Special City Commission Meeting: Siesta Key Mall Comprehensive Plan Amendment - November 4, 2024

The Sarasota City Commission held a special meeting on November 4, 2024, at 5:30 PM to conduct a second public hearing on a proposed amendment to the City's Comprehensive Plan. The amendment would allow residential development at the Siesta Key Mall property (3501 S. Tamiami Trail), currently designated as a Regional Shopping Center with no residential use permitted. The applicant proffered that 10% of residential units would be designated as attainable housing. The meeting also included one citizen comment on hurricane debris cleanup during the Citizens' Input period.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mary Siner (City resident and taxpayer): Spoke during Citizens' Input about hurricane debris removal on Waldemar Street between Austria and Orange. She reported that debris had been pushed into her driveway and left in the roadway, and she had not received a response from the city manager's office, only an acknowledgment from the Mayor. She requested follow-up. (Note: This topic was not on the agenda.)
• Ray Ann Malone (Southgate resident for 20 years): Spoke in support of the redevelopment of the Siesta Key Mall property (Southgate Mall). She cited the current dead space, lack of stormwater infrastructure on the 34-acre impervious surface, and the need for revitalization. She praised the applicant's community outreach efforts and responsiveness. She expressed support for the comprehensive plan amendment and looked forward to the site plan stage.

Discussion Items

• Second Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 24-5550 (Comprehensive Plan Amendment): David Smith, Manager of Long-Range Planning, presented the proposal. The amendment would revise text in the Metropolitan Regional Future Land Use Classification Site No. 9 to allow retail, office, residential, mixed-use development, and support facilities. Maximum density would be 25 units per acre. The applicant proffered that at least 10% of residential dwelling units would be designated as attainable housing. This was the fourth public hearing on the item. The Planning Board recommended approval (4-1). The City Commission previously transmitted the amendment to the state with no adverse comments. At the October 21 adoption hearing, the commission voted 5-0 to approve, but a minor change requested by the commission and applicant was incorporated into the current ordinance. Staff recommended approval.
• Commissioner Trice requested that the proffer language be clarified to "at least 10%" instead of just "10%." The applicant, Todd Mathis (Benderson Development), agreed that the language already stated "at least 10%" and welcomed the clarification. No other questions were raised.
• The public hearing was closed after the citizen comment. No other speakers signed up.

Key Outcomes

• Vote on Ordinance No. 24-5550 (Second Reading): Motion by Commissioner Arroyo, seconded by Commissioner Trice to approve the ordinance. The motion passed unanimously (5-0). The amendment will allow residential development at the Siesta Key Mall property with a density of up to 25 units per acre and a proffer that at least 10% of units will be attainable housing.