Sarasota County Commission sets workshop on road deal as Hi-Hat developer calls out Knight

 From the Herald Tribune:


The Sarasota County Commission scheduled a workshop for April 9 to discuss whether $14 million in public funds would be used to widen a small portion of Bee Ridge Road, a move that many think would only benefit a planned super development east of Interstate 75. 

The commission last month initially approved splitting the $28 million cost of widening a portion Bee Ridge Road − from Bent Tree Boulevard to Lorraine Road – with the developers of Hi-Hat Ranch. 

However, the deal faced immediate backlash on social media. Matt Osterhoudt, the county’s Director of Planning and Development Services, estimated in a memo last October that the road widening would cost $14 million. 

Months later, that projected cost had doubled with a new estimate by the engineering firm Kimley-Horn. The entire road deal was negotiated by Alan Maio – a principal at Kimley-Horn and former Sarasota County Commissioner, according to a report from the Florida Trident. 



This month, the commissioners called off the widening deal and said they would schedule a public workshop on it. 

More here . . .

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