10 months of input from residents who initiated a formal process to bring ideas from the community for our public lands, the Board did nothing.

Meanwhile James Gabbert began work on his Waste Transfer Station (or, the WTF) on six acres of land he bought adjacent to Quad Parcel #2. Work is ongoing - this is a heavy industrial use situated on thin, failing roads; it will be visible to drivers along the Interstate. Commissioners Al Maio and Charles Hines voted to approve this plan of Gabbert's back in 2014. For more background, see this detailed timeline.

After one commissioner said no further uses - industrial or otherwise - ought to be considered on the Quad parcels unless something is done about the roads, the Board in January ordered the Planning Department to undertake a Critical Area Plan, or CAP of the Quad parcels and the surrounding area.

That process has continued since then. Lead planner Steve Kirk held a neighborhood workshop on May 14. The Church of Hope venue overflowed with citizens offering input. No one spoke in favor of selling our public lands for commercial or industrial uses.

In advance of the workshop, several new proposals or planning concepts were submitted to the Planning Department, which reposted them on this page.

After the May 14 workshop, a few new ideas arose as well:

• Sarasota Audubon proposed an Urban Forest on Parcel #1, the SE Quad next to the Celery Fields wetlands. Such a forest would offer diversified habitat for birds, new nesting areas, as well as walkable parkland for residents.

• The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast called for identifying a larger Rural Heritage Conservation Area that would offer a variety of uses and serve as a Central Park for eastern Sarasota, which is about to explode with new development. The area would include the Quad Parcels, the Celery Fields, and more properties totaling 1,300 acres.

Conservation Foundation Vision of Rural Heritage Area

• In June, Commissioner Hines threw out an idea to put affordable housing on Parcel #2, and said he'd like to see some action toward that end before the Board took its summer break beginning July 22. 

• Read more about both of these ideas here.

• In June, environmental advocate Jono Miller wrote to the Board advising against affordable housing on the Quad parcels. Miller proposed another possible use for the Quad parcels, a history and natural history center. 

• A similar suggestion for a combined museum and nature center forms part of the Celery Fields Community Estate group's proposal, which also includes a wealth of creative ideas for all four parcels.

Looking West at Sunset

A couple of days ago, lead CAP planner Steve Kirk offered a few updates by phone. Key points are summarized below (italicized sections are not from Kirk but from the editors):

• The May 14 workshop was the sole public workshop to be held in this process. The gist of the public input was clear - "pretty black and white," as he put it.

• Kirk aims to present results of the CAP study to the Board -- the tentative date is Nov. 6, 2019.

• Planning will transmit the critical area plan results - including community input - to the Board a week before the public discussion on Nov. 6 (or whenever it's held). No information about the findings of the area planning process will be available to the public before it is transmitted to the Board, Kirk noted. The Board authorized the report, and its contents will not be shared with the public ahead of when it's sent to the Board.

• When the Commissioners discuss the CAP, that discussion is not a public hearing. Yet, at that point, the Commissioners can do as they wish - they asked for the study, but are not bound by it, so they can ignore it and proceed to authorize a rezoning for whatever purposes they wish.

• Whatever the Commissioners decide, they will probably order a rezoning of the Quad parcels, and a CAP amendment to enable changes to the plan. They could even order a Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Kirk added. Each of these processes calls for a public hearing. For example, if the Board votes to rezone one or more parcels for industrial use, even if no industrial developer is known to be asking for it, that rezoning process can go forward.

EDITOR's NOTE: This could lead to a peculiar step in planning: At an industrial rezoning hearing, for example, the public will be given the opportunity to speak, but there might be no information as to what sort of industrial use could eventually go on these lands near the Celery Fields. Should the Board decide to authorize industrial rezoning, respect for the area and for the community demands that any such directive be very specific, and include strong proactive and protective constraints: No heavy industry, no trucks, no environmental pollution, no eyesores, etc. Anything less would open the doors to yet another Gabbert waste facility, giant slovenly warehouse, or worse.

Commissioners Hines and Detert

The Board has not yet given any indication to Planning about affordable housing. They could address the issue upon their return. A"Think Tank" workshop for the Board is scheduled for Aug. 21.

While the Commissioners could direct planning to take steps to put affordable housing on the Quad parcels, doing so before the CAP process is complete would be out of sequence.

If the Board has any respect for sound planning or for the community, it will allow the planning department to complete a rigorous critical planning process, then use the results as the basis for considering the best options for our public lands at the Celery Fields.

Courtesy of Chuck Behrmann

Public Workshop on the public lands at the Celery Fields May 14, 2109

Critical Area planning workshop about the "Quads" -- 38 acres of public lands at the Celery Fields, Sarasota FL.

