Venice Area Audubon Society In Opposition To Proposed Development

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Cecilia Lewis

VENICE — The Venice Area Audubon Society asking for support in their opposition to a proposed multi-family development near the Rookery in South Venice.

They are asking the public to help to protect the Venice Audubon Rookery during the construction and after the completion of a nearby development project. They are asking for people to attend the hearing this Wednesday at 9:00 am, Commission Chamber – Sarasota County Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL. The Society is asking for concerned individuals to provide testimony to advocate for requirements to mitigate the development’s environmental impact.

A mixed use five-story development (apartments and commercial) is planned on an 8-acre parcel of land near the Venice Audubon Rookery Park. The project site is currently zoned to allow 13 units per acre and the proposed change would allow 25 units per acre. Because apartment development is already clearly allowed on this site in the Sarasota County Land Use Plan and under the current zoning, Venice Audubon is not in a position to recommend opposition to the project per se. Audubon Florida’s Director of Advocacy and the VAAS Chapter President met with the developers and project planners recently to discuss our concerns and suggestions.

Approval of the changes, as recommended by the Planning Commission, would open the door to construction of a five-story, 208-unit complex with 5,000 square of commercial space and and 8,000-square-foot amenity center with a fitness center and a pool.

The site is owned by Jay and Premala Raja, of Englewood, but is under contract to CEM Development Construction Services LLC, of Lakeland.

The purchase agreement is in the County Commission packet but doesn’t show the price. The property appraiser’s website lists a taxable value of $728,989.