Planning Commission approves outdoor display

The Sarasota County Planning Commission debated the aesthetics of outdoor displays after receiving a special exception request at its Thursday meeting. 

The commission received the request for an outdoor display at 3206 Clark Road. The owner of Sun Haven Plaza, a small strip mall, wanted to display goods from Tony’s Used Appliances outside on the sidewalk next to the storefront and in one parking space. The pawnshop adjacent to the appliance store was also interested in displaying bicycles outside.

Commissioner Vanessa Carusone supported the proposal. The commission had already recently approved a proposal from a business near this area to display its golf carts outside, she said.

“I support it only because it’s already been done,” she said. “I don’t like the idea of things being placed outside, but it’s more about what fits.”

Commissioner Philip Kellogg said he drives past the appliance store often and he’s never noticed the items outside.

Commissioners Michael Moran and Rob Morris did not support the proposal, and both cited concerns for the aesthetic effect of allowing goods to be displayed outside.

“Not stipulating what goes out there could be problematic,” Chairman Bob Burrus said.

Moran moved to deny the proposal, but his motion failed 6 to 3.

After additional discussion, Carusone moved to approve the proposal with the stipulations that only appliances and bicycles would be permitted to be displayed, and that all the goods would be taken back inside by the end of business hours.

Her motion passed 7 to 2.

The commission also approved the rezoning of a residential lot to general commercial at 2044 Jo An Drive, near the intersection of Clark Road and U.S. 41. The adjacent lot on the corner is already slated as a location for Gordon Food Service, a marketplace and food service distribution company.

The current site plan would allow two driveways for entry and exit to the store; however, the planner, Todd Dary, said the expansion into the .22-acre residential lot would allow an additional driveway to be allocated just for delivery trucks. The trucks would enter towards the rear of the property and exit on the south side of the property directly onto U.S. 41.

The rezoning request was approved with the stipulations that the delivery trucks would not travel any further east of the property on Jo An Drive and that a 6-foot fence would bind the property with 60% opacity and landscaping.