Workshop on county administration workshop set for Tuesday

Sarasota residents will have an opportunity to meet with representatives of Benderson Development next week to learn and ask questions about the eventual redevelopment of the Sarasota County Administration Building and surrounding properties.

A community workshop will be held at the Selby Library’s Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium starting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1. The Selby Library is at 1331 First St. 

The purpose of the workshop is to discuss a proposed amendment to the city’s Future Land Use Map to amend the Future Land Use designation, along with a concurrent rezonings for the property, which is scheduled to be vacated by the county by the end of 2025. The property is on the south side of Ringling Boulevard adjacent to the Laurel Park neighborhood.

With a portion of the site located within the neighborhood, residents there are concerned about the redevelopment and how it could be affected by the new state Live Local Act, which preempts city control over height and density for any project that includes affordable housing. 

Benderson acquired the county property in 2021 for $25 million. The 5.3-acre site includes properties at 1660 Ringling Blvd., 1646 Morrill St. and 1703 Morrill St.. The latter two are used for parking. The county is building a new administration center off Fruitville Road east of I-75.

According to Benderson, the proposed comprehensive plan amendment and rezonings seek to permit a mixed-use, new urbanism-style project that would allow for a transition between the single-family neighborhood and the urban frontage that extends along Ringling Boulevard. The developer said there are no plans for redevelopment of the site at this time. 

An opportunity for residents to ask questions will follow the presentation.