Planning seeks comments on Unified Development Code (UDC)

Sarasota County Planning Dept. is looking for input on its effort to make the development and zoning regulations more consistent and user friendly. Here's its latest update:

Sarasota County wants your input! 

2nd Preliminary Draft of the UDC Now available 

Sarasota County is creating a Unified Development Code (UDC) that updates and brings together the land development and zoning regulations, which control the development of all properties in the unincorporated area of Sarasota County. The new code will be more user-friendly and allow the public to more easily find the rules that apply to a property. Sarasota County is committed to keeping the public involved and up-to-date throughout this process. A UDC Project web page has been established for this purpose at www.scgov.net (Keywords: 'Unified Development Code'). The proposed UDC ultimately will be subject to the full public hearing process and presented to various groups, advisory committees, and the Sarasota County Commission for consideration. Sarasota County staff have been working with the consulting firm of Calvin, Giordano & Associates (CGA) to create the UDC. Phase I of this 3 phased effort began in March of 2017 with a discovery process conducted by CGA that involved discussions with various representatives of the community, public review bodies, and county staff. Phase II engaged the community through 3 public workshops in September, October, and November of last year. Phase III will involve the full public hearing review process that concludes with the Board of County Commission taking action on a final draft of the proposed UDC. CGA has prepared a 2nd Preliminary Draft of the proposed UDC, which is a full draft of the UDC, and it is now available for public review on the UDC Project web page.  The County fully anticipates that the UDC will continue to evolve as it makes its way through the development process, including organizational changes, additional updates, and more refined editing. There will be an additional draft of the proposed UDC prepared by CGA that responds to comments received on the 2nd Preliminary Draft. As review comments are received and modifications are made, it is anticipated that there will be a revised draft of the proposed UDC submitted for further review by mid-March of 2018. A formal review draft will subsequently be prepared by CGA for the full public hearing process by the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners. This formal review process is anticipated to be initiated in May of 2018. You may provide your comments directly on the UDC Project web page or by submitting them to the Planning and Development Services Department at planner@scgov.net. Input received will be addressed by the consultant as the UDC Project moves forward. Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, marital status, familial status, religion, or genetic information. Persons with disabilities who require assistance or alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), or who wish to file a complaint, should contact Sarasota County ADA/Civil Rights Coordinator, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, Florida 34236, Phone: 941-861-5000; TTY 7-1-1 or 1-800-955-8771, E-mail: adacoordinator@scgov.net. Thank you for your time and interest in this effort! We appreciate your feedback!