Three Sarasota Icons at a Breaking Point

A version of this story originally appeared in WSLR's Critical Times, Jan. 2024, page 11.

Sarasota is in the grip of a growth machine that threatens to render three of its most iconic places unrecognizable.

US News & World Report recently tagged Sarasota County as the second fastest growing region in the United States. That “success” has had consequences: Between 2013-23, housing prices shot up by 148% here -- way above the national average.

While local boosters point with optimistic glee to the prosperity new residents and tourists bring, residents have pinpointed growth as their #1 concern four years in a row, citing failing roads, development incompatibilities, and the exodus of working people unable to buy or rent. As gated communities and strip malls crop up, developers ask for -- and often receive -- maximum densities.

As we move into 2024, exorbitant developer proposals threaten three unique places beloved by the public. Could these assets be at a breaking point? 

1. Siesta Key: With its walkable village and famed beach, Siesta has long been the number one tourist feature in the county. Developers want high-rise hotels that would far exceed the current density limit of 26 units per acre; residents have lined up to oppose them. 

"Siesta Key has the most intensive residential development in Sarasota County,” says Lourdes Ramirez (left), a resident who took the county to court for violating its Comp Plan, and succeeded in blocking the County Commission’s efforts to bypass those limits.

Benderson Development Inc. now wishes to change county policy to allow hotels with virtually no unit limit. After more than a dozen community leaders offered cogent reasons why that would disrupt the character of their neighborhood, they watched the Commission direct staff to process Benderson’s proposal. 

“Increasing density for mega-size hotels on a hurricane prone barrier island will put residents and visitors at increased risk,” says Ramirez. Will the Board listen? An online workshop about the project is scheduled for Jan. 8, at 6 p.m. A public Zoom link to the workshop has not yet been shared.

2. At the opposite edge of the county, residents of northeast Sarasota oppose the eastward march of Lakewood Ranch. At risk are 4,123 acres of Old Miakka with 5,000 dwelling units removed from the county’s oldest rural community. Folks there believed they were protected by an “Old Miakka Neighborhood Plan” developed by the County 20 years ago. To their dismay they learned that the plan was never formally adopted by the County -- it was merely “accepted.” 

Old Miakka Schoolhouse

Founded 170 years ago -- before Sarasota was a county -- Old Miakka now fears for its very way of life. Leading the impetus to expand Lakewood Ranch to the east are two powerful developers, Rex Jensen and Pat Neal. Old Miakka has appealed a Comp Plan amendment approved by the Board, and a judge’s ruling could come in mid-December. If the ruling goes against them, their distinctive world will become part of Lakewood Ranch -- without the ranch, wood, or lake.

3. Midway between Siesta Key and Old Miakka sits the Celery Fields, which began in the late 90s as a stormwater management effort. The area now protects hundreds of homes on Phillippi Creek that earlier had been ravaged by a fierce 1992 flood.

From that project rose an unexpected dividend -- actually, two: First, more than 250 species of native and migratory birds discovered a serene wetland haven where they can rest and nest. Soon after, “Mt. Celery,” the elevated plateau created from muck, began to attract Sarasotans to a unique recreational space where, after a gentle climb, they see birds in flight below.

Firefighter training at Mt. Celery

These days residents and tourists who love to hike, walk their dogs, work out with their track and athletic teams, or just watch the birds and the sunset, gravitate to the Celery Fields. At night, a “Dark Skies” policy mutes the streetlights, and amateur astronomers often bring huge scopes to explore the heavens.

The public investment in creating this Trifecta approaches $50 million, a success story that has captured the hearts of the people. When a developer sought to build a dump next to it, the overwhelming public reaction was fiercely articulate and unambiguous. He lost.

After Sarasota Audubon built a Nature Center at the Celery Fields at a cost of $1 million, the County granted them an easement on 27 acres west of the Celery Fields. Along with the Conservation Foundation, Audubon plans to buffer and diversify the habitat through a $5 million “Re-Wilding” of the Quad parcels.

Now, however,Texas builder DR Horton proposes to build 171 homes on farmland immediately east of the nesting wetlands on Raymond Road. This intense cluster will impact wildlife, traffic, runoff, the dark skies and more. 

“The effort and funding going into the Quad parcels to buffer the western edge of the Celery Fields will be adversely affected by this development planned for the southeastern edge," says Jeanne Dubi, president of Sarasota Audubon, adding, “A lose-lose all round.” A petition circulating by a concerned citizen is closing in on 6,000 signatures opposing Horton’s plan. 

