Sarasota Livin'

I attended the CONA (Sarasota Council of Neighborhood Associations) meeting last night. Anne McClung county Planning Director spoke about the "Fruitville Initiative" where the county is planning (not final) to create a "gateway" project East of I-75 near the library on land the county owns and several private parcels. The site would be an eco-friendly community focused on mixed use development.

Read the article by Dale White in the SHT here

"The neighborhood would be based on New Urbanist design principles and have gridded, pedestrian-oriented streets and several public gathering spaces. It may provide an opportunity to include moderately priced housing.

The county would require that all of the buildings meet "green" standards, such as water and energy efficiency and the use of recycled building materials.

The neighborhood would blend into a 300-acre, county-owned site of storm-water retention ponds commonly called the "Celery Fields." County officials want to create a passive recreation park at the Celery Fields for birdwatchers and horseback riders."