- December 27, 2024
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What to do with a construction site that lies in two zone districts? Conform to both in a single project.
At its Dec. 18 meeting, the city’s Development Review Committee received the initial submittal for administrative site plan approval of Saravela, a mixed-use development proposed for the east side of North Tamiami Trail between Fourth and Fifth streets. The 1.7-acre site consists of nine currently residential and commercial properties, mostly now vacant, that are subject to both the Downtown Bayfront and Downtown Core zone districts.
Rather than pursue a rezoning, the proposal by developer GSP Sarasota addresses height varying height limitations with an 11-story portion of the tower — including one bonus floor for including attainable housing — in the Downtown Core and 18 stories in the Downtown Bayfront.
According to state records, GSP Sarasota lists an address in Des Plaines, Illinois.
Saravela is planned for 271 dwelling units, 30 of them reserved for attainable housing, 11,402 square feet of retail space, a 3,000-square-foot publicly accessible green space and 14 public parking spaces.
A plan this complex will require exceptions. The Planning Board submitted adjustments, major encroachment applications, and a request to vacate Fourth Way, an alley that splits the property. The site plan also includes parking access, loading access and a loading space off of Fifth Street in order to protect the integrity of the walkable spaces on both North Tamiami Trail and Fourth Street. Because Fifth Street is identified as a primary street, those requests will also require Planning Board adjustment approval.
Renderings by SKA Architecture show an outdoor amenity including a pool atop the 11-story portion of the building. The 18-story portion will also have an amenity rooftop deck.
The commercial square footage of the project requires 23 parking spaces plus 256 for the dwelling units, for a total of 279. Saravela will provide 389 total, including the 14 public spaces.
The property is located across North Tamiami Trail from the luxury Cordelia by Lennar apartments in The Quay and across Fifth Street from the BLVD condominium tower.
Building a project that encompasses two zoning districts does come with its share of complications. Development Review Chief Planner Noah Fossick advised planners from Kimley-Horn, which represents the developer, that balconies on all floors above the 11th on the taller portion must be removed because they extend into the air space of the Downtown Core in violation of code.
“The units are in Downtown Bayfront, but those encroachments into the air space are in Downtown Core. Is there a solution to that you can recommend?” asked Kimley-Horn Planning Analyst Danielle Stewart.
“You’re only allowed to have up to 10 stories and the 11th story with the exception you’re utilizing, so no, I don’t believe you can have anything encroaching above the 11th story into those portions,” Fossick replied.
That among another of other comments provided by the DRC will need to be addressed in subsequent submittals, or perhaps additional adjustment requests, prior to DRC sign-off.
Receiving partial DRC sign-off was Habitat for Humanity’s Rhodes & Aspinwall Townhomes, requesting site plan, rezoning with site plan and final plat approval for a 17-unit, single-family attached development on a vacant 1.35-acre site at the corner of Rhodes Avenue and Aspinwall Street.
All units are proposed as attainable housing under the Habitat ownership model. Each will be on its own platted lot between 1,775 square feet and 2,755 square feet.
The property is located within the Office Regional District zone with a future land use of Urban Mixed Use.
Also, on the opposite end of the multi-family residential spectrum, the DRC announced Pier 550 on Golden Gate Point, which was initially submitted in August 2024, has received full sign-off.
