Downtown Master Plan Project Background


	Background: The City of Sarasota was first laid out in 1886 under the direction of Colonel J. H. Gillespie. In 1924 the well known Massachusetts planner, John Nolen was hired to update and organize the City's growth plan. In 1986, following a 1983 report by the American Institute of Architects' Regional Urban Design Assistance Team (RUDAT) a downtown master plan (also known as the Community Redevelopment Area Plan) was completed and adopted by the City. The 1986 Plan provided the framework for many downtown Sarasota projects including: the bayfront improvements, Main Street streetscape and storefronts, Five Points Park, Civic Center development, Theater and Arts District (TAD) zoning west of Five Points Park, and Commercial/Residential Transition (CRT) zoning in the Towles Court area. In October 1999 the City Commission moved to update the Downtown Master Plan. Following a year of intensive civic involvement the City of Sarasota Downtown Master Plan 2020, prepared by the consultant firm of Duany Plater - Zyberk was adopted on January 22, 2001.
	Project Boundaries: The 2000 plan update included the area within the existing Community Redevelopment Area and a proposed area of expansion. See map below.

	Project Goal and Objectives: The goal for updating the Downtown Master Plan was to create a framework that would facilitate private development and investment in public infrastructure in a manner that achieves the following objectives: · Building Forms Compatible with the City's Vision: To create building forms of a character and scale that achieve the City's vision of a " City of urban amenities with small town living and feeling". · Attractive Public Open Spaces and Pedestrian Ways: To create attractive public open spaces and pedestrian ways that are complemented by adjacent building forms, enhanced by public art, and connect to adjoining neighborhoods. · Increased Housing: To increase the proportion of housing and provide a range of housing types consistent with the City's vision. · Economic, Cultural and Governmental Center: To facilitate economic development and ensure that downtown remains the economic, cultural and governmental center of the metropolitan area. · Supportive Infrastructure: To provide support facilities, including vehicular circulation, parking, mass transIT and signage, in a manner that is functional, economically feasible, and supportive of a pedestrian environment. · Economically Feasible: To implement the plan within the fiscal constraints of the City.
	The Consultant Team: Following a thorough selection process, the City Commission on January 3, 2000 authorized a contract with Duany/Plater - Zyberk (DPZ) from Miami as the lead firm to prepare the Plan. Andres Duany will lead the team. The Sarasota firm of Cardinal, Carson + Parks provided local coordination and played a lead role in the inventory and analysis of existing conditions. Hall Engineering from Tallahassee provided transportation expertise. The DPZ firm has been involved in several similar master planning efforts including a downtown plan for the City of West Palm Beach, a plan for Fifth Avenue in Naples, and a downtown master plan for Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
	The project was divided into the following phases: Phase 1 - Data Inventory and Analysis - February 14 - April 25, 2001 The process included: collection, review and analysis of pertinent physical and statistical data; a review and analysis existing plans; and meetings with groups to organize issues. Phase 2 - The Design Charrette - April 26 - May 2, 2001 One of the primary techniques used by DPZ in preparing plans is the design charrette. The charrette was an intense, week-long process that included dialogue with representatives from a wide variety of interest groups in fifteen well attended sessions. Alternative schemes were explored and recommendations were presented to the public. Over 200 and 400 people attended the opening and closing sessions of the design charrette. Phase 3 - Preliminary Draft Plan Completion - May 3 - July 19, 2001 The Preliminary Draft Downtown Master Plan was completed on July 19. IT included the following chapters: · Introduction · General · Districts · Downtown Proper · Neighborhoods · Transportation · Infill Architecture · Commercial Development · Redevelopment Structure · Implementation Management Phase 4 - Review of the Preliminary Draft Downtown Master Plan - August 8 - 24, 2001 A series of public workshops and meetings were held to receive public input, provide recommendations regarding this input from DPZ and City staff and to provide direction from the Community Redevelopment Agency for completion of the completed consultant plan. These steps included: · Workshop of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Planning Board to receive an overview of the plan; · Meeting of the CRA and Planning Board to receive public input; · Open House with Andres Duany; · Meeting of the CRA and Planning Board to receive DPZ and City Project Team Recommendations regarding issues raised by the public; and · Meeting of the CRA and Planning Board to provide direction for the consultant's final plan. An "Issues / Recommendations / Directions Matrix" was used to manage and document this phase of the process. Phase 5 - Consultant Plan Completion - October 25, 2001 A Consultant Plan (including the same elements of the preliminary draft plan plus a "Codes in General" chapter) was prepared incorporating input from phase 4. Phase 6 - Public Hearings and Adoption - October 25 - January 22, 2001 The Planning Board and Community Redevelopment Agency held a series of public hearings and meetings on the Consultant's Plan. The City Commission adopted the Downtown Master Plan on January 22, 2001. On December 31, 2001 DPZ presented SmartCode Version 1.0 as the regulatory implementation tool of the Plan, with a revised Version 2.1 provided on July 16, 2001. For More Information: For more information on the Sarasota Downtown Master Plan please contact: John Burg Planning and Development Department (941) 954-4195 john_burg@ci.sarasota.fl.us Planning Home \| City of Sarasota Home