$18.1-million price supported by appraisals, staff says
On a 4-1 vote on Feb. 10, the Sarasota County Commission approved the expenditure of $18.1 million for what is called the 2.04-acre property standing at 1500 Stickney Point Road that has been known as The Boatyard.
It is adjacent to the Stickney Point Road drawbridge and Little Sarasota Bay.
The funds will come out of the county’s Neighborhood Parkland Acquisition Program (NPP).
A county staff memo included in the agenda packet for the Feb. 10 meeting noted, “Two appraisal reports were obtained and completed by independent appraisal firms that support the purchase price.”
The commissioners also authorized staff to spend $263,537 this fiscal year to handle “operating impacts” for the site, and other costs related to the purchase, which add up to $430,500. The total, the staff memo will be, is $21,360,037. The county will borrow the money from a commercial source, the memo added, with that borrow to be paid back by revenue brought in by the county’s Land Acquisition and Management Program.
The records maintained by Sarasota County Property Appraiser Bill Furst and his staff show that Big Main Street LLC acquired the property — including a restaurant — on Jan. 31, 2024 for $8.9 million. The principal of Big Main Street LLC is Siesta Key businessman Chris Brown, who owns multiple restaurants — including the Hub Baja Grill, The Cottage and The Summer House Siesta Key — and the Beach Club.
“Ongoing operating and maintenance costs will be funded by the Environmentally Sensitive Land Fund” and the county’s General Fund, the staff memo added.
The General Fund comprises the county’s property tax revenue, as well as other revenue sources, such as those the state shares with local governments. However, the commissioners have been expressing worries for months that action of the Florida Legislature will lead to state voters approving one or more referenda in November that will result in significant cuts to local governments’ property tax revenue starting in the 2027 fiscal year.
During the Feb. 10 public hearing, Shawn Yeager, interim director of the county’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department (PRNR), noted that the acquisition is in keeping with the board’s 2024 Strategic Plan item calling for more boating and water access for county residents.
The staff memo in the agenda packet explained, “The Property includes
approximately 700 feet of bay frontage, 390 feet of canal/boat basin access, over 5,000 square feet of docks, boardwalks and deck, 72 dedicated parking spaces, and 21 individual parcels consisting of commercial condominiums.” It did point out, however, “The dock and condominium structures suffered significant damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton [in 2024].”
Further, memo noted, “Potential improvements may include water access and other amenities such as [a] kayak launch, docks, fishing pier, picnic shelters, restrooms, and parking. The Property could be used for boating, kayaking, fishing and picnicking.”
Commissioner Tom Knight cast the “No” vote at the end of the public hearing, citing concerns about the expense of demolishing the structures on the site. He also expressed worries about the county’s ability to buy other sites if the referendum the board has approved for the November 2026 General Election ballot on extending the county’s Land Acquisition and Management Programdoes not pass.
That program, which voters have approved twice — in 1999 and 2005 — is set to expire at the end of 2029. A 0.25-mill tax assessment of every property owner in the county provides the revenue for the purchase of both environmentally sensitive lands and neighborhood parkland.
One mill represents $1,000 of the value of a parcel.
Further, in conjunction with the vote, Commissioners Mark Smith and Joe Neunder expressed an interest in having county Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources (PRNR) staff members look into the potential of allowing the 20-year-old Siesta Key Watersports business to remain a tenant on the property.
Neunder was the first to raise that issue.
As for the site itself, Neunder said, “I’d love to see, as it progresses, what it could be potentially.” He talked about public recreation opportunities and space, perhaps, dedicated for charter boat captains to allow passengers to embark and disembark vessels.
Commissioner Teresa Mast said what she thinks “is so critical about this entire project” is that it would give the public access to “thousands and thousands of acres,” thanks to its position on the water.
“It’s what it’s allowing the next generations access to,” Mast pointed out, so they can gain an appreciation and affection for wildlife, including the creatures that make their homes in local waters.
Chair Ron Cutsinger added, “I’m a huge supporter of this,” noting, “This will add a very valuable feature to us,” in conjunction with Siesta Key’s attractiveness to tourists — especially its beaches.
“You only get one chance to buy a property like this,” Cutsinger emphasized. “They don’t come along very often. And I would feel very, very disappointed, if we missed the opportunity [with this parcel].”
Budget worries
During the discussion, Commissioner Knight sought verification that no public boat ramp would be provided at the site, if the purchase were to take place. Yeager of PRNR confirmed that.
Then Knight asked, “What’s it going to cost to tear [the buildings] down?” His concern, he explained, is whether the county has enough funds for that expense without taking money from its General Fund.
Knight also inquired of Yeager whether the purchase of the Stickney Point Road property would leave insufficient money in the Land Acquisition and Management Program for any other purchases this fiscal year.
Yeager reminded Knight that the program is set to sunset at the end of 2029, unless county voters agree to extend it when they fill out their November 2026 General Election ballots.
If the referendum passes in November, he added, the county would be able to rely on continuing revenue to purchase new lands for the Neighborhood Parkland Acquisition Program (NPP).
“We have adequate resources to purchase this [property], even if the referendum doesn’t pass,” Chair Cutsinger noted, before stressing, “I absolutely, totally believe that the referendum will pass … because of the things we’ve been able to do because of [the land acquisition program].” He added, “If this is our last purchase, it’s a good one.”
“I love having the property, especially at that location,” Knight noted, but he said he worries about being able to purchase another parcel, especially if a prime piece of property were to be made available to the county before the 2026 referendum.
