LPNA General Meeting Highlights

Thanks to everyone that made it out to the general meeting of the Laurel Park Neighborhood Association on Veterans Day at Tamiami Tap!

Some of the meeting topics included:

1. Downtown Master Plan Update-Board Member Juliette Reynolds provided background on a new ad hoc committee that the City Commission recently selected.  The committee is to provide input through public meetings toward an update of the future master plan (the last one was targeted for 2020).  The committee will start its work shortly; we’ll keep you posted on their progress.
2. Historic Preservation Transfer of Development Rights Program-Reynolds and Board President Matt Arcari shared that consideration is being given by the city to a voluntary program that would allow owners of designated historic homes and commercial buildings to sell unused development rights to another property owner.  Initial proposals would only allow the sale of these rights within the Laurel Park neighborhood; a property owner here could not buy the right to build a larger home or building in Laurel Park.  Work is still early in the process for this; again-we’ll keep you posted on their progress.
3. The Players Theater at Payne Park– Arcari told the meeting attendees that the City Commission has approved a 30 year lease with the Players for the use of the Auditorium in Payne Park on Laurel Street across from the tennis courts.  The Players organization can renovate the interior of the building to its needs, but can not add on to the building as was previously proposed.  Talks between the City and Players about a lease of the empty lot at the corner of Laurel and Washington Blvd for a future building will continue in the future.
4. Committee Reports
   1. Hudson Bayou Project-Arcari shared the background on the effort to clean the waterway ideally from the boat launch at the end of Ohio Place in our neighborhood to allow better access out the bayou to the bay.  The City will have slightly more than $1 million available from a local tax in the next 12 months to plan and execute the project, and this committee is working with the City to identify potential grant opportunities to increase funding to get the project completed.  YOU CAN HELP:  LPNA seeks written feedback from the neighborhood residents that describes their use of the public water access, along with the challenges using it in its current condition.  Please email a note to board@laurelparksarasota.org, and we will use the feedback to help support future grant applications.
   2. Communications-Board Member Ron Watts shared that this new committee has four members, and is working to improve the communication through the neighborhood’s website, email and printed newsletters.  The committee asked for news that you would like to share with the neighborhood in one of our newsletters.  You can email that to members@laurelparksarasota.org.
5. Development Updates-Arcari wrapped up the meeting by sharing that the Board continues to track the various proposed projects at the County Administration Building, Laurel and 301, and Laurel and Orange.  Only the Townhouse rental development at Laurel & 301 has been approved for construction by the City at this time.
6. Q & A from Attendees–
   1. When is the roundabout at Pine and Ringling scheduled to open?  It currently is scheduled to be operational by early 2025.
   2. How do we pile storm debris that we still have?  See this recent post on our website for a visual answer.
   3. Can we have a work day to clean up the park?  The Board will check with the City to find out if we can schedule a day-we will let everyone know their answer.

Because of the temporary closing of the park, the next Tunes in the Park event will be delayed into early 2025.  We’ll notify all once a date gets established.

Our annual membership meeting will be in February.