Affordable Housing Initiatives - I've just returned from a week of vacation, and am glad to see that an active discussion has been taking place regarding this issue. The density bonus comprehensive plan amendment that will be discussed this week at the planning board, and I see at a CCNA/Downtown Partnership public meeting, is only one new tool of many that are needed. If the plan amendment is put in place, Shawn Fulker is correct in saying that many steps remain before any program could be put in place. It is exactly this type of program that is needed to allow for some of the housing to be developed that has been talked about for some time, for example the housing Mr. Vengroff has talked about on his property near Park East. (Though in reading posts there was a statment about city staff comments on that, which I'm tracking down.)

No one tool, however, will solve anything, nor is it proposed that it would. It will take the combined efforts of everyone, including employers, to produce affordability, and that includes discussions about what is a legitimate living wage. I heard an employer lamenting a few months ago that his son, who worked in his very successful business, could barely afford to live in Sarasota. I know business margins are tight, but I found it curious that the idea of paying the young man more didn't even enter into the conversation.

In answer to the question about "over 55" age restriction, I am not aware of any downtown project that has such a thing. There may be other questions in the posts, I will get through them once we dispatch today's commission meeting.