Trees to Separate Tri-Par and New N. Sarasota Development

residents in north Sarasota wanted a wall to shield themselves from a proposed 280-unit workforce housing development, but instead they'll have to settle for trees.

Sarasota City Commission approved at its Monday evening session both the rezoning and site plan of a 16-plus acre parcel on 1400 Desoto Road that could soon see 12 apartment buildings and a clubhouse next door.

Commissioner  voted against both the rezoning and site plan.

"Part of me thinks being a good neighbor in this situation is throwing a bone out there," Commissioner  said. "But in the same respect, I'm not so sure the wall is going to accomplish that."

The city annexed 1400 Desoto Road into in 2006 and was at one time going to be a Habitat for Humanity workforce housing development, but the property was eventually lost and sold back to the bank before its new owners—Universoto, LLC—purchased the property, hoping to pursue a similar development, according to city documents.

The development will now be classified Residential Multiple Family-4, which allows up to the 280 apartment units Universoto proposes to build.

On the south and east sides, the Desoto property is bordered by Tri-Par divided by pine trees. To the west is an abandoned rail line and the .

The developer wanted to reduce the pine trees and instead replace many of the pines with native Floridian trees and shrubs, including palmetto and fire bush.

About 70 people turned out to hear the fate of the plan, many of them Tri-Par residents.

Tri-Par residents who spoke at the public hearing said they were concerned about the noise of children playing in the swimming pool, lights from cars shining into their homes and potential theft from easy access to the community to support why they thought a wall would be necessary.

"We need a wall because it will help with noise control and help keep people out of our area," said Bob Chvojka, president of the Tri-Par Estates Park and Recreation District Board of Trustees. Tri-Par, the 160-unit age-restricted mobile home park, is also its own political subdivision as granted by the state of Florida

"Noise penetrates trees and shrubs," Chvojka added.

One estimate for a six-and-a-half foot wall made of styrofoam, stucco and support beams would cost $140,000, said Bruce Franklin, president of Land Resource Strategies, and consultant for Tri-Par Estates. 

Yet, some studies suggest a buffer of trees and shrubs would be better than a wall as some walls could amplify sound, said Phil Smith, principal at David W Johnston Associates, and landscape consultant for Universoto.

Construction is expected to start in 2012 and build-out completed in 2014, according to city documents.