ROUNDABOUT PROCESS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS

Much has been written and said about the roundabout the City of Sarasota is studying for the intersection of Orange and Pineapple Avenues.  On behalf of the Burns Square Property Owners, we would like to provide some specific information related to this proposal, which has been approved for further study.

In 2005, Burns Square held a self-funded charrette with Urban Planner Ramon Trias and Michael Carlson (local architecture firm creating the Downtown Master Plan 2020 with DPZ).  We also hired Michael Wallwork, PE, as the engineer to study the layout of our pedestrian space in Burns Square.  Among other important things, we confirmed our roads were wider than necessary and our sidewalks are not a desired width.  He also studied and came up with a few alternatives for the intersection of Orange and Pineapple Avenues, one of them being a roundabout.

At the beginning of 2007, Sarasota County put off a large storm water drainage project that had been planned for the Little Five Points area until April 2008.  The project is extensive and projected to last 7 months.  The county will be tearing up the intersection of Orange and Pineapple and digging deep holes for new storm water drains.  The Burns Square Property Owners felt it was prudent to study this intersection again, to see if we could improve the list of problems it currently has while this construction was taking place.  We had a few preconceived ideas but had never focused on the roundabout idea.  We decided in May to hire experts to help.

In June, Bill Dennis, Charter Member of the Congress of New urbanism and highly sought-after planner, came to Burns Square for 4 days to study and improve our plans from 2005.  (You can see his list of accomplishments on his website www.bdennis.com.)  He studied the intersection and played with several design options, finally asking why we did not pursue the roundabout the traffic engineer suggested back in 2005.  Ultimately, that was the design he suggested, just as Mr. Wallwork did in 2005, to provide an optimal solution for the geometry of that intersection.  (see blog post June 2007 BURNS SQUARE MAPS ITS FUTURE)

In July, the Burns Square Property Owners Association went before the commission to ask for approval for the SurTax Funds to be used to improve the intersection of Orange and Pineapple Avenues by installing a roundabout.  We also requested the project be started or completed in conjunction with the Sarasota County storm water project to minimize neighborhood impacts from construction.  We presented photographs of the intersection before and after with a roundabout and a whimsical "Carmen Miranda Fountain".  (see July blog post ROUNDABOUT APPROVED 5-0 FOR SURTAX FUNDING)

In August, the Burns Square Property Owners immediately hired Michael Wallwork to create a conceptual design to make sure a roundabout would work and create a better pedestrian experience.  We presented his conceptual design in September to the City Engineering department to see what they thought and a few weeks later presented them to Sarasota County and Boyle Engineering.  All the engineers felt the conceptual design would work.

Immediately after the City and County reviewed the roundabout conceptual design, a neighborhood meeting was scheduled.  As a result of those meetings the city engineering department asked for additional funds to work with the concerns that have been expressed and to explore the feasibility with the county.  The city commission approved those funds on November 19th.

We know there have been concerns and issues raised.  We are excited about this opportunity for further study to guide the rebuilding of this intersection, following completion of the storm water project, into one with greatly improved function and aesthetic appeal.  If you have questions or concerns or are simply interested in the outcome of this process, please stay involved.  If you have specific questions for us, please feel free to ask.  

Thank you, Denise Kowal, President

Burns Square Property Owners Association

CIVIC PARKING FOR BURNS SQUARE

The Downtown Parking Master Plan points out eight top priority locations for civic parking facilities, Burns Square is identified in three of them.  First, Burns Square is identified as the number 3 priority with a civic facility to be built on or around the Verizon parcel by 2008.  The second time as number 5 priority with a civic facility on the north side of Burns Square around Pineapple Avenue to be completed by 2010 and lastly as the number 6 priority to be completed by 2011 on the County Administration Building on Ringling Boulevard.

It is desirable for Civic parking facilities to be within acceptable distance from various businesses, particularly anchor businesses such as the Burns Court Cinema.  Acceptable distance is within 500 walking feet (variables apply).  Because of limited available parcels, only three were identified as acceptable locations during the Burns Square Property Owners 2005 Charrette (Orange/Dolphin, Verizon, Woman's Exchange).  Today, those remain the locations of interest.  Our first choice remains the Orange/Dolphin parcel, second the Woman's Exchange parcel and third the Verizon parcel.

The City Commission approved entering into negotiations with Michael Saunders for the Verizon parcel on November 5th, 2007 (http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20071106/NEWS/711060403/-1).  At the following City Commission meeting, the City Commission approved entering into negotiations with the Woman's Exchange for their parcel on November 19th, 2007 (http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20070924/NEWS/709240491/-1/xml&display=Salestirsupneighborhoods).  Only one parcel will most likely be purchased for the benefit of a civic parking facility.

In addition, the Burns Square Property Owners through the work completing the 2007 improvements to the 2005 Master Plan identified opportunities for extra on-street parking.  Everyone highly values on-street parking and hope over the years the city can continue to look for ways to add those spaces.  Through the installment of the roundabout at Orange and Pineapple we will be able to add additional spaces between Alderman and Oak on Orange Avenue.  Through various studies, Burns Square needs around 700 addition parking spaces upward to 2000 new spaces as the area develops.

Civic Parking is important to Burns Square so development can be kept within a lower scale excluding the need for buildings to bulk for internal parking requirements.

CHALK FESTIVAL - A BEAUTIFUL EVENT

Burns Square held its first major event this November, the "Burns Square Chalk Festival" benefiting the Sarasota Film Society.

 Over 20 artists worked their fingers raw for two days on the rough street surface of Pineapple Avenue creating beautiful drawings for the pleasure of passerby's, lucky enough to be a part of the expressive process.  As each hour passed, every painting evolved upon the pavement making every part of the weekend a new experience.

Today small traces of the works of art can still be seen as they slowly disappear with each car that passes over them.  We already have many more artists signed up for the next years event to be held November 15th and 16th, 2008.  We are planning to have over 50 artists next year.  Volunteers, Sponsors and Artists are very much appreciated and encouraged to participate in this magnificent community event.  www.burnssquarechalkfestival.com