Siesta Key, Old Miakka and the Celery Fields contribute immensely to Sarasota's diversity, charm, and quality of life for all. Each is a beloved and iconic public asset. At coming hearings, each could be sacrificed for the sake of private profit.

• Old Miakka will soon learn if its challenge to the Neal/Jensen project holds up in court. 

• The public hearing for DR Horton’s proposal at the Celery Fields is expected in March.

• A workshop about Benderson’s mega-hotel proposal is set for Jan. 8.

Imagine Sarasota County without modest Siesta Village, or once-peaceful evenings at the Celery Fields with a Horton neighborhood next door. Picture the rural legacy of Old Miakka paved into oblivion by an extra subdivision of Lakewood Ranch. 

Sarasota could lose its genius loci -- the unique aura that makes it Sarasota. All three of these irreplaceable communities will need widespread community support if they are to keep the places they love intact.

                                                                                            -- Tom Matrullo

If you oppose paving over Rural Sarasota, be online Monday, March 27, 6 pm

 ALERT: THIS MONDAY, 6 pm, online:

Neighborhood Workshop for proposed Lakewood Ranch Rezone  -  March 27, 2023 at 6pm (Online only)

NOTE: As of now, the Comp Plan chapter penned by Rex Jensen and Pat Neal has not yet taken effect. Yet Rex and Pat wish to power along their expansionary plans for thousands more "dwelling units" in East Sarasota.

Pat Neal

Rex Jensen

Do the developers simply assume the County will crater to their wishes? They're probably right. The public has a chance to weigh in on Monday - the workshop is online only - no chance to meet in person, see plans, talk directly to the players.

Lakewood Ranch wants to rezone from rural to RSF-2/PUD to develop 1,718 dwelling units and related buildings. This is just the first part of the 4,000 acres in the comprehensive plan amendment that has been legally challenged and is not in effect.  The land in this rezone petition goes from the end of University Parkway at the north down to the entire north boundary of Bern Creek Ranches.  LWR doesn't care that this rezone is not legally authorized because of the pending challenge. 

 

Please participate in the online workshop and voice your concerns.  This rezone is incompatible with adjacent rural homesteads and agriculture. We need maintain our opposition to this development and to the breaking of all the promises the County made to us about protecting rural life.

 

The sign in for the online workshop is: https://bit.ly/LWRSEREZONE

     -- Or call in at 833-436-6264, Conf ID: 419 985 011#

From Becky Ayech, one of the Old Miakka leaders opposing the change to a higher density:

Lakewood Ranch Southeast is holding a virtual Neighborhood Workshop on March 27 at 6pm.

Below is the information from the county's webpage.  The link at the bottom will take you to the file on record.  It shows a map.  They say part of the land is OUA, but on their previous request that is being challenged, they said all the land was OUE, OUR and Hamlet.  Interesting.

Neighborhood Workshop: Lakewood Ranch Southeast Project Areas 1, 6, & 7

Date: 03/27/2023 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM  
Contact: Katie LaBarr, AICP (941) 907-6900

Link to Monday's meeting: https://bit.ly/LWRSEREZONE

"THIS AMENDMENT PROPOSES CLASSIC URBAN SPRAWL"

Friends and Supporters of Keep the Country … Country – As we all continue to recover from Ian and try to help our neighbors and community reclaim our lives, the threat of destruction of over 4,000 acres of the remaining rural lands in Sarasota County looms larger than ever. 

ATTEND THE COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25

Lakewood Ranch SE – or Pat Neal’s lipsticked pig – has its final public hearing this Tuesday, Oct. 25th. The County Commission meeting begins at 9 am, but the issue is No. 29 (A&B) on the agenda, which makes it unlikely to be discussed before noon. Important: Whatever time you come, please sign a speaker's card on which you state your opposition to Lakewood Ranch SE (Item #29), and hand it to the recording clerk. You can later forfeit your speaker's slot, but your opposition will still be on the record.

