Sarasota County commission gives initial OK to new I-75 overpass near UTC

SARASOTA -- A new Interstate 75 overpass near the Mall at University Town Center took one step closer to becoming a reality Tuesday.

The Sarasota County Commission authorized without discussion a Comprehensive Plan amendment to show the proposed improvement on the Future Thoroughfare Plan at its Tuesday meeting in Venice.

With the commission's OK on the overpass that is being proposed to be built between Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and north Cattlemen Road, with a second phase of the roadway extension to Honore Road, it is only the initial authorization required to start the Comprehensive Plan amendment process.

The next steps include public workshops, going before the county planning commission and holding public hearings before the county commissioners before final approval of the overpass roadway connection.

As of Tuesday, no dates had been set for these workshops and hearings.

"Staff are in the process of scheduling a neighborhood workshop, planning commission and board dates, but we won't have those fixed until next week," county spokesman Jason Bartolone said. He added that the meetings will be "coming soon in 2015."

The overpass roadway is proposed to be built near the southern end of Nathan Benderson Park.

Also on Tuesday, the county approved entering into a locally funded agreement with the city of Sarasota for roundabouts at U.S. 41 at 10th and 14th streets. City commissioners approved this agreement at its meeting last week.

Claire Aronson, University Parkway/Sarasota reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024 or at caronson@bradenton.com. Follow her on Twitter@Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published December 9, 2014 at 2:12 PM with the headline "Sarasota County commission gives initial OK to new I-75 overpass near UTC ."