I think I know what they are trying to do but I believe they have got it upside down

One county is discussing how to create architectural diversity but I think that perhaps they mis-understand the difference between site plan and architecture?

So it was with the Sarasota County commissioners on Wednesday. They knew what they didn't want in franchise operations such as Auto Zone, McDonald's or Walgreens. The problem was setting it down in ordinance form.

As commissioners unanimously adopted a new zoning ordinance for the county, they got into an extended discussion over the goal of eliminating cookie-cutter style buildings in the county. In the end, commissioner Nora Patterson voted against the provisions of the new code that dealt with duplicate buildings.

"We're five people and we haven't decided what we want to accomplish," Patterson said. "I support where the board wants to go, but I just don't think we have it down."

Patterson made her comments during debate about allowing the duplication of nonresidential structures that had already been used in the county or its municipalities.

Wednesday, commissioners decided 4-1 to allow the use of a particular design twice before it became subject to review as a duplicate building.

A staff-proposed definition had defined "duplicate" as being used once before the next building became subject to review under the design standards. The purpose section of the ordinance tried to clarify the matter further.

"The intent is not to eliminate corporate trademarks or identity, but to require projects in Sarasota County to be of an identifiably higher quality architectural design than standard duplicate nonresidential buildings," noted that section of the ordinance.

Commissioners David Mills and Jon Thaxton argued that outstanding building designs used elsewhere that were "outstanding" should be permitted in the county. Commissioner Paul Mercier wanted to allow one from a pattern book that did not exist in Sarasota County, while chairwoman Shannon Staub said she favored allowing up to two from a pattern book, but didn't "want to see 10 of the same thing."