Like the Death Star from the Star Wars story, LWR and SMR want to destroy our rural and agricultural lands. Why? Greed. If SMR gets to develop at hugely increased densities and use “open space” for facilities required for its development, it makes more money. At the cost of environmental, stormwater and economic benefits to the entire County and region from rural lands. We will all pay for this development – through loss of our rural and agricultural lives and through increased costs to the public from this urban sprawl of 5,000 mansion behind gates (“urban sprawl”) that will add over 45,000 additional daily car trips on our road system. This county commission is about to grant SMR special status that would override the county's comprehensive plan. Residents of Old Miakka, one of Sarasota County's oldest continuous settlements, are trying to save their rural lifestyle, agriculture, and everyone's open space, wildlife habitat, and environmental assets.

Even if you can’t attend the public hearing on Tuesday, please send emails to the Commissioners. Copy and paste all or some of the points below to tell them to DENY Lakewood Ranch SE – don’t make Sarasota County an extension of Manatee County’s “Stepfordville”. With the 2050 Plan, Sarasota County residents rejected cookie cutter houses crammed together covering acres and acres of land previously providing forage and cover for wildlife, stormwater retention, open space, agriculture, dark skies, and a place where people can breath and enjoy nature and rural life. Tell the Commission to say NO.

==========

 

Please email the County Commissioners and the Planners (email addresses shown below – ask for your email to be included in the official record of the Oct. 25, 2022 public hearing on Agenda Item #29 (Lakewood Ranch SE).  PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME AT THE END OF THE LETTER. 

 

SUBJECT:  DENY Lakewood Ranch SE (Item #29, Oct. 25, 2022) – include in official record of public hearing

SARASOTA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

AL MAIO   amaio@scgov.net

MIKE MORAN  mmoran@scgov.net

NANCY DETERT  ncdetert@scgov.net

RON CUTSINGER  rcutsinger@scgov.net

CHRISTIAN ZIEGLER  cziegler@scgov.net

ALSO copy planner@scgov.net

Brett Harrington  bharring@scgov.net

Hannah Sowinski hsowinski@scgov.net

 

Good Day Commissioners:

 

I am opposed to Item #29 on your agenda for October 25, 2022.  Please make the following comments in opposition to CPA 2022-B and the DOCC part of the official record of the Oct. 25, 2022 public hearing.

 

STATE AGENCY REVIEW OF CPA 2022-B – Among other comments made by the Department of Economic Development (DEO), the Department's letter supports residents’ objections regarding the greenway buffers and open space. The proposed alternative greenway configurations and design criteria lack the "meaningful and predictable standards" required by §163.3177 (1), Fla. Stat. 

        Residents have objected to the reduction of open space greenbelts for their failure to provide adequate protection for native habitats and failure to ensure that the location, size, configuration, quality or other components of any preserved open space will be adequate to ensure the protection of the land's ecological functions. The Department stated that the County must "require a greenbelt minimum width that is wide enough to appropriately ensure that the greenbelt functions to clearly separate urban uses from rural uses." The Department also told the County to only allow those uses in "open space" that are consistent with the definition of open space, and that "public safety stations and community centers should not constitute open space". (DEO letter, p. 2)

DEO also found that the County and applicant have not shown that the proposed Future Land Use Map amendment does not constitute urban sprawl. It said that the County must either provide further explanation of how the allowed future land uses are not urban sprawl or modify the amendment to not constitute urban sprawl. (DEO letter, p. 2). 

We do not see how the County can produce professionally acceptable data and analysis to support a claim that the development proposed by the FLUM change is not urban sprawl. In terms of modifications to the proposed amendment, based on the location and relevant facts about the property, the changes necessary to allow the proposed amendment to avoid violating the urban sprawl provisions of the statute would significantly reduce the amount of residential development and supporting uses being introduced into this special rural and agricultural area. 

COMMENTS AND STATEMENTS BY LEGAL AND PLANNING EXPERTS - Residents opposed to CPA 2022-B and the related DOCC have engaged two experts who have submitted a number of written comments and statements to the Planning Commission, the BCC, and DEO and state agencies. Legal expert Richard Grosso (hired by the Miakka Community Club) and planning expert Charles Gauthier (hired by Keep the Country, Inc.) have identified numerous significant issues and problems with the proposed CPA and DOCC. I endorse all of the comments and statements by these experts and ask that this development proposal be denied.