Sarasota Audubon: Nurturing uses for our public lands at the Celery Fields

Public Planning Workshop: Tuesday May 14, 6 p.m.
Church of Hope: 1560 Wendell Kent Road, 34240

Jeanne Dubi's SRQBirdAlert:

On Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. at the Church of Hope, Sarasota County staffers will hear plans proposed by various groups for the Quad parcels at the intersection of Apex/Palmer Blvd at the Celery Fields. Sarasota Audubon is submitting its Audubon Woods plan for the Quad parcels.

It would buffer the Celery Fields from further development while expanding and enhancing bird habitat and providing more opportunities for passive recreation; ADA  accessible paths through a woodland are included.

We’ve targeted 2 species that used to call the Celery Fields area home: Eastern Towhee and Northern Bobwhite. We also witnessed the dislocation of Bald Eagles’ nesting areas as development encroached upon them. Creating a buffer around the Celery Fields is crucial.

As part of a wider vision for the Celery Fields and the surrounding areas, the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is developing a Rural Conservation Area plan. Once put in place, this would protect the lands east of Center Road and west of Tatum School from intense housing development. Sarasota Audubon wholeheartedly endorses this plan.

Other plans range from intense use to sensible use. Please come out to “see and hear” on Tuesday. The more we know, the more we can plan our strategies to protect the Celery Fields. Not all plans have been uploaded to the SC.gov website, but here are some.

                                                                       Jeanne Dubi, Sarasota Audubon

                                                                     Audubon Woods imagery 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.

Our chance to speak for public lands

Courtesy of the Sarasota News Leader

Subscribe to the SNL

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

An update on County actions on the Quad Parcels

The County has initiated a process. Its aim is to decide what to do about four parcels of public land at Apex Rd. and Palmer Blvd. which the County acquired in 1997, commonly called the Quads.

Two parcels (#1 and #2) have lain vacant for 22 years. Parcel #3 has had a temporary fire station, but will soon have a permanent one. Parcel #4 has a retention pond.

The Planning Department's process, called a Critical Area Plan, is intended to take a new look at these parcels in the context of surrounding lands, assets and uses. Part of the decision about how these parcels are rezoned will depend on which surroundings are considered most relevant.

The immediate surroundings include:

Quads and partial surrounding context

• The Celery Fields
• Small office and warehouse facilities north and south of the Quads
• Thousands of new homes and apartments built on East Palmer Blvd., on Debrecen, on Lorraine (formerly Iona), on Cattlemen Rd., and more -- all since the Quads were acquired.
• Tatum Ridge elementary school.
• The commercial area just west of I-75 that includes Detwilers, JRs Packinghouse Cafe, and many more businesses.
• The Fruitville Initiative - now underway at Coburn and Fruitville, which will eventually contain more than 1,000 new residences.
• Ackerman Park

In mid-May (date not yet set), the Planning Department will hold one public meeting to hear input from our communities. The Board got an earful on Aug. 23, 2017, when more than 300 people attended an all-day hearing on a proposal from waste developer James  Gabbert, who wanted to buy parcel #2 and build a 16-acre, open air waste processing facility. The proposal eventually was voted down 3-2, with Commissioners Maio and Moran voting for Gabbert's waste facility.

These are public lands, but the Board, especially Commissioners Maio and Moran, have indicated preference for selling these 30+ acres to private developers. Industrial developers such as Robert Waechter and James Gabbert have long supported the political careers of Maio and Moran. Waechter owns several dilapidated warehouses just south of parcel #2 and has been strongly in favor of putting more industry on the Quads.

Here an update on the May meeting from the lead planner for the county's Critical Area Plan process, Steve Kirk:

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. 

Let me know if you have questions. 

Planner III
Sarasota County Planning Services
1660 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34236
Office: 941-861-5202
Email: skirk@scgov.net

Steve Kirk, AICP, ASLA

*Editor's note: Fresh Start was a community-based initiative to propose uses for the Quad parcels that were alternatives to industry. The community provided many ideas which were vetted then voted on by community representatives. Four "finalist" ideas were presented which included a public open space and buffer for the Celery Fields birding area; an ecolodge and restaurant; an athletic complex, and an area of shops and affordable housing. The Board chose to pursue none of these ideas, or to respond to the community's vision. Instead, it paid $29,000 to a Miami consultant, Lambert Advisory, which advised industrial use on parcel #3, leading to this new Critical Area Plan.

When the date / time of the public meeting is set, we'll let you know.

Celery Fields looking west