The Florida Statutes, Section 163.3191, require the City to define and address "major issues" as part of its Evaluation and Appraisal Report.

A major issue is:

• Not defined by the State
• Determined locally
• A narrowly defined matter of concern to the existing and future development of the local community

The Florida Statutes require that issues be determined with the assistance of other state and local agencies, the public and the elected officials.

For Example
“ Transportation” in general is not an issue.
Congestion on a certain road segment could be an issue.

Click Here for a Comment Sheet
to record your opinion on Major Issues

Possible Major Issues to be Considered in the City's E.A.R.

(Staff have identified these issues as possible major issues that should be considered during the evaluation of the Sarasota City Plan. These issues will change, become better defined or be eliminated as a result of input from the public, other local agencies and the City Commission.)

Economic development & redevelopment in the Newtown community

• Implementation of the Newtown Redevelopment Plan – Future Land Use Map revisions
• Transportation Concurrency Management Area (TCMA) (a system to better manage traffic calculations in the area.)
  
  Affordable housing
• Provision and management of affordable housing in or near downtown
• Affordable Housing Trust Fund
  
  Transportation, especially downtown
• Implementation of the Downtown Mobility Study
• Disposition of the Transportation Concurrency Exception Area (TCEA) downtown.
  (a system to manage traffic calculations downtown.)

The major issues identified by the City Commission in the adopted E.A.R. document will be addressed in a revised comprehensive plan that is required to be adopted in 2007. Members of the public are invited to share their thoughts on the major issues facing the City at this time by sending mail to: EARFeedback@sarasotagov.com.

SCOPING MEETING
The Planning and Redevelopment Department began the City's effort to identify major issues during the staff preparation phase of the EAR process. Issues were clarified for staff during a required E.A.R. Scoping meeting held in June 2004. Representatives from the following state, local and regional agencies participated in that meeting;

• FL Department of Community Affairs
• FL Department of Transportation
• FL Department of Environmental Protection
• Southwest FL Florida Water Management District
• Southwest FL Regional Planning Council
• Sarasota County Growth Management
• Longboat Key Planning & Zoning Department
• Manatee County Planning Services
• School Board of Sarasota County
• Office of Housing and Community Development
• City Engineering Department
• City Public Works Department