DANGEROUS CONDITIONS ON ROAD SYSTEM - Rex Jensen’s proposed expansion of Lakewood Ranch will consume over 4,000 acres of rural lands in northeast Sarasota County. With 5,000 dwelling units, over 45,000 additional daily car trips will be added to our road system. Among many valid arguments against this development are the dangerous and worsening conditions on our roads. Fruitville Road, a state evacuation route and primary east-west access, already operates significantly below acceptable levels of service. Commissioners seem mesmerized by vague and unenforceable deals proposed by Rex, in his blurred dual roles as head of SMR and the LWR Stewardship District, to “fix” Fruitville. Rex/SMR have not fulfilled existing legal obligations for linear wetlands on this land – why would anyone think he will fulfill unenforceable verbal proffers on Fruitville Road? The result - residents will pay the cost of worsening conditions on Fruitville Road and will pay with our taxes and public funds for development impacts. There is not enough funding to fix existing problems on Fruitville – much less to address the impacts of this and other developments. Lakewood Ranch SE must be denied.

NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND INCOMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT- LWR developers are asking for approval of a 2050 comp plan amendment, to once again move the Old Miakka Countryside line, amend the comp plan Hamlet allowances to high density development, to create a new high density Village Transition Zoning, (VTZ) zoning. 2022-B proposes density increases to the existing Lake Park Estates, reduces green ways and buffers from 500' to 50', with no town center or commercial planned in the entire 4100 acres. Seventeen percent (17%) of the Lakewood Ranch SE site occurs in a flood plain, which includes Gum Slough, Myakka River headwaters and Donna Bay. Development of these lands at increased density will cause degradation of water quality, increase and change the character of stormwater runoff, and cause damaging impacts to significant waterways. Amendment 2022-B is a plan to create sprawl, hopscotched to nearly the end of Fruitville Rd and Sarasota County. These lands begin across from the existing entrance to HiHat ranch, which received density increases far beyond Hamlet allowances and was approved by this board as high density village zoning.

If these 4,100 acres were developed under the current existing zoning or at allowable Hamlet densities, the number of houses could be as little as 200 houses and as many as 1,600. If the land were developed at the highest density of 1,600 houses, this would create traffic increases of 12,768 daily trips impacting our overburdened roadways. What LWR developers are proposing instead is 5,000 houses. These units won't be required to be developed on 1/2 acre lots, but the lots can be any size. This would create traffic increases to 45,000 daily trips, as opposed to the total traffic generated under the existing 1 to 5 acre zoning of 5,722 daily trips.

Developers are also proposing a reduction of the required 500' buffer to only 50' and limit the Open Space requirement to as little as 43%. The Hamlet open space requirement is 60%. The current 1 unit per 5 or 10 acres zoning requires 80% open space.

The requested density increase from 1 unit per acre to 2 units per acre with the proposed VTZ designation, is not a transitional zone, but urban sprawl on top of Rural Heritage zoning of 1 unit per 5 or 10 acres. The 4,100 acres is within the boundaries as defined in the Old Miakka Neighborhood Plan. These are historic rural and agricultural lands that were guaranteed protection under the 2050 Plan and the county approved, Countryside Line.

This amendment is not compatible with 5 acre homesteads in Old Miakka. CPA 2022-B is nothing more than a plan to create urban sprawl in a remote rural location of Sarasota County. Calling it a Village Transitional Zone (VTZ) doesn't change the fact that it's urban sprawl proposed right over the top of the Countryside Line and the historic Rural Heritage community of Old Miakka.

The proposal is devoid of wildlife corridor locations and appears to be planned with home sites from district line to line. Protected species must be identified by an independent consultant and wildlife underpasses must be planned with all the new roads. These are details that would be addressed during the construction plan review, but it's important to note that the concept plan does not contemplate ribbons of green space throughout the site, to provide interconnected corridors for threatened and protected species. How can the public believe that interconnected corridors are planned and of sufficient size to protect the threatened and endangered species that inhabit the area?

This amendment proposes classic urban sprawl, the exact opposite of what the 2050 Plan was created and approved to do, by the Board of County Commissioners, landowners and developers and this community.

PLEASE DENY CPA 2022-B and related DOCC. I and many other residents are strongly opposed to this proposed urban sprawl.

A gaping barn door: The collapse of Sarasota's public planning

8.16.22

To the Board of Sarasota County Commissioners:

amaio@scgov.net, mmoran@scgov.net, rcutsinger@scgov.net, cziegler@scgov.net, ncdetert@scgov.net

RE: CPA 2022 B and CPA 2022-F - Failure to see the Big Picture

It's been a while since Sarasota could legitimately claim to be one of Florida's outstanding counties with regard to thoughtful planning. At one time, it was known for taste, moderate growth, and modest plans. Today it's in a dead heat with Broward County for Growth Gone Wild.

