North end enters discussion zone

Peacocks: asset or area for “upgrade”?

New College sociology professor Dr. David Brain found that north-end stakeholders were deeply divided on that issue.

But through 32 stakeholder interviews conducted by five students, along with approximately 50 completed online surveys and a planning charrette, all part of a community-based planning exercise facilitated by the Longboat Key Revitalization Task Force, he found consensus in other areas about the positive features of the north end and areas for upgrades.

Brain discussed his findings at the March 7 Longbeach Village Association meeting.

Participants liked the north end’s beauty, beaches, community, tennis and feel/vibe of the Longbeach Village. They liked its location relative to Sarasota — some said its closeness was a good thing, while others thought its distance was an asset. They saw room for improvement in Whitney Beach Plaza and the vacant former Longbeach Chevron station as well as managing traffic impact. They said it was difficult to sustain year-round business and convenient retail and service.

Brain said that he found two perspectives on north-end development:

Some saw dangers in development; others saw dangers in doing nothing.

“It’s important to recognize that’s what you’ve got,” Brain said. “There are two bodies of development here that need to be addressed in any planning effort.”

Stakeholders had discussed what they would like to see at the north end during the charrette. A team of architects and designers then held a sketching session last month to visually represent the ideas.

Architect Gary Hoyt presented the sketches at Wednesday’s meeting.

Some ideas presented included ways to make Broadway stand out, possibly through a roundabout, that would distinguish Broadway while also making drivers slow down.

“Another idea discussed was the creation of a Gulf-to-bay nature walk that could include a Beer Can Island groin that could also serve as a walkable pier,” Hoyt said.

Brain said the ideas were purposely generated without discussing zoning.

“Too often, we create a vision that’s geared toward zoning, and it really should be the other way around,” he said.

Revitalization Task Force Chairman George Spoll emphasized that the concepts presented were ideas, not plans.

“What we’re trying to do is stimulate community interest in planning,” he said.

The Top 10
The following 10 ideas generated the widest interest from participants in a Jan. 28 planning charrette:
• Redeveloped area from Whitney Beach Plaza to Broadway
• Enhancement of the anchorage area at Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub and Moore’s Stone Crab Restaurant
• Arts district
• Boutique hotel
• Harbor plan with Boardwalk
• Integrated linear concept for Broadway that encourages walkability
• Revitalization of the Moore’s property
• Mini seaport at waterfront
• Well-designed walking pier at beach
• Launch for non-motorized marine vessels at the Moore’s site with extra parking