Sarasota Livin'

Below is a written version of the comments on the EAR transmittal document I made at the City Commission Meeting Monday...

I am glad to live in a city that has such a strong commitment to neighborhoods that we have a neighborhood chapter in our comprehensive plan.

CCNA supports Laurel Park keeping its current RSM9 zoning. Many others have commented on why this is important. We support the results of the survey.

I will be documenting some of the sections of the neighborhood chapter that are important to CCNA.

CCNA is supportive of the Neighborhood Partnership Office (NPO) helping to setup neighborhood organizations. We support the involvement of residents, property owners and business owners in those organizations. We want to ensure that the process of creating a neighborhood organization not require more "formalities" than a newly formed association of people needs.

We strongly encourage the city to develop better online documentation of DRC / Development notices, minutes and status information. The investment in better web based communication is well worth the benefits to more transparent government.

As the City works with neighborhoods to develop Neighborhood Action Strategies once they are approved by the neighborhood and the City Commission they should be given priority during the implementation phase.

CCNA is very interested in the development of "Neighborhood Preservation and Enhancement Programs" – we need a landlord contact / registration program and need to ensure that rental units meet with health and safety codes.

Neighborhoods need to be given a strong voice at the table during development projects. Development in neighborhoods should have to be compatible with existing scale or provide some strong public benefit.

We need to tie all neighborhoods together with transportation options beyond cars. Sidewalks, bike paths and a renewed focus on the bus / trolley system are all important to many segments of our population. They are also priorities for new urbanist type design.

We need to encourage that all publicly owned property be more available to local associations (such as school buildings / athletic facilities)

We need to work on regulating the parking on all vehicles in public view. We should have understandable and enforced rules for boats, RV's, commercial vehicles, yard parking, and junk cars.