City approves Lift Station 87 plans

Since May, work on Lift Station 87 has often been going in circles, with new designs giving way to new concerns among residents and city officials. On Monday, however, the project took a decisive step forward.

At a meeting Monday, the City Commission unanimously approved the proposed site plan for Lift Station 87. Most notably, that plan includes a two-story above-ground building in Luke Wood Park — a stark change from the originally proposed underground structure.

The site plan approval came with a condition that locks in that design, which was the subject of months of debate. Modeled after the historic Hover Arcade, the proposed building is 58 feet tall at its highest point. Earlier, taller designs caused alarm among residents concerned about the height, while the shorter design caused alarm among residents concerned about sound mitigation issues.

On Monday, project manager Robert Garland said engineers planned to store air conditioning machinery in two columns to cut down on noise at the site. Garland, who works for engineering firm McKim and Creed, said he believes the proposal reflects the desire of the citizens who have participated in the design process.

"We feel comfortable we've incorporated the public coments," Garland said. "We've worked with city staff and the Urban Design Studio to come up with a really nice design — something the city can be proud of at this site."

The underground design was originally revised at the city's direction. In May, commissioners expressed an interest in creating a structure that could withstand a Category 3 storm surge. Cost estimates for the Lift Station 87 project, which is scheduled for completion in 2016, most recently totaled $27.1 million.

Sunday Sales

The City Commission also unanimously approved new regulations that would allow for alcohol sales beginning at 7 a.m. Sunday.

The ordinance follows a course set by Sarasota County, which revised its Sunday morning liquor ban after receiving complaints from businesses. The move allowed for 7 a.m. Sunday alcohol sales in unincorporated areas, but did not extend to municipalities within the county.

Vice Mayor Susan Chapman said she had heard some concern from residents about the potential negative effects of early-morning Sunday sales, but commissioners expressed a preference for establishing uniform standards.

"I've heard from several people saying they go to Manatee County on Sunday mornings rather than shop here," Chapman said.

Contact David Conway at [email protected].