Sarasota Square Mall redevelopment moves forward despite resident pushback

An hour of unanimous opposition from the public wasn’t enough to sway the Sarasota County Planning Commission against approving major steps toward redeveloping Sarasota Square Mall.

Despite significant pushback, the commission unanimously approved five requests, clearing the way to transform much of the mall into a mixed-use development. Illinois-based developer Torburn Partners plans to demolish a majority of the mall and replace it with residences, businesses, restaurants and other enterprises, which opponents fear will add excess traffic and noise to an area ill-equipped to handle it.

The five applications to rezone parcels on the site from residential to commercial uses include the Sarasota Square Mall in the U.S. 41/Beneva Road Critical Area Plan, designate the mall as a Development of Regional Impact and grant a special exception to allow outdoor entertainment. The changes are “cleanup” amendments that will allow commercial development and activity to continue within development guidelines.

While the approvals represent a step toward construction, final approval is still several months and meetings away. The new zoning designations clear the way for Torburn to submit applications for building permits and conduct the necessary surveys of traffic and wildlife, but the developer still has to draft and submit a site development plan and gain county approval before anything becomes official.

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Torburn — which acquired the property for $35.3 million in a series of purchases starting in 2021 — envisions the finished development as a smaller University Town Center or Waterside Place at Lakewood Ranch, with a “focal point” of commercial activity in the center of the site and businesses, offices and residences within walking distance. Bob Horne, principal at Torburn Partners, said he hopes it will fill in retail and business gaps for the area.

“We want it to be a walkable, livable lifestyle community,” Horne said. “It’s going to be a major draw for anyone in this part of the county.”

The mall redevelopment is still in its early stages, but a draft proposes buildings, sidewalk paths, bike trails and other installations across 94.3 acres within the lot. The area’s Costo, AMC Theaters and JC Penney will remain, but the rest of the development will consist of 692,500 square feet of non-residential space and an eight-story apartment complex with a minimum of 500 units and a maximum of 1,200.

Around 15 people largely supported redeveloping the mall, but they said the proposed development is too much, too soon. It’s a sentiment they’ve expressed for almost a year in various workshops and meetings with Torburn and its attorneys, worrying that the influx of new residents and businesses would inflate the area’s already-heavy traffic and threaten local wildlife.

Palmer Ranch residents revere the area’s now-quiet nature, where animals like sandhill cranes and gopher tortoises are abundant and lights rarely stay on past 10 p.m. Ginger Peterson, head of a coalition of residents who have continually pushed back against the redevelopment, said the proposal would ruin this peaceful atmosphere.

“Our committee asks for responsible development, not reckless development,” Peterson said. “It will completely wreck our neighborhoods.”

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Though the development is meant to promote walkability, opponents predict the new residents will produce more buildup along major corridors like Beneva Road and U.S. 41. Alan Miller, who lives just across from Sarasota Square Boulevard, said the apartment complex’s size will bring unpredictable congestion.

“There’s no comparison between traffic movements currently and what this development is going to bring,” Miller said. “Twelve-hundred apartments, I don’t think there’s anything like that.”

Other commenters echoed these sentiments, expressing concern about a traffic spikes and excess noise and activity. They were also wary of the special exception for entertainment, which they worry will promote nighttime noise.

However, Charlie Bailey — the attorney representing Torburn — said developers intend to promote events like farmers markets and food truck rallies, not late-night concerts or nightclubs.

“This is not going to be a bar district with outdoor events 24/7,” Bailey said.

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Much to the irritation of attendees — many of whom vocally expressed their dissent and stormed out of the chamber — planning commissioners quickly cast unanimous votes to approve the applications. They applauded the developers’ vision for the mall, which has remained stagnant for years.

Commissioner Emmalee Legler said the proposal has been a long time coming. The Planning Commission, she said, has been waiting for a developer to step in and revitalize the area.

Though Legler recognized some residents’ discomfort at the scale of the growth, she said the new development is a step toward a more vibrant, thriving local economy.

“At this point, there’s nothing happening there,” Legler said. “I am really excited about this opportunity for Sarasota County.”

Contact Herald-Tribune Growth and Development Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @hmb_1013.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota Square Mall redevelopment moves forward despite protest