Planning commission recommends denial of Fox Cove comprehensive plan and zoning changes after residents raise stormwater and traffic concerns

The City of Venice Planning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend denial of two related Fox Cove petitions: comprehensive plan future‑land‑use amendment petition 24-60CP and zoning map amendment petition 24-61RZ. The applicant sought to change about 10.74 acres at the northeast corner of Auburn and Border Road from low‑density residential to moderate‑density residential and to rezone the property from Sarasota County "OUR" to the City's RMF‑2 zoning to allow single‑family attached units.

Planning staff presented the requests, explaining the change would allow 5.1 to 9 dwelling units per acre and that the applicant had proffered a stipulation limiting the project to 70 units. Britney Smith, planner for the City of Venice, said staff’s review found sufficient information on the record for the commission to consider the petitions and described required transportation and concurrency review processes.

Josh Slaw of Morris Engineering, agent for the applicant, said the moderate‑density…