5. The Quad Parcels - Utilities
Utilities Potable water and wastewater systems will be served by Sarasota County Utilities. Reclaimed water is not currently available to these sites. Potable water is available through either an existing 16-inch DI potable water main along Palmer Boulevard or a 12-inch PVC potable water main along Apex Road. The water distribution system will need to be extended in a manner that minimizes dead ends by providing a looped system that reduces the need for the flushing of water lines. Wastewater service is available through an 8-inch gravity line located along Apex Road. The Fancy Farms Lift Station that serves the Quads parcels, near the corner of Apex Road and Tower Lane, has limited capacity available. Currently the lift station can accept up to 18 EDU’s, (3,600 gallons per day (GPD) of average daily flow) from the Quads parcels. This lift station currently accepts wastewater flows from the Fruitville Library, SWFWMD office, the Fruitville Park of Commerce, and the Texaco station at the corner of Fruitville Road and East Road (the Fruitville East developments).
During the planning for the Fruitville Initiative (SPA 3) development, Public Utilities identified the need for a new forcemain along Coburn/Apex Road to accept new flow from SPA 3.
Public Utilities intends to enter into an oversize agreement with a developer when the first increment of SPA 3 south of Fruitville Road is ready construct. This is expected to occur within the next 3-5 years. At that time, and with the new oversized forcemain in service, flow from the Fruitville East developments will be redirected into the new forcemain in order to gain back additional capacity in the Fancy Farms Lift Station that could be made available to serve additional development on the Quads parcels.
"Public Utilities intends to enter into an oversize agreement with a developer when the first increment of SPA 3 south of Fruitville Road is ready construct."The above sentence is too vague. Intent or not of Public Utilities, unless the county has a contract in writing with financial costs associated and share cost analysis with the undetermined "Developer" this leaves the public, who will be responsible for this co-paying of using county tax dollars way, way too vague. And has county history has shown, time and time again, the burden of financial costs falls squarely on Sarasota county and not the developers. We, the people are tired of picking up Developer's costs and corporation welfare. The county MUST provide accurate forecasting, not vague intent.
5. The Quad Parcels - Environmental
The Quads parcels have historically been under agricultural cultivation. The area was used for vegetable production between 1924 and 1995 that would have involved the use of agri- chemicals. In addition, soils with arsenic levels above the residential soil cleanup target level were stockpiled on the sites. Because of this history, it is recommended that some site assessment work be done to determine what, if any, action should be taken prior to development. Similar site assessment activities were recently completed on the new fire station site.
"... it is recommended that some site assessment work be done to determine what, if any, action should be taken prior to development. Similar site assessment activities were recently completed on the new fire station site."
"some" site assessment is too vague on land that Mr. Hines is suggestion affordable housing. Human beings should not be housed, poor or wealthy, on land that clearly has issues of such varied soil contamination.
N.W. Quad: There are no native habitats or grand trees, and a cluster of four cabbage palms is located at the south east corner of the site. Evidence of listed wildlife species has not been previously documented, however, prior to development, a professional wildlife survey will be required. A landscape buffer of live oaks planted 25-feet on center exists along the north property line on the adjacent property. A 0.4 opacity landscape buffer will be provided with development of the fire station site adjacent to this parcel.
" Evidence of listed wildlife species has not been previously documented, however, prior to development, a professional wildlife survey will be required."
In 2017 Matt Osterhoudt performed the county study on the parcels that the county tried to sell to TST Ventures & Restaurant Depot. Mr. Osterhoudt reported during that he had not witnessed any wildlife species. People in the community have demonstrated and can do so again, that if the survey were performed by a professional naturalist, bird, insect and wildlife can be easily documented with our very own human eyeballs and good pair of binoculars.This type of study takes patience and not just a couple hours.
As I am sure you are aware, Florida's Sunshine Laws are among the strongest in the nation, giving every citizen access to the information necessary for participating in the democratic process. These laws protect a citizen's right to know how government operates, making information such as public events, government meeting minutes, and court proceedings available. The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller's office fully supports transparency and accountability.