“Just a little nervous about what the future will bring,” Knight added. “I just don’t want to raise our budget for operations …”
Yeager told Knight that the funds for staff to operate the site also would come out of the NPP.
Cutsinger did point out that he knew the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department staff members had discussed the “start-up costs” for county use of the property.
He also cited the potential for a waterfront restaurant and the use of the site by charter boat captains.
From turn lanes to the prospect of turning out a business
Five members of the public addressed the board during the public hearing.
Among them, Lourdes Ramirez, president of the nonprofit Protect Siesta Key, concurred a remark that Commissioner Mark Smith had made about the likely need for a turn lane for eastbound drivers planning to visit the site, “for any stacking that might happen.” He had asked that staff research that issue.
Ramirez said she believes such a lane will be necessary “not only [for those] going off the Key, but for those headed to Siesta via the Stickney Point Road drawbridge.
“My first reaction when I heard that the county was going to buy this location was ‘Yes,” Ramirez then told the board members, with emphasis. “Great idea to increase more public access to the water.”
Nonetheless, Ramirez, like Commissioner Knight, said that when she learned that all of the funds would be coming out of the Neighborhood Parkland Acquisition Program (NPP), “I cringed. The site is fully paved over,” she pointed out. “Does it really qualify for Neighborhood Parkland money?”
The county’s ownership of the site would be a boon to the tourism industry, Ramirez continued, but she, too, wondered what the county might miss out on by committing the rest of the NPP funds to this acquisition.
She urged the commissioners to direct staff to look into other potential funding sources.
Pleas of the owners of the remaining business
Shawn Fontana, one of three owners of Siesta Key Watersports who spoke during the public hearing, noted that he has been with the business since 2007; he became an owner in 2019.
“We believe our continued operation is a great public benefit, providing professional, accessible water-based recreation,” Fontana said. Families return year after year, he pointed out, “for experiences handled with care by people who live here, raise families here and take responsibility for protecting our environment.”
He cited the business’ “impeccable safety records” and the fact that it has been in the same location for 20 years.
The boat traffic and currents in the Intracoastal Waterway require a high level of supervision of water activities, Fontana added.
“Approximately 45,000 guests visit our location annually,” he pointed out. “We contribute well over $100,000 in sales tax annually,” he also noted.
“We have made a substantial financial investment here,” he said, “and after exhausting all possible options to relocate, there’s simply no viable alternative location.”
A second owner of the company, Ben Marchand, talked of the suitability of the location for Siesta Key Watersports activities. “Training, prevention and accountability” are the focus of the team, he stressed. All of the business’ captains hold U.S. Coast Guard Master Captain licenses, he added, and the company uses only Coast Guard-inspected vessels. Marchand emphasized the steps the employees take to ensure that guests are safe.
“We welcome productive conversations about improving the site,” he continued, “including dock use, long-term improvements, training and safety resources. Experience here will be an asset during any transition,” Marchand added.
Referencing the owners’ comments, Commissioner Smith did ask Yeager of PRNR for clarification that the types of services that Siesta Key Watersports offers are “what we are going to try to do on that property,” but with smaller vessels.
If the board members agreed to purchase the site, Yeager replied, staff would evaluate the types of uses that would be best on the site.
“So they could be included in the mix?” Smith asked.
Yeager reminded Smith that competitive bidding would be required, in accord with state law and county regulations, before any decisions could be made about allowing businesses to use the property.
Smith then asked whether the PRNR staff has considered leasing part of the site to a business such as Siesta Key Watersports.
Yeager responded that he believes staff will evaluate the buildings on the property, to determine whether the county could maintain them. He added that staff hopes to be able to salvage the one “at the end of the canal that’s sort of the anchor …”
Moreover, Yeager noted, staff hopes it can save the lighthouse on the site, which has been a long-recognized feature of The Boatyard.
Referring to the owners of Siesta Key Watersports, Smith said, “I’d surely like to find a way that we can accommodate them …”
Addressing County Attorney Joshua Moye, Commissioner Neunder asked, “Is there a way to allow that particular business owner to stay for the remaining portion of the season?”
“Any time we can protect a small business,” Neunder said, “I’m in favor of that.” Nonetheless, he added, he did not want to delay the process that would result in the county’s acquisition of the property.
Commissioner Mast talked of having, “a great deal of compassion for [the business owners],” but she indicated that she believes it to be the responsibility of the current property owner to give notice to any tenants, if a property is going to be sold.
Neunder also asked for clarification that the county would have a 120-day due diligence period before staff planned to close on the property — if the commission approved the purchase that day.
Yeager confirmed the 120-day timeline.
The staff memo in the agenda packet pointed out, “The County is required to complete its due diligence investigations [of the site] by May 21, 2026, and closing papers on or before July 10, 2026.”
County Attorney Moye explained, “Typically, when we purchase property, we have … the seller give notice to the tenants,” so county staff does not have to deal with that. “When we get the title,” Moye added, no tenants should still be using the site.
He noted that the contract provides the timeline for making certain that that is the case.
“So [the business] could easily get through season?” Chair Cutsinger asked.
His expectation, Moye responded, is that it typically takes three months to complete the due diligence period; plus, staff will have to deal with other issues associated with the purchase, including making sure it has a clear title to the property.
“That’s great news, time-wise,” Neunder said.
Chris Brown of Osprey, the seller of the property, explained that the contract calls for any tenants to vacate the site within 90 days.
He added that he understands that county staff will need to obtain permits to demolish the buildings on the site. Brown said that he hopes, while staff is working on that process, a post-sale agreement could be implemented to let the business remain in place. “They’re wonderful tenants,” Brown stressed.