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Governors Who Promoted and Strengthened Planning - and those who didn't

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S everal governors have significantly influenced Florida state planning, with legacies often defined by either strengthening or rolling back growth management systems. Bob Graham (1979–1987):  Widely regarded as Florida’s most influential "planning governor," his administration established the modern framework for managing the state's rapid population growth. Growth Management Act (1985):  This landmark legislation required every county and municipality to adopt a local comprehensive plan consistent with state and regional goals. Infrastructure Concurrency:  He introduced the principle that roads, sewers, and other infrastructure must be planned and funded concurrently with new development. Agency Creation:  His tenure saw the creation of the  Department of Community Affairs (DCA) , which served as the state's lead planning agency. Reubin Askew (1971–1979):  He is credited with initiating Florida’s comprehensive approach to growth management through the 19...
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How we lost local power thanks to the people we elected

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One major theme of this excellent Panel Discussion held Dec. 10 in Venice, Florida, is how the people we elected to represent us have in fact been empowering developers. We the People are far more helpless to protect our environment and our local vision of the land thanks to state reps who've transferred our legal powers to developers we no longer can constrain. Panel Discussion Moderated by Suncoast Searchlight reporters Derek Gilliam and Josh Salman with panelists: Tom Knight , Sarasota County Commissioner John Meisel , West Villages Improvement District Board Member Nick Pachota , Mayor of Venice Susan Schoettle , Former Assistant Sarasota County Attorney Jon Thaxton , Director of Policy & Advocacy, Gulf Coast Community Foundation
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Bring Back Neighborhood Workshops -- Letter to the Board

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Sarasota County is considering revising its Neighborhood Workshop policy to return to an in-person format. SCAN fully endorses this. We ask all who understand how significant this public communication is to write in favor of this resolution to the County Commission - the Board's email address is   Commissioners@scgov.net The commissioners' individual emails: Ron Cutsinger  rcutsinger@scgov.net Tom Knight  tknight@scgov.net Teresa Mast tmast@scgov.net Dr. Joe Neunder  jneunder@scgov.net Mark Smith  mhsmith@scgov.net                       ======================  December 08, 2025 Board of Sarasota County Commissioners 1001 Sarasota Center Boulevard Sarasota, FL 34240 RE: Neighborhood Workshops Dear Commissioners: For many years I participated in numerous Neighborhood Workshops, which were always in person until Covid triggered a change in policy. These meetings were a rich learning opportunity - not ...
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The Sarasota Commission of 2021 approving a massive development near North Port

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  Winchester Ranch plan for 9,000 homes advances in Sarasota County Timothy Fanning Sarasota Herald-Tribune April 21, 2021 Updated April 22, 2021, 11:45 a.m. ET Keep Watching 5 SARASOTA COUNTY – A blueprint for a massive development along River Road that will, in the coming decades, pave the way for nearly 9,000 new homes in south Sarasota County began to emerge Wednesday.  In a series of votes, Sarasota County commissioners unanimously approved a plan for Winchester Ranch, the proposed development on 3,600 acres of mostly rural land south and west of the city of North Port.  The proposed plan by Winchester Florida Ranch LLLP, which should take about 55 years to build out, is the southern extension of, and will be integrated into, the existing West Villages development, now known as Wellen Park. Commissioners OK’d what’s called a Critical Area Plan, which serves as a master development road map for Winchester Ranch. It’s the first step in what’s expect...
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