Packed schedule launches a dynamic month for Sarasota City Commission

The Sarasota City Commission is gearing up for a busy budget season after two intensive meetings totaling over four hours.

May will see a full schedule, kickstarting with a regular commission meeting on May 5 that includes a special session on May 13 to address the controversial Obsidian condo tower at 1260 N. Palm Ave. There will also be a city manager search workshop on May 22.

Key items on the agenda include affirming a Planning Board adjustment for developer Kolter Urban to relocate a driveway by 68 feet to facilitate the redevelopment of the Hyatt Regency property, as well as approving final subdivision plat applications for the Sarasota Station property and creating 13 new lots with a private right-of-way on Old Bradenton Road.

Additionally, the commission will decide on reimbursing former Commissioner and Mayor Erik Arroyo for legal expenses incurred in 2024 and discuss the next steps in the search for a new city manager.

Hyatt Redevelopment

Developer Kolter Urban plans to replace the 50-year-old Hyatt Regency hotel and parking structure with a complex featuring a 174-room Hyatt Centric Harborside hotel and 117 condominiums branded as 1000 Boulevard of the Arts.

The proposed driveway relocation is under scrutiny from Quay 1 and 9, which is a partnership of Miami-based Property Markets Group and MoneyShow of Sarasota. They argue the project infringes on their development rights and the design poses safety risks.

Quay 1 and 9’s objections include concerns over traffic impact, shared alley usage, and pedestrian safety. The commission had previously upheld the adjustment at its March 17 meeting with a 4-1 vote.

Sarasota Station

S.S. Sasquatch is seeking final plat approval to build 69 market-rate townhomes on part of the One Stop Housing site at 300 Audubon Place, which aims to fund affordable housing.

Despite zoning restrictions against residential development, the developer is utilizing Florida’s Live Local Act, which permits mixed-use residential development in industrial zones if 40% of the units are affordable.

The affordable rental component will complement the for-sale townhomes, achieving an all-inclusive project in conjunction with prior Planning Board adjustments.

The Sanctuary

A smaller project is on the horizon at a 4.8-acre site on Old Bradenton Road, where Old Bradenton LLC is seeking approval for a final subdivision to create 13 lots and a new private street.

This application received a positive Development Review Committee sign-off on December 18, 2024.

More Commissioner Legal Fees

The commission will review Erik Arroyo’s request for $10,285 in legal fees from complaints filed against him with the Florida Commission on Ethics.

Although cleared of wrongdoing, Arroyo argues that state statutes encourage reimbursement to avoid deterring citizens from running for public office.

Last year, the city reimbursed $25,000 in legal expenses for Commissioner Kyle Battie related to a defamation lawsuit that was eventually dismissed.

Key Information

• Upcoming Meetings: Regular commission meeting on May 5; special session on May 13 for Obsidian condo appeal; city manager search workshop on May 22.
• Sarasota Projects: Hyatt Regency redevelopment, Sarasota Station for market-rate townhomes, and The Sanctuary subdivision approval.
• Legal Matters: Discussion on reimbursing Erik Arroyo for legal fees and previous reimbursement for Commissioner Kyle Battie’s legal expenses.