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CITY CONSIDERS
DOWNTOWN GREEN SPACE POLICY
Sarasota, FL. The City of Sarasota will look
to enhance its green thumb in the downtown area when the
City Commission considers downtown green space draft policies
Monday. Consideration of the draft policies will be on the
Commission’s agenda of its regular meeting on May 19th,
at 2:30pm at City Hall. Public input will be welcome.
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Chief Planner
John Burg will present the Commission with policy recommendations
that include
the protection of the 129 acres of existing downtown parks,
management of the urban forest and a process to improve the
present streetscape design of downtown. “We all agree
Main Street can be improved visually,” says Burg, adding
that many existing plantings “look tired.” |
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The
recommendations include a focus on street bulbouts with plants,
flower beds
and use of pervious surfaces. Bulbouts provide an opportunity
for landscape improvements at intersections and mid-block
locations. New designs would seek a balance between hard
surfaces, plantings
and (where appropriate) outdoor dining. “In the urban
core, bulbouts are one of the few opportunities where you can
provide visual plantings,” says Burg. Existing street
trees will continue to be maintained.
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Burg says the initiatives would
create a more beautiful downtown, attracting shoppers and diners
to Main Street and beyond. The redesign of the streetscape
could be accomplished as part of a Business Improvement District
(BID) with a partnership between the City and business owners
to help with maintenance of the improvements. |
The green space draft policies are the result of public
input received at a workshop held in January. Over 120
people attended and provided their comments.
For more information, please contact:
John Nopper, Public Broadcasting Coordinator 941-954-4160
John.Nopper@sarasotagov.com
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