ULI group targets Bayfront Park

A subcommittee tasked with reviewing Urban Land Institute recommendations has struggled since its inception in November with its purpose and how to help implement ULI suggestions.

But at the group’s Jan. 24 meeting at Longboat Key Town Hall, Planning, Zoning and Building Director Alaina Ray told the committee members, “Now I think we’re getting somewhere.”

At the meeting, the subcommittee agreed to concentrate on Gulf of Mexico Drive and Bayfront Park upgrades and make recommendations to the Town Commission about those topics.

Ray announced that town staff discovered a Sarasota County ordinance, adopted last year, that deals with funding for the development of properties purchased through its neighborhood parks program.

The funding, which is up to a quarter of a mill of Sarasota County-wide assessments, can include money for everything from park amenities to a new recreation center building.

“Sarasota County purchased a Bayfront Park parcel and is eligible for that funding,” Ray said. “It covers and pays for planning, design, site preparation, recreational amenities and just about everything we would want to do out there.”

Town Manager Dave Bullock will meet with Sarasota County staff soon to discuss potential funding for Bayfront Park through the county program and will bring past plans for the park that the county’s parks and recreation staff designed.

The town also has other infrastructure surtax funds available to use for park enhancements.

Another public charette will be held to ensure the public still approves of certain amenities for the park (see sidebar).

Although subcommittee members debated whether a new recreation center building is needed immediately — or at all — for the site, they agreed it is not to time to debate the issue.

“It’s not written in stone what should be there and what shouldn’t be there,” said committee member and Commissioner Pat Zunz. “There’s a lot of flexibility on this property.”

In the meantime, town staff will include in a request for county money a future community center building, even though they have not decided if one will go there.

PARK PLANS
In 2010, Longboat Key residents came up with the following recommendations for what they want to see at Bayfront Park:

• A new 15,000-square-foot community center building

• Multi-use sports court

• Tennis courts

• Separate restroom facility

• Dock and boatlift

• Kayak pavilion and wash down area

• Fishing pier

• Half-mile walking loop

• Mangrove informational walking area

• Multi-use active and passive recreation areas

• Covered areas with picnic tables and barbecue grills

• Retain existing Rec Center for art classes

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected]