Egregious "Asks": Three minutes of dynamite from Venice Councilwoman Joan Farrell
Venice City Councilwoman Joan Farrell addressed the Board of Sarasota County Commissioners regarding Pat Neal's proposed 3H Ranch on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.
Neal's huge plan for 6700 homes extending south from Clark Road received an absurdly superficial review from the Planning Commission. County staff has issues with the proposal, and advised stipulations, but the appointed Planning Commissioners - the six who actually showed up - recommended approval of the plan with no stips.
The Board of County Commissions (BCC) was all set to hear and decide on 3H Ranch on Wednesday, but Neal withdrew the item from the Board agenda.
Farrell, who was elected in November, had prepared a 5-minute presentation (normal for public hearings), but was given just 3 minutes for Open to the Public.
It was 3 minutes of dynamite - start around 43:11:
This Commission should defeat the reckless and irresponsible development of the 3H Ranch, a Development of Critical Concern. If approved, this development will seal the fate of wildlife and destroy a huge chunk of what was once a beautiful paradise.
The Regional Planning Councils, which have been gone for years, provided growth management oversight. Now the guard rails are gone, there are no checks and balances, only developers pressing for more and more concessions.
One concession is for a Zoning change from Open Use Rural and Open Use Estate to Village Planned Development. The current density would only allow for 386 dwellings. Under the requested changes, it would exceed 6,500 dwellings, a Density increase of 1600%.
Even the County's own planners are raising red flags. Mega developer Pat Neal is requesting a change from the required 50% Open Space to just 33% of Open Space, a change only allowed if a net ecological benefit can be shown. Plans call for an increase of just ±9.5-acres in habitat as an equivalent to the removal of 466-acres of Open Space.
A Village Planned Development is required to include 500-foot-wide Greenbelts meant as a mitigation buffer around the perimeter of the Village, and to supplement the Open Space. Pat Neal is asking for sixteen (16) Unified Development Code (UDC) Modifications. Plans call for reduction of the Greenbelt width from 500-feet to 50-feet along the north and west side boundaries, and to waive entirely the Greenbelt on the east and south side boundaries.
These egregious “asks”, if enacted, would create a dangerous precedent in Sarasota County, creating a sense of entitlement by Neal and other developers, lowering the bar for all future projects.
What about the environment?
The Department of Environmental Protection notes concerns that state storm water standards used by Water Management Districts rely on antiquated regulations.
The flood maps and drainage designs for historical extreme rainfall events fail to take into account new definitions of extreme storm events. Rainfall depths in many cases are projected to be 60% greater than shown in the current regulatory manuals. The baselines no longer hold.
Even more troubling, State Stormwater standards do not adequately address Nutrients. Current Stormwater Nutrient reduction rules do not adequately retain and treat Nutrient pollution on site. That pollution then flows downstream resulting in the expansion of harmful algae: blue green algae, the green slime of macroalgae and red tide. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection highlights a critical need for 80% nitrogen reduction while the current reduction is only 40%.
Red tide harms tourism, affects the boating industry and drives restaurant patrons away.
Where is the water? The City of Northport, think Wellen Park, requested in the last few weeks, 2 million additional gallons of water a day from the Peace River reservoir. The City of Venice dug a well just last week at Pinebrook and Edmundson. In the last year, Sarasota County dug 3 new wells in the Myakka State Forest. Water pressure in many homes in North Venice is low. Much of Florida is suffering from drought.
Because of aggressive developers, Natural Florida vistas of mature trees and lush understory, home to so many animal species, are replaced by barren tract housing. Homes are remaining on the market much longer, prices are falling and realtors are incentivized to increase sales.
Voters are expressing anger, dismay, and disappointment with the ugly clear cutting that is everywhere, big city traffic hassles, and less quality of life – all caused by developer greed. Are Commissioners out of touch with the will of the people? There is a sea change afoot and voters have woken up. November 5th will be a reckoning.
From the "Sarasota Voices" group:
ReplyDeleteFor thirty-four years I've watched earnest citizens gird up their loins, craft a reasoned, sensible message and step out onto the public stage to speak their truth to power.
Not about Space Lasers of any denomination not about letting children read about the would we need prepare them to enter, but about simple basic hard facts.
Hard like concrete roadways packed with idling vehicles too often conveying one person or two hither and yon whilst spewing carbon monoxide at the rate of about a pound a mile driven (when lots of idling and start stop operation is involved, maybe another half a pound or more).
We know how bad it can get thanks to the COVID19 Pandemic when "everyone" stayed home and Faux News and fair published video of clear skies over Beijing, Paris, The Vatican, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, DC.
But did that convince Trump and his well lobbied synchphants in our congress?
Did he run back to Paris to apologize for screwing with the world's efforts to save itself?
The gentle lady from, was it Venice? Had a point - development for the sake of enriching those who'll not be forced to live with the consequences of their greed is a failed approach to managing a democratic republic that ostensibly exists for the greater good of the people who have created, nurtured and maintained it all these hundreds of years - so many of whom have literally given their last measure of devotion to make Florida and America all it can become.
Pat Neal and his billionaire elite have the resources the vast majority of those who sustain our republic only dream of acquiring. They are in a unique position to lead the way toward a sustainable future if for no other reason than in gratitude for the well developed nation and established system of laws and equities handed them on the proverbial silver platter at birth along with the billions in tax breaks and loopholes they have since lobbied our representatives to provide those of their class and, effort free, to their favored offspring.
Who will build the roads to get to these densely populated 'villages' Pat proposes?
And what of the utility infrastructure requisite to serving six thousand five hundred million dollar homes? One does suspect his customers will want fresh water and a flushable pot to piss in at closing. Will they demand a new sewage treatment plant and a well water treatment facility and their own humungous water tank high in their village sky?
We assume his customers will reimburse him for the water, sewer, cable and electric infrastructure directly beneath each residence and the village itself - but who shall build the roads to get there? The Electrical Grid his buyers will surely expect to connect to at closing.
Shall 'we the people' be required to provide sufficient Public Utilities to serve this new demand? Must we do so at a schedule dictated by his developmental progress?
Will we be able to charge Pat sufficient amounts in Impact Fees to cover the actual costs to current taxpayers to provide these luxurious homes for those who shall came after us?
Will he only sell to infertile couples and incels? Or is it likely his buyers may procreate (especially given Meatball's stance on contraception and abortion). These folks are gonna need a hospital and their offspring a school or two. Will they bus or demand a school within walking distance for each village?
I recall that all these questions were answered long ago 'like in the nineties.' It was a plan our elected representatives blessed.
It was to prepare us for what will be in twenty-six years or so. It's been repealed? Or simply 'modified?'
It seems that the road to hell might well be six paved lanes or so.