Adagio condo project remains on hold with review committee

Prior to the Adagio residential towers project’s third appearance before the city’s Development Review Committee on Oct. 1, project consultant Joel Freedman received a formal request for the developer to hold a voluntary community meeting.

The project isn’t required to hold such a meeting under city code, but the request is made in writing by Downtown Sarasota Condo Association President David Lough. 

Local governments have no approval authority over Live Local Act projects providing it is built in any area zoned for commercial, industrial or mixed use and providing at least 40% of the residential units are held as attainable for a period of at least 30 years, providing it meets local code requirements and requires no adjustments.

Attainable under Live Local is defined as 120% or less area median income.

The project will require a fourth submittal to the DRC, which came as a surprise to Freedman and representatives of developer The Lutgert Cos. of Naples as staff felt the lingering traffic study issues could have a domino effect on other project details. 

In his letter to Freedman, Lough wrote he hoped the developer would consider hosting a community workshop as part of the development review process. 

“While not required, these sessions have often proven productive and, in many cases, helped move projects forward rather than slow them down,” Lough wrote, citing as examples plans for the Zenith building, the preservation of the Mira Mar building combined of the non-historic portion of the site, the Saravela residential project, and the Hyatt redevelopment as examples.

“We believe a similar approach with Adagio could be equally valuable,” Lough wrote.

Lough cited that Adagio takes the city “into new territory” as it is the first major local development under the Live Local Act and that it blends that new legislative framework with existing city zoning requirements. 

“That, along with site-specific considerations like grand trees and other planning factors, raises important questions best addressed through open dialogue,” he wrote.

Freedman had not responded to the Observer as of Friday whether Lutgert Cos. will consider a voluntary community meeting. At the end of its third DRC hearing, city planner Tom Sacharski chimed in on the community meeting suggestion.