Planning Board advances Sarasota Yacht Club expansion

In contrast to a complete rebuild planned by Bird Key Yacht Club, Sarasota Yacht Club on neighboring Coon Key is proposing an addition to its 22,068-square-foot clubhouse on the south side of the key it shares with Plymouth Harbor at 1100 John Ringling Blvd.

On May 14 the Sarasota Planning Board unanimously approved minor conditional use permit with conditions and recommended approval of the site plan and a rezone ordinance amendment to the Sarasota City Commission.

The club plans to build a 12,691 square feet of new building space including a 1,003-square-foot expansion of its existing outdoor dining deck. The plan is for a 4,691-square-foot expansion of the existing clubhouse in addition to a new 8,000-square-foot, three-story multi-use building to include club offices, a classroom and fitness space; a 2,540-square-foot roof deck; and 26 additional parking spaces for a total of 197.

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To achieve all that, the city requires an approved amendment to its 2008 rezoning of the property to Office Regional District for the site plan to be compliant.

The design of the project is by DSDG Architecture, whose principal is 17-year club member Mark Sultana.

“The club has gotten to the point to where they need more space for their members, as well as special events like weddings and such,” Sultana told the Planning Board. “So, they asked me to come up with the design for an addition to the existing building.”

The club has only one immediate neighbor, Plymouth Harbor and all of its residents, which is in the midst of planning an expansion of its own. To allay concerns of additional noise coming from the new rooftop deck — which would mostly affect residences on the north side of Coon Key across the Ringling Causeway, Sultana said the club will limit use.

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“We are planning a roof deck on the new building, and the new building has no kitchen facility,” Sultana said. “It's also on the farthest south corner of the lot, away from the residents across the street.”

In addition, the wall around the expanding parking is four feet high, blocking headlights from shining off the property. The proposal does extend the hours of operation from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

With little discussion among its members the Planning Board concurred with the staff’s recommendation of approval.