"Wild" not only because of the excessive overreach of developments such as Skye Ranch, Hi Hat, Wellen Park and Waterside, but also because you -- the County -- utterly failed to consider future needs, and to prudently provide for them before approving these and other large housing projects.

One specific proof of this is coming this Wednesday, when a half-baked plan to allocate lands on Lorraine Road for industrial and business uses comes up for a 6 p.m. neighborhood workshop. [Video of this workshop is now posted below.]

As you know, Lorraine will be an important North-South artery. When complete, it will extend south from Manatee County, running alongside key parts of Waterside, and Hi Hat down past Artistry to Skye Ranch before terminating where 681 connects with I-75:

When the proposal to set aside spaces for industry on Lorraine (CPA 2022-F) recently came up at the Planning Commission, it was voted down. The Commission didn't cite potential impacts to homeowners as its reason. Rather, the major sticking point was that Rex Jensen, Pat Neal, and the other developers involved with Waterside and Skye Ranch would not wish -- or allow -- such uses on their land.

Waterside, Hi Hat,
Skye Ranch

But there's a prior issue. You believe you are obligated to find land to meet the needs of future economic development, but have you done the analysis to demonstrate that this need exists? 

I ask because it has come to you only now, after Waterside is built out (and wishes to double its size), Hi Hat is approved, and Skye Ranch is well underway.

According to members of the Planning Commission, the developers whose wishes you approved are advising you in no uncertain terms that they will refuse industrial and business uses near their large, pricey developments.

And there's the rub: You knew the scope of Waterside, how it extended from University Parkway to Fruitville Road, and from I-75 to Lorraine. You knew the proposed scope of Hi Hat and that of Skye Ranch. You knew all this before these mega-housing projects were approved. Wouldn't that have been the moment to say:

Wait a second, Messers Jensen, Turner, Neal, et al, we will have a need for economic development east of I-75. We will need you to work with our planners to allocate space for future businesses before we can consider approving your plan.

Not only did you not apply forethought and public sense when you had bargaining power, but in fact you were giddy with delight in giving Rex and Pat the power to re-write Sarasota County's 2050 Plan-- the plan that is supposed to represent the collective vision of residents, builders, and the County. Rex and Pat took full advantage to write a chapter that allows them to increase density, to skip a host of planning steps, and to get underway while the market is hot.

Throughout this process, no one seems to have considered the big picture -- balancing the whole set of needs that come with shaping a well organized, very attractive county. You handed over the controls built into our Comp Plan to Rex and Pat, who have rewritten it to satisfy their highly profitable business plans.

In short, Commissioners Maio, Moran, Cutsinger, Ziegler and Detert, the barn door is wide open, the horses are long gone. You're wondering how to meet the growing needs of Sarasota's business and industrial sectors, but where is the analysis that proves this need exists?

One  recent industrial "need" you tried to meet was Jim Gabbert's. You nearly approved putting a dump next to the Celery Fields, with no analysis of need.

At that time, our residents suggested looking at other areas where such uses could more sensibly be organized. 

Now, having now carpeted most of Northeast Sarasota with plans for yet more gated communities, you are facing two challenges: (1) Where to find space for putative industrial uses, and (2) How to justify erasing 89% of Old Miakka - our last unique rural community - in order that Pat Neal and Rex Jensen can pave it with yet more boring human warehousing, without their having proved any demonstrated need. 

Appeasement of private interests rarely meets the comprehensive demands of well-thought-out public planning.

                                                                                             Respectfully,

                                                                        Tom Matrullo

Business Parks on Lorraine: Neighborhood Workshop 

Planning Commission recommends Lakewood Ranch expansion despite Old Miakka impact

Green blotch shows proposed 4,100-acre expansion of Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch developer Rex Jensen    

    

The Planning Commission is an appointed Board. It reviews proposals and recommends approvals / denials to the Board of Sarasota County Commissioners.

Below is a note from Becky Ayech on the result of the 8.4.22 Planning Commission Hearing regarding the expansion of Lakewood Ranch and the threat it poses to the Old Miakka Community. (Background here). 

Official Video of Meeting Here 

(Begin around 1 hour 11 minute mark) 

First, it was great to have so many people show up and fill out speakers cards.  I will get a total, but I can tell you it was a lot.

Our attorney, Richard Grosso, was very impressed with us, but of course, we are impressive.

