A relatively light agenda for the Monday meeting of the Sarasota City Commission is topped by two public hearings to address Benderson Development’s plans to convert the former Sarasota County Administration Center into a mixed-use commercial building.
Benderson, in a legislative public hearing, is seeking a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to change the Future Land Use Map classification of 1 acre at 1660 Ringling Boulevard from Urban Edge to Downtown Core. That precedes a quasi-judicial hearing to then rezone that 1 acre from Downton Edge to Downtown Core.
For the time being, Benderson Director of Real Estate Investment Todd Mathes said the company plans to refresh the surface parking lots surrounding the building and across Morrill Street to serve the office and commercial uses. Some of that property could be developed as residential in the future. The property, including parking and the current building, covers 2.88 acres…