The church sought a special zoning exemption to allow the tower, which is intended to strengthen cell service in an area that experienced widespread outages after Hurricane Ian. County planning staff noted that limited commercial land in the immediate area contributed to the church property being selected.

Several residents raised concerns during public comment, including the tower’s impact on property values, its visibility from nearby homes and lingering worries about long term health effects. Some neighbors said they preferred a shorter structure or placement on commercial land farther from residential streets.

Despite objections from the neighborhood, the board approved the request, allowing the project to move forward at the Willmington Boulevard site.

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Among the most significant items on the agenda are multiple public hearings related to land use and zoning. In Venice, commissioners will review a set of ordinances tied to the Blackburn Court development proposal. The plan calls for amending the county’s Comprehensive Plan and Critical Area Plans to allow a mixed-use project south of East Venice Avenue and east of Jacaranda Boulevard. The proposal would permit up to 180 multifamily residential units and 10,000 square feet of office and retail space on roughly 10 acres, with a maximum height of 55 feet under a special exception.

In Englewood, commissioners will hold a public hearing to consider Rezone Petition No. 25-01 for property at 1407 East Manasota Beach Road. The proposed change would modify the zoning from OUE-2 and OPI with stipulations to an amended OPI district, along with a waiver request to reduce the required landscape buffer along the SR 776 Corridor from 50 feet to 20 feet. Another Englewood-related item, Special Exception Petition No. 1913, seeks approval for a wholesale plant nursery and landscape supply business on land north of River Road and east of Winchester Boulevard.

The agenda also includes a funding item authorizing $150,000 toward replacing an Englewood Area Fire Control District fire boat, using West Coast Inland Navigation District funds.

Other business for consideration includes a resolution to provide $500,000 for monitoring and maintenance of Midnight Pass, and a Unified Development Code amendment addressing voluntary freeboard and height requirements to improve flood resilience.

Public comment will be taken at the start and end of the meeting, with a three-minute limit per speaker. All public hearings require testimony under oath. Supporting documents and meeting access are available at www.scgov.net/meetingsondemand.

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Rezone Petition No. 25-01, Accela Record No. PLN-REZSE-24-000048 seeks to change the zoning from OUE-2 (Open Use Estate, one unit per two acres) and OPI (Office, Professional and Institutional) with stipulations to OPI (Office, Professional and Institutional) with amended stipulations. The change would allow for the possible construction of an office development.

The proposal also includes a waiver of a condition in the SR 776 Corridor Plan to reduce the required landscape buffer along State Road 776 from 50 feet to 20 feet.

If approved, Ordinance No. 2025-030 would amend Sarasota County’s official zoning map, as part of Chapter 124 of the county code. The Board may approve, deny, or modify the request to ensure consistency with the county’s Comprehensive Plan.

All interested parties are encouraged to attend, offer comments, or submit written statements. Drafts of the ordinance and related materials are available for review at the Planning and Development Services Department, 1001 Sarasota Center Blvd., Sarasota. Documents will also be posted online the week before the hearing at www.scgov.net under “Meetings and Agendas.” Comments may be emailed to planner@scgov.net, and questions can be directed to 941-861-5000.

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The amendment would affect rules around placing smaller secondary units or guest houses on properties in these residential zones. Residents and property owners may attend the hearing to offer testimony or submit evidence in support of or opposition to the proposed changes.

Copies of the amendment petition and supporting documents are available for review during normal business hours at the Planning and Development Services Department, 1001 Sarasota Center Boulevard, Sarasota. Documents also will be available beginning the Thursday before the hearing on the county website (www.scgov.net).

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