Sarasota zoning code change gives developers 3x density bonus for including affordable housing
SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) – A plan that could change the commercial landscape in Sarasota is getting the greenlight from city commissioners.
The board approved changes to the city’s existing zoning code in a 3-2 vote. The decision could impact more than 700 properties along some of Sarasota’s main corridors including Tamiami Trail, U.S. 301, and Fruitville Road.
The zoning change will give developers a density bonus if affordable housing units are created in the project. The bonus will triple the existing density limits on the properties as long as 11% to 15% of the units are reserved for affordable housing.
Some residents fear impacts of overdevelopment such as excess traffic, noise, and infrastructure concerns.
Others feel the large density bonus for the number of affordable housing units won’t be a fair trade off.
“They are going to get double the height, triple the density for very very little — 11% affordable housing,” longtime Arlington Park resident Flo Entler said. “We are giving a lot away and getting very little back. The less affordable housing we have and the more market value we have, the more affordable we need.”
Commissioner Erik Arroyo, who supports the zoning amendment, says the 15% mark is what has proven to work in other parts of the country.
“The reality is that we don’t operate in a system where you can tell someone to build 100% workforce housing. Other places have tried that and it doesn’t work,” Arroyo said. “We are preempted by the state from just mandating people to say give us 100% workforce housing. That is not how this works. It works as an incentive. We are supposed to provide incentives as a municipality, and by doing this, we are saying we are going to give you an increase in density if you provide us some workforce housing.”
The zoning change has the potential to transform commercial corridors into mixed-use development.
“That includes derelict strip malls and abandoned shopping centers that aren’t doing well,” Mayor Liz Alpert said. “Wouldn’t it be great if we could add housing to that and part of that could be affordable?”
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