Burying power lines on barrier islands tops City Commission agenda

The future of a venerable youth sailing organization, refining the definition of lodging in downtown and putting utilities on barrier islands underground are among a packed agenda for the Monday, July 20 meeting of the Sarasota City Commission.

A long-awaited project to bury overhead utility lines for resilience and aesthetics on St. Armands and Lido keys is poised to move forward as commissioners will consider a bid of $7.95 million by Utility Consultants of Florida to do so. The bid includes $3.17 million for required services and $4.77 million for optional services for the project not to exceed $8 million. 

The required services will allow the city to develop assessment methodologies, preliminary engineering, cost estimates, public outreach and financing information necessary to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed assessment districts to fund the project. Afterward, the City Commission will determine whether to proceed with Phase 2 of the program, which is the optional services for final design, procurement, construction support and project implementation.

If the commission approves the special assessment district, revenues generated by property owners on the keys will be used to repay the non-revolving credit.

Meanwhile, on nearby City Island, commissioners will consider a request for a major conditional use application for a new Sarasota Youth Sailing building at 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway. The organization is seeking a Government Zone waiver from a regulation requiring all off-street parking areas be surfaced with asphalt, bituminous or concrete material, clay brick or concrete paving units, or permeable pavement surfaces to allow the existing unimproved parking surface to remain. 

Courtesy image

In a subsequent hearing, Sarasota Youth Sailing is seeking site plan approval for a two-story, 4,230-square-foot building on a portion of 9.3 acres leased from the city.

And, in light of recent developments that raised questions about the difference between residential and hotel/motel uses, staff will also seek commission guidance regarding projects designed with individually-owned condominium units that also propose centralized management, hotel amenities and the ability for units to be rented for periods of less than one week. 

The projects are often referred to as "condo hotels" or "apartment hotels," and may function as a hybrid of residential and transient lodging uses.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at City Hall, 1565 First St. It may also be streamed live on the city’s website, where the entire agenda may be viewed, at SarasotaFL.gov or on the city’s Facebook page.