SARASOTA – For more than two decades, four out of five Sarasota city commissioners were required to vote in favor of going higher than zoning rules allow.
But according to the Herald Tribune, that could be lowered to three out of five votes.
City planning officials are proposing removing building height regulations from long-range growth plans.
Right now, buildings can be up to 18 stories at the Bayfront, 10 stories downtown, and 7 stories in the Rosemary district.
In the new plan under review, projects wouldn’t go before the planning board or city commission for approval. Opponents say that limits input from city residents and say removing restrictions will lead to overdevelopment and traffic congestion.
They will discuss this at Monday’s board meeting. If adopted, the changes could begin as early as this summer.
