Planning Board recommends approval of Amarillo’s Park Phase 4 after stormwater and joint‑use clarifications

The Sarasota Planning Board voted 4-0 on Oct. 1 to recommend approval of site plan 25‑SP‑11 for Amarillo’s Park Phase 4, a proposed 61‑unit affordable housing phase on approximately 2.15 acres at 2101 North Orange Avenue. The recommendation will advance to the City Commission for final action under the G zoning procedures.

The phase will add 61 multifamily units across two three‑story buildings (applicants and staff described a unit mix of 36 one‑bedroom units, 13 two‑bedroom units and 12 three‑bedroom units). Staff reported the phase removes 13 trees (none grand trees) and will mitigate with 21 new trees, exceeding mitigation requirements; an initial transportation concurrency analysis found the proposal de minimis for traffic and the application received Development Review Committee sign‑off in early September.

Joel Friedman and Chris Gallagher presented the site plan on behalf of the Sarasota Housing Authority and the development team. City planner Tom Sikarsky explained the G zone typically uses the most restrictive abutting zone, but that the property is also subject to the Housing Authority Overlay, whose standards the application meets. Sikarsky noted a recent amendment (25AA08) moved a building from a previously approved phase…