Commissioners to consider rezone on North Trail parcel

City commissioners Monday will consider a request for a rezone on a half-acre property on the North Trail, at 1174 and 1186 Hampton Road.

Dr. Steve Bedi purchased the site at the corner of North Tamiami Trail and Hampton Road in December 2011, for $300,000. Bedi is proposing to build an international dermatology clinic that would help patients with skin conditions to develop healthy eating habits, exercise schedules and meditation practice.

Plans for the clinic include 26 suites where patients will stay for one to three weeks. Bedi is seeking a rezone from residential multi-family to North Trail Zone District commercial.

In other items commissioners will:
• Discuss noise and sound downtown. The discussion item was placed on the agenda by Commissioner Paul Caragiulo.

On Feb. 19, the City Commission suspended enforcement of a section of the city code that prohibits outdoor amplified sound. Before the decision to suspend the specific section of city code, Michael Barfield, representing the Sarasota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Florida, cautioned commissioners that the ACLU believed that the code in its current form was unconstitutional.

According to backup agenda paperwork submitted by Caragiulo, he wants commissioners to address two questions Monday: 

1.) “Should the City use its zoning code to regulate the act of playing musical instruments or recorded music, given the serious First Amendment implications?”

2.) “Should the sound levels be uniformly regulated city-wide? Or, should different standards apply to different districts. What are the appropriate levels of sound in the various districts contained within our city?”

• Hear a “Cyber Security Investigative Report” conclusion from consultant John Jorgensen of The Sylint Group.

IF YOU GO: The meeting will be held at 2:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota and reconvening at 6 p.m. Monday, March 4.