Sarasota 2050 plan faces possible revisions

Developers in Sarasota County won a small victory recently when county commissioners, by a 4-1 vote, agreed to reopen Sarasota 2050 to possible revisions.

The 2050 plan, approved in 2002, was the county's answer to urban sprawl. It was supposed to create a business-friendly atmosphere for developers to build pedestrian-friendly villages in underserved areas of the county, particularly east of Interstate 75.

But the 2050 plan, instead, choked development and growth. The recession, of course, played a role in the slowdown. Yet more than a decade after 2050 passed, only one project has been built through it: Neal Communities' Grand Palm in Venice.

Developers, including representatives from Lakewood Ranch-based Neal Communities and Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the firm behind Lakewood Ranch in east Manatee County, spoke with county officials about the 2050 plan flaws. Some developers say the plan is too restrictive and the rules lack flexibility, especially in the types of housing and density limitations.

Commissioners agree. They directed county planning staff to study and propose changes in the next two months. The county will then schedule a series of public hearings to debate the possible changes.