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Planning Director previews multi‑year comprehensive plan update for Sarasota, due Dec. 2029
Summary
Planning Director Steve Covert told the board the Sarasota City Plan update will span several years, begin with transportation and a population‑projection update in March 2026, and finish by the state deadline of December 2029, with public outreach and state review steps outlined.
Steve Covert, Planning Director for the City of Sarasota, told the Planning Board that the city will begin a phased update of its comprehensive plan — called the Sarasota City Plan — with a multiyear schedule aimed at meeting state requirements.
Covert said the last full update was in 2008 and the city must complete the current effort by December 2029 under the state’s Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) process. "Our particular comprehensive plan update is due in December 2029," he said. He said the city will phase chapters forward rather than bringing all chapters at once.
Covert described the initial 2026 package the board should expect: the Transportation chapter (already under way) and a Future Land Use support document focused on updated population projections (extending projections to the year 2055). He said other chapters scheduled for 2026 include Historic Preservation, Government Coordination, and Recreation and Open Space, with additional chapters — utilities, housing, environmental protection and others — to follow in 2027. He noted the city will provide public open houses and outreach to advisory boards and that state review typically takes 30–90 days.
Board members asked about the number of chapters and the pace of the schedule. Covert said the city will aim to move forward thoughtfully and not rush the public process, while also recognizing that state rules and potential legislative changes may affect the work. He encouraged the board to expect a multi‑meeting engagement on chapter content and supporting documents.
Covert also noted that the city has begun using transferable development rights (TDRs) and expects interest to grow as the program becomes more familiar to developers; he said the program is intended, among other goals, to protect low‑scale historic Main Street areas while allowing density elsewhere.
The board did not take action on the comprehensive plan at this meeting; Covert’s presentation functioned as a preview and notification of upcoming docket items and outreach opportunities.
