Urban Design Studio solicits feedback on new code

The first part of a new form-based code for the city of Sarasota is available for public consumption — albeit in draft form — as the planners behind the zoning rules begin to solicit feedback on the document.

Article 1, the first of eight planned chapters in the new code, is relatively dry. Titled “General Provisions,” the regulations focus largely on procedural issues. For example: Which projects can go through the administrative approval process, and which plans necessitate approval from the City Commission?

Still, it’s a sign of progress on the city’s revamped zoning regulations, a process that began in August 2013. The city created the Urban Design Studio to draft the code, hiring Karin Murphy to lead the effort. Officials hope a form-based code will help streamline the development process, creating greater predictability for builders and residents alike.

On April 8, the Planning Board held a meeting with the Urban Design Studio, an opportunity for Murphy to share the draft of Article 1 and walk board members through an outline of the code. It’s a process she’s also gone through with staff and other stakeholder groups, such as the American Institute of Architects Gulf Coast Chapter and the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations.

Gretchen Schneider, the city’s general manager for planning and development, said the feedback has been relatively low-key considering the nature of Article 1. Still, she said staff would work to ensure the final product is easy to apply from the city’s perspective, and easy to use for the public.

“We want to make sure that it makes sense for us from a process standpoint,” Schneider said. “We want to understand the philosophy behind any changes, since we’re the ones that are going to have to be administering it later.”

“We want to understand the philosophy behind any changes, since we’re the ones that are going to have to be administering it later.” — Gretchen Schneider

As the studio receives feedback on Article 1, it’s also attempting to finalize a draft of the subsequent chapters. Right now, the group is focused on Article 2, which divides the city into five sub-areas to account for differing conditions in different parts of Sarasota.

That work is of particular interest to residents. CCNA board member Norm Dumaine said Murphy has tried to make sure some core maps line up with the realities of each neighborhood. Groups like the St. Armands Business Improvement District are still working to schedule meetings to offer their input before the next articles go out for review.

“They’re at this point of asking neighborhoods for feedback in terms of what residents would like to see,” Dumaine said. “I think that’s a very good idea.”

Although Murphy is attempting to work with a purpose — she hopes to have a finished draft of the entire code ready by the end of the summer — she also wants to have a thorough, open conversation about the plans so the regulations get a serious vetting on the way to the City Commission.

“We want people to know nobody is rushing,” Murphy said. “There are still lots of opportunities for participation.”