Dec 27, 2024 ANNUAL YEAR IN REVIEW – Pt. 1 January: State administrative law judge sides with county in challenge of 2022 approval of Lakewood Ranch Southeast plans After hearing protests, mostly about traffic, County Commission OKs Hi Hat Ranch project team request to continue hearing on plans for new borrow pit Sarasota mayor, vice mayor debate ‘worst-case scenario’ of proposed zoning regulations for attainable housing projects on commercial corridors Sarasota resident to pursue legal action against Commissioner Battie over presentation during which he called her racist without apparently having tried to verify authenticity of photo February: Jan. 29 incident at county’s Carlton Water Treatment Facility near Venice similar in nature to other domestic terrorist attacks Sarasota County planners question multiple facets of Benderson Development’s proposed policies to allow for high-rise hotel development on Siesta Key Commissioner Smith fails in new attempt to revive in-person Neighborhood Workshops on land-use applications 1,479-unit residential development with 371 affordable homes on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Sarasota wins County Commission approval Most serious types of crime down 16% in city of Sarasota in 2023, with no homicides reported March: New application for construction of controversial Obsidian condo tower in downtown Sarasota proposes 15-foot height reduction County split into 2 districts for new solid waste franchise contracts, with automated garbage collection beginning in March 2025 Mostly on split votes, City Commission authorizes multiple changes in parking program, including charging for 80 spaces near Lido Beach and charging for parking at Centennial Park Boat Ramp County Commission agrees to pay Ramirez $170,000 and second set of litigants $101,278.20 to wrap up hotel lawsuits filed in 2021 Members of public plead for county to purchase Smith Properties next to Celery Fields, but county’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources director says pending development deal forbids any intervention at this point April: County Commission offers full support for Peace River Authority surface water initiative to expand extra drinking water capacity in coming years Commissioners Neunder and Rainford win concession from owner of Sarasota Square Mall property to limit height of new residential structures to 65 feet Historic Preservation Board members vote unanimously to deny demolition application for Colson Hotel Rainford, Moran lose out on proposal to allow county Fire Department to burn down Florida House in training exercise County commissioners end county employees’ payroll deductions for United Way contributions and forbid use of county funding for organizations that provide ‘referrals for abortion services’ May: On unanimous vote, County Commission denies rezoning application for 55-unit residential community near UTC With county commissioners’ reluctance to support use of money from Bay Park trust fund, Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation agrees to cover $44 million in fees for architects designing new facility County Commission calls for scrapping plans to construct Siesta roundabout at intersection of Beach and Midnight Pass roads Rainford calls for reducing county’s overall millage rate in 2025 fiscal year On 4-1 vote, Sarasota City commissioners approve $36.9-million contract with architect to design new performing arts hall June: Construction of 4-lane Lorraine Road from Clark Road to Knights Trail Road their top priority, county commissioners tell staff Siesta Key experiences nearly 11.5 inches of rainfall on June 11, with Bee Ridge Road neighborhoods seeing more than 8 inches, as tropical system causes road and vehicle damage (free) Judge rules for Commissioner Battie in defamation case Voting unanimously on Rainford’s motion, County Commission directs staff to work on 3.30 millage rate for 2025 fiscal year budget Since October 2000, County Commission has approved 31,814 North County dwelling units to be developed in accord with Sarasota 2050 Plan guidelines
