Commission delays UTC expansion vote

After more than three hours of debate, Sarasota commissioners again held off a decision on whether to allow Benderson Development to expand its University Town Center project, surrounding The Mall at University Town Center.

Benderson seeks to add 600,000 square feet of retail and 100,000 square feet of retail to its plan for property generally east of Cattlemen Road and south of University Parkway. It also wants to add apartments south of DeSoto Road.

But commissioners remained concerned about the mitigation of mesic hammock areas, as well as the project's potential impacts on traffic in the area.

Ackowledging that all four of Benderson's required actions would not be approved, the board rescinded two votes and instead voted to continue the items to a future date, as determined by the county administrator. They hope the extra time will allow staff to come up with some sort of transportation agreement with Benderson, possibly in regard to the timing of developing its property compared with construction of the diverging diamond interchange at University Parkway and Interstate 75 and other future road improvements.

For a complete story, see the May 14 issue of the East County Observer.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].