SCANNING Sarasota PLANNING

  The Florida Legislature may reconsider next year a very bad law that prohibits approval of any measure by a local government that developers deem “burdensome or restrictive”.   Your help is needed to make it happen.   The law is known by its 2025 Senate bill number, SB 180 .  It was slipped by developer lobbyists into a bill for hurricane damage relief. Legislators were falsely told that it only protects the right to rebuild property damaged by a hurricane.    Instead, the new law , s. 252.422(2), Florida Statutes,  prohibits any county or city for one year after being within 100 miles of a hurricane path, from adopting   “a more restrictive or burdensome amendment to its comprehensive plan or land development regulations” or development approval procedure.   Restore good wetland protections?  Nope.  Rein in urban sprawl?  Nope.  Increase building setbacks or limit heights?  Nope.  Not even a little.  Our ...

Unity of Sarasota       Community News The following is from Miles Toder, Misty Creek resident and President of  Sarasota East Enders for Responsible Development (SEERD): The Sarasota Citizen Action Network (SCAN) concerned about overdevelopment and the need for better growth management with adequate infrastructure, public services and greater citizen involvement will hold its next meeting at Fellowship Hall, Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Road at 5:30 on Tuesday October 28th.  We have invited speakers from Audubon Society to speak about the County Commission's 5-0 vote yesterday once again turning down DR Horton's latest application for a zoning change at the Smith Farm adjacent to the Celery Fields; Phillippi Creek Coalition's effort to protect their neighborhood from flooding, and SEERD's ongoing battle with Sarasota County over its impacts in the Bee Ridge neighborhood.  Of strong concern to all are newly amended state laws that pre-empt local jurisdiction over ...

The County Commission allowed everyone who wished to speak at Open to the Public today - the public input lasted about 90 minutes, with not a soul speaking in favor of DR Horton building at the Celery Fields. Some of the input offered by residents was extraordinary. Charlie Bailey Around 3:30 pm, the Horton agenda item came up - and was quickly denied, 5-0, with virtually no discussion. The mediated proposal is dead, but outside the Admin building Horton's attorney, Charlie Bailey, said -- in response to a question from SCAN -- that he would advise his client to sue the County. SCAN will hold its next meeting next Tuesday, Oct. 28. Come hear from three neighborhood groups - the problem each faced, how they mobilized, and what happened as a result. We will meet in Fellowship Hall at  Unity of Sarasota , 3023 Proctor Road. The hall open at 5 pm, with the meeting beginning at 5:30. You'll hear from folks who did some very fine work. More to come.

    CONA Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations October 2025 Community Newsletter CONA Relaunches with New Leadership and Renewed Commitment to Civic Engagement The Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) is proud to announce a new chapter in our long history of neighborhood advocacy and civic involvement. Since 1961, CONA has served as a unifying voice for homeowner, condominium, and civic associations across Sarasota County. Today, we’re renewing that legacy with new leadership and a fresh focus on empowering residents to engage constructively in local government. New Leadership Following the retirement of longtime president Kafi Benz, we have a new Board of Directors representing neighborhoods throughout Sarasota County: President: Lourdes Ramirez , affiliated with Protect Siesta Key Vice President: Melanie Goddard,  affiliated with Marquee en Ville Condominium Association Treasurer: Ron Kashden , affiliated with Laurel Park Neighborhood As...

Information on Smith Farms Hearing Smith Farms Hearing on Oct. 21 at 9 a.m. Sarasota County Commission Chambers  1660 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota On Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Sarasota County Commission will be asked to consider a new proposal from developer D.R. Horton for a residential community on the Smith Farms property on Raymond Road. The company revised its plans and is now asking for an  85-unit subdivision, after an initial request for 170 units. Additionally, the design reduces the number of entrances from two along Raymond Road to a single subdivision entrance in the southwest corner of the property. T his new proposal resulted from a state-authorized arbitration process that the company pursued  after the County Commission voted unanimously on Feb. 12 to deny a rezoning petition that D.R. Horton had submitted to county staff .  The discussion is No. 36 on the board’s Oct. 21 agenda. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the Commission Chambers of the County Administration...

Event Details Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2025 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Selby Public Library – Conference Room (Downstairs, Southeast Corner) 1331 First St, Sarasota, FL 34236 Admission: Free and open to the public Topics:  Contacting Legislators; Greenbelts: Sarasota Manatee Wildlife Corridors and our archaeology in Manatee and Sarasota  Guest Speaker: JAVIER ESTEVEZ  - Sierra Club Florida Political and Legislative Director.    Javier has been with Sierra Club Florida since 2022, previously serving as the Operations & Legislative Coordinator, where he played a pivotal role in advancing environmental advocacy efforts across the state. Born and raised in Miami-Dade County, his extensive experience in campaign and policy work includes running for Florida House District 105 in 2018 and 2020, demonstrating his commitment to leadership and environmental policy. As Political and Legislative Director, Javier aims to build a dynamic and inclusive political program tha...