I insist that Sarasota County perform its "wildlife study" with Sarasota Audubon and a few other community witnesses. Must species counts are done in group, not solo, not one human, groups. The hours of this study should be conducted in a wide range of hours, i.e. a full day of observation on the N.W. Quad, early a.m. hours when birds are busy. You know that phrase, "the early bird gets the worm," well it is true. Early a.m. to mid p.m. and for consideration late p.m. hours, because while Mr. Osterhoudt is sleeping, wildlife carries on during evening hours too.
To save time, the above should be applied to the SW & SE Quad parcels as well.
Potential Development Conditions
The following conditions related to Palmer Boulevard and the development of the Quads parcels are intended to preserve and enhance the open character of the Palmer Boulevard corridor within the CAP and the connected open space and views of the Celery Fields identified earlier in this study. Some of the elements of the conditions are illustrated in Figure 21.
• Establish limitations on the construction of buildings or other structures on the N.E. Quad and the northeast portion of the S.E. Quad in order to preserve the Palmer Boulevard/Celery Fields open space/view shed.
The county report is way too vague, if the county insists on selling these public lands, determination of the structures that may be developed must be presented to the public.
• Establish Palmer Boulevard building setbacks and landscape buffers measured from the 170-foot roadway section. Building setbacks should be a minimum of 35-feet.
35 feet building setbacks imply that density will be built up.
• Establish building height limitations based on proximity to Palmer Boulevard.
35 feet building setbacks imply that development's only choice on these tiny parcels is density and the thrust will be to build up.
Why has staff not given examples now, in this report? This is too vague, there is enough data out there for county staff to provide accurate height limitations now. Staff needs to provide established building height limitatioads, ons TODAY.
Considering the Benderson Stickney Point/Tamiami Trail development, density, set backs and height has been changed a number of times due to county mistakes and Benderson pressure to build whatever a Benderson-type manages to shove through.
• Provide regulations and/or guidelines on landscape materials and elements, including lighting, to be used along the Palmer Boulevard roadway frontage and within the Palmer Boulevard/Celery Fields view shed.
The word “Guidelines” are too wiggly. The Celery Fields need to be protected from lighting due to the known dangers of lighting used at night. A recent article in the NY TImes,
The 9/11 Tribute Lights Are Endangering 160,000 Birds a Year, cites that light during the night causes birds to collide into buildings. Death from evening lights put up by humans confuses birds and is responsible for as many as 600 million bird deaths a year across the U.S. This information comes from Audubon.
There should be NO more additional lighting added for p.m. lighting near the Celery Fields or quad properties. Period.
• Establish minimum open space and architectural design criteria for buildings constructed on Quads parcels to ensure a high level of design and quality development.
Again, staff is too vague, "Establish minimum” implies the county will be very hands off and grant a potential developer the directive of establishing criteria for the Quads. This is unacceptable. Anything that may be developed on these lands must involve the community. Essentially, if this open ended "establish minimum" sentence stands, a Developer gets to use Sarasota County staff and commission as a concierge service for almost whatever they try to develop to build on Quad parcels.
Mobility
Traffic Generation For the purpose of understanding the traffic impacts resulting from the development of various uses of the Quads parcels, trip generation tables, located in Appendix B, were constructed using the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation. Separate tables are provided for each parcel based on the differing acreage. The number of units (square feet, residential units) for each use represents a maximum or reasonable build-out of each parcel. Plans were developed (Appendix C) using the S.W. Quad as a model to establish a basis for the number of units for various uses.
We insist, county staff, along with whatever consultant is hired, must include community witnesses.
The study must be performed during the hours of 7AM - 7PM, during dates that will ensure accurate traffic count numbers during high season, school season, and should be performed Monday - Friday along with a Saturday during high season. Measurements should include number of cars, motorcycles, bicycles, neighborhood walkers, traffic in and out of Audubon, etc.
From past mobility traffic generation reports, we, the public, have no way of really believing the staff reports. As what I have witnessed, along with knowing many people who live off of Palmer have said to me, in addition to businesses at the intersection of Palmer and Cattleman, the county traffic reports are negligent in their numbers and low ball the reality that further introduction of more vehicles to this area for industrial development does the community no favors.
Respectfully submitted for the county commission packet for the November 6th meeting.
Adrien Lucas
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