Special thanks to the folks who "read" information into the record.  It is hard to do which is why you don't find me doing it.

Lourdes Ramirez was one of many
speakers at Old Miakka Hearing

The vote was 4-3 to approve, but that is a victory.* The last few times the Community has appeared before them, it was a 7-0 vote against us.

So our arguments were persuasive enough to get almost 1/2 the vote.

The County Commission meeting is August 31st, no time yet, but during the day.

Our focus will now be on educating the Commissioners.

Best

Becky Ayech

*(Editor's note: Colin Pember made the motion to approve this major Comprehensive Plan Amendment. The commissioners are volunteers appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Pember is Division Director of Land Acquisition at Pulte Homes.

It takes a developer to erase a Village

Kevin Sullivan, Night in Eastern Manatee County

Sarasota has become a national poster child for those who say the government can’t be trusted with guiding a response to a pandemic - in schools or in hospitals.

Wherever we turn, we find a politically motivated war on public entities. Vituperative School Board meetings have made national news. Now, according to the Washington Post, Sarasota Memorial Hospital faces a concerted effort to replace long-term Hospital Board members with challengers who think they can be trusted to do away with governmental oversight of public health.

It’s worth asking why this county appears so receptive to private property rights. In 1975, forward-looking Sarasota was the first Florida county to promulgate a comprehensive land use plan, putting quality of life above private profit. This year our County Commission gave mega-developers Rex Jensen and Pat Neal carte blanche to write a brand-new section of the Comp Plan. 

Pat Neal

Mr. Neal now seeks the breathtaking power to put 5,000 homes in East Sarasota, where existing zoning allows for 717 homes. This would end the rural life of Old Miakka, yet it's framed not as the taking of a 172-year-old community, but rather as a "right" inherent to a developer's private ownership. When you absolutize private property, it can rather quickly get medieval. Do we wish to give Mr. Neal such a confiscatory Droit de seigneur over the people of Old Miakka?

The pressure to privatize public health, education and planning radically undermines shared norms, values and protected rights, replacing them with a world shaped by loud voices and fat wallets.

We must not cede the public sphere to private interests. Our imperfect democratic institutions deserve protection from those who'd profit from their extinction. Our public schools, hospital, and comprehensive planning cannot be for sale.

* * * * * *

Pat Neal's Comp Plan Amendment comes before the Planning Commission on Thursday, August 4. The meeting begins at 5 pm at the Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd.- see Item #7.

Old Miakka has organized, lawyered up, and will be at the meeting. More here: https://www.sarasotacountry.net/

And more background here and here.

Kumbaya? Or abject public sycophancy?

SNL: Two of our largest developers have offered to write their own piece of the 2050 Comprehensive Plan (Sarasota News Leader story) to accommodate their unslakable desire to build every available open area of Sarasota County. 

Rex Jensen: Lakewood Ranch has about 2,000 home sales a year. 

    “We’re the second-fastest selling community in the United bloody States,” he added. 

[Commissioner Mike] Moran: “You’re such a visionary.” 

Jensen: “We haven’t developed much in Sarasota, though that will change.” 

    Note: Rex Jensen's Waterside at Lakewood Ranch is a 5,144-home, 5,500-acre development in Sarasota County set around a series of seven large borrow pits left over from mining operations. It stretches from I-75 to Lorraine Road:

Moran noted of Waterside Place, “That project is fabulous.” 

Jensen: “We’re going to be out of land shortly, and we have about 4,000 acres” that Shroeder-Manatee Ranch would like to develop.

“What really grates on us,” Jensen said during his presentation, “is the numerous prescriptive requirements [of 2050] — “the ‘Thou shalt’s’ and the ‘Thou shalt not’s.’”

So, Jensen and Pat Neal offered to write their own Shalts and Shalt Nots:

  Comprehensive Planning -- The Developer Version

“What’s wrong with what you see at Lakewood Ranch?” Neal asked. Jensen is just seeking “to dispense with the prescriptive requirements that you have in the 2050 [Plan].”

 “I think this is a great process,” Chair Alan Maio said

Commissioner Christian Ziegler concurred on the latter point.

And so, as the Sarasota News Leader reports, ". . . the County Commission has given Rex Jensen, the developer of Lakewood Ranch, the go-ahead to work with county staff on a new residential density category within the county’s 2050 Plan, which has guidelines for communities created east of Interstate 75."