Collaborating Together To Realize Your Vision

Welcome to Vision Planning & Design!

Vision Planning & Design is a full service Land Use Planning Consulting Firm based in Sarasota, Florida focused on providing high-quality land use entitlement service and customer satisfaction - we will do everything we can to meet your expectations.

The company was started in 2005 by Brian Lichterman, after working as a Senior Planner for over 22 years with the Sarasota County Planning & Development Services Department. My specialty working for Sarasota County included leading or assisting in over 33 Critical Area Plans including multiple corridor studies, revitalization plans for the communities of Osprey, Nokomis and Englewood, and preparing a number of new zoning districts including the Arts and Office Overlay District (AOOD) in Englewood. Other work in the Englewood Area included creating the first ever Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) District.

Since September 2005, Vision Planning & Design has successfully obtained approval of over 60 Rezoning's, Special Exceptions and Comprehensive Plan Amendments and boasting over a 90 percent success rate. Virtually every one of the approved 60 projects received unanimous approval by the decision making Board. Projects requiring a rezoning have ranged from a 216 unit multi family complex in Manatee County; a 510 unit multi family project of work force housing in the City of Venice; a large mixed use project in Englewood; two Assisted Living Facilities; office buildings, residential and industrial subdivisions; commercial buildings; and most recently a new Fire Station No. 8 near the Celery Fields. Special Exceptions obtained for my clients included a Pet Resort in Osprey; off site storm water retention ponds; a child care center; conversion of a home to a Physical Therapy Office; four landscape supply businesses with outdoor display areas; allowing entertainment after 10:00 pm,; allowing outdoor entertainment for the Stottlemyer Smokehouse Restaurant on Fruitville Road; and most recently a home based business selling flags and flag accessories.

Other recent successes have included obtaining unanimous approval of six Text Amendments to the Sarasota County Unified Development Code (UDC). This included amending the CG Zoning District to allow a Pet Resort as a Special Exception; amending the CN Zoning District to allow outdoor entertainment as a Special Exception; amending the CHI District to allow medical office as a limited use in areas designated for office; allowing freestanding multi-family uses in the CG Zoning District; amending the OPI District to allow a Veterinarian with no animal boarding in the OPI District; and amending home based businesses to sell flags and flag accessories. Another recent sucess was helping a client to annex a parcel from Pinnelas County into the City of Clearwater to allow a new Pet Resort.

With a variety of offerings to choose from, we're sure you'll be happy working with us. Look around our website and if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact us.