subject: Tom Slaughter Venice Florida: Deferred Venice Airport And Commercial Area Improvements [print this page] A petition has been sent to the City Council of the City of Venice, Florida regarding the concern of the residents for the city and the Airport. They call it as the four steps to a better airport and includes keeping the airport safe and compatible with surrounding land uses, directing staff to implement best noise abatement practices at the VNC airport, amending the make-up of Airport Advisory Board in the municipal code, and amending the mission of the Airport Advisory Board in the municipal code.
In line with this, six applicants where picked to develop the airport. Two days after that, a new approach was announced by the city officials. The earlier plan started with the City Manager Marty Black, City Attorney Bob Anderson, Airport Manager Fred Watts and Council Member John Moore reading the six proposals regarding projects on massive marina, resort hotels, championship golf courses and amphitheater. The committee picked one developer that is professionally qualified to complete the project. However, the earlier plan drew a lot of criticism because the public were not informed and allowed to participate. On the new plan, public were informed and were involved in the process.
Aside from the plans on airport improvements, Tom Slaughter Venice Florida Planning Director, recommended approval on the A Mixed-Use New Urbanist Community, Michael Millers Renaissance development at Knights trail and Laurel roads. It is a petition from the developers to the planning commission to give special exceptions when it comes to 731 residential dwellings, a hotel, and some commercial sites on an area which is zoned for commercial use; and a petition to allow two 60-foot, one 62-foot, 20 45-foot condos and 10 more with 45 feet including 10 feet for parking to exceed the 35-foot height limit on buildings. However, the project does not have any real New Urbanist qualities.
Betty Intagliata, chair of the Venice Area Historical Society, wrote a letter to Tom Slaughter Venice Florida Planning Director and to the planning commission member Janis Fawn that for the Miller project to be legitimate, a qualified New Urbanist planner should be involved and the community should have been involved in a charette for input into the design.
Don OConnel, advocate for new urban planning and zoning, added that a real new Urbanist design would surround the commercial area with residential units which is different from the proposed residential project that have small commercial area next to it. They presented a traditional residential 50-acre trail pattern of condos and a central lake. The 23-acre commercial area is designed not for a village center, but more to attract motorists. A witness said that there were no food stores, pharmacy or any amenities that a real urban center would provide; actually it will just add 2,400 more vehicles on the street.
Venice, Florida city councils lack of overall plan results to hiring an urban design consultant for the said project.
