Benderson to host stakeholder meeting for county administrative site

In response to a sometimes contentious community workshop with Laurel Park residents, Benderson Development will host a three-day planning charrette in cooperation with Architecture Sarasota to receive input for its redevelopment plans for the Sarasota County Administration Center and surrounding parking lots.

Benderson has contracted the firm of Torti Gallas + Partners of Washington, D.C., to facilitate the event, which will be held Tuesday-Thursday, Oct. 3-5, at the McCulloch Pavilion, 265 South Orange Ave. 

A charrette is an intensive, collaborative planning process that begins as a rough design and progressively becomes more refined as ideas are incorporated into the plan. During the morning and afternoon sessions, participants will interact with architects as the site plan is developed. The Torti Gallas team will make nightly presentations of the plan resulting from each day’s dialogue. 

The goal is to develop a mutually acceptable plan for both Benderson and the residents of Laurel Park. The nightly public presentations will be recorded and the video made available to those who cannot be present.

The schedule is:

Tuesday, Oct. 3

9 a.m.: Doors open, residents’ check-in
9:30 a.m. to noon: Planning and design work session 1
1-4:30 p.m.: Planning and design work session 2
6-7 p.m.: Public presentation 1

Wednesday, Oct. 4

9 a.m.: Doors open, residents’ check-in
9:30 a.m. to noon: Planning and design work session 3
1-4:30 p.m.: Planning and design work session 4
6-7 p.m.: Public presentation 2

Thursday, Oct. 5

9 a.m.: Doors open, residents’ check-in
9:30 a.m. to noon: Planning and design work session 5
6-7 p.m.: Final public presentation to present refined framework drawing options, 3D models, and site section(s)