NEWS & INFORMATION
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The latest updates, the bigger picture, and ways you can help protect Tatum Ridge.
A PLACE WORTH PROTECTING
The stayTRU Newsletter
News, perspective and stories about the people, places and issues shaping Tatum Ridge.
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THE STORY SO FAR
A timeline of key events
From early proposals to today, here's a brief look at how we got heare - and where things stand now.
MAY 2024
Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2024-B proposed
Owner files CPA 2024B to allow residential development at Tatum Ridge.
MAY 2025
County Commission denies 2024-B in
5-0 vote
Sarasota County denies 2024-B reaffirming the County's commitment to Open Space.
MAY 2025
2nd Plan Amendment 2025-B proposed
Owner files 2025-B application seeking to change locational
criteria for Business Park Corridor RMA.
SEPT 2025
Live Local Act development proposed
Developer begins 3rd effort to develop the golf land via Florida's attainable housing Act.
APRIL 2026
County adopts Policy denying Live Local
Commissioners vote for a Policy denying Live Local applications on rural and residential land.
JULY 2026
Developers sue County over Policy stance
Several developers have initiated lawsuits claiming the County Policy denying Live Local violates state law.
THE FULL TIMELINE
From the original golf-course approvals to today
FEBRUARY 1, 1987
Tatum Ridge Golf Links Acquires the Property
Tatum Ridge Golf Links, Inc. purchases approximately 336 acres along Tatum Road.
DECEMBER 8, 1987
County Approves Two Golf Courses
Sarasota County grants Special Exception No. 1145, allowing two 18-hole golf courses, a clubhouse and golf-cart storage building on the 336-acre property.
SEPTEMBER 15, 1997
A New Plan for Tatum Ridge
The owner applies to rezone the entire 336± acres from OUE-1 to RE-1 and replace the never-built second golf course with cluster housing. The proposal places the homes on approximately 130 acres while retaining the existing golf course on the remaining land. The application states that the owner will agree to a stipulation limiting future development in the existing golf-course area.
MARCH 5, 1998
Open Space and Unified Control Are Discussed
During the Planning Commission hearing, an Assistant County Attorney notes that land used to satisfy open-space requirements must be restricted by legal instrument for 99 years and asks whether such an instrument will be filed.
The applicant's attorney responds that a “unified control agreement” will be submitted during the review process.
MAY 5, 1998
The Tatum Ridge Plan Is Approved
Sarasota County rezones the entire 336± acres from OUE-1 to RE-1 and approves Special Exception No. 1420 for cluster housing together with the golf course and country club.
The approved Development Concept Plan divides the property between the residential development and Tatum Ridge Golf Course & Open Space. Development is required to substantially comply with that plan.
1998
Development Plans Confirm the Structure
Construction plans prepared for the subdivision identify a 336.27-acre total project area, consisting of 129.22 acres of residential development and 207.05 acres of “Existing Golf Course and Open Space.”
The plans also contain a “Statement of Ownership and Unified Control” stating that unified control will be by Centex Homes.
DECEMBER 10, 1998
Centex Acquires the Residential Land
Approximately 129 acres are conveyed to Centex Homes for development of the residential portion.
The remaining approximately 207 acres—including the existing golf course—remain with Tatum Ridge Golf Links.
SEPTEMBER 10, 1999
The Legends Takes Shape
Centex records a 162-home subdivision plat on the approximately 129-acre residential portion.
The community becomes what we know today as The Legends at Tatum Ridge.
JULY 18, 2018
County Reviews the Original Development
In a corrected zoning determination, Sarasota County applies RE-1 density to the original approximately 336-acre development. The County calculates 168 permitted dwelling units, recognizes the 162 platted residential lots, and identifies six additional units remaining “within the development.”
DECEMBER 14, 2020
County Again Reviews the 1998 Approval
In another zoning determination, Sarasota County again describes the original development as approximately 336 acres with 168 permitted dwelling units and 162 developed lots.
The County also describes Resolution No. 98-099 and its Development Concept Plan as binding.
DECEMBER 22, 2020
Golf-Course Property Is Sold
New Pope Holdco III, LLC acquires approximately 206.8 acres—the remaining portion of the original 336-acre property.
The deed expressly acknowledges the recorded 1998 stipulations and limitations associated with the rezoning and Special Exception.
MAY 13, 2024
First Comprehensive Plan Amendment Is Proposed
New Pope submits CPA 2024-B, seeking changes to County locational criteria that could allow residential development of the golf-course property through a Conservation Subdivision / Transfer of Development Rights program.
County staff defers consideration of the golf course's open-space designation until a future rezoning application.
MAY 13, 2025
A Second Development Approach Is Proposed
New Pope submits CPA 2025-B, seeking another change to County locational criteria—this time involving the Business Park Corridor RMA.
The proposal could make the Tatum Ridge property eligible under those revised criteria.
MAY 20, 2025
County Commission Rejects the First Proposal
The Sarasota County Commission denies CPA 2024-B by a 5–0 vote.
SEPTEMBER 2025
New Pope Turns to Florida's Live Local Act
New Pope begins pursuing a third development approach for the golf-course property—this time under Florida's Live Local Act.
New Pope later states in court filings that it applied for Live Local approval on or around September 15, 2025.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Live Local Pre-Application Meeting Is Held
New Pope meets with Sarasota County regarding its proposed Live Local development.
The parties later disagree about what County staff communicated during this early review, making the contemporaneous record important.
NOVEMBER 6, 2025
Developer Presents Its Live Local Legal Position
Attorneys for New Pope submit a memorandum arguing that the Live Local Act applies to the golf-course property and preempts the need to modify the existing Special Exception.
DECEMBER 12, 2025
2,250 Apartments Are Proposed
New Pope submits a pre-submittal application proposing a 2,250-unit multifamily rental development on the approximately 206-acre golf-course property.
Forty percent of the units would be income-restricted as required by the Live Local Act.
JANUARY 30, 2026
County Staff Raises Fundamental Questions
County staff responds that the 1998 approval involved one Special Exception—not two—and that the cluster housing was approved with the golf-course area serving as its required open space.
Staff states that the 50% open-space requirement must be maintained and raises questions involving The Legends, existing property rights and the required open-space restriction.
FEBRUARY 16, 2026
stayTRU Raises the Historical Record
Counsel for stayTRU submits a detailed letter to Sarasota County addressing the original 1998 approval, density allocation, recorded stipulations, Development Concept Plan and the relationship between The Legends and the golf-course property.
APRIL 7, 2026
County Adopts a Live Local Policy
The Sarasota County Commission votes to treat RE-1 and OUE-1 zoning districts as categorically ineligible for Live Local development.
That County-wide policy later becomes a central issue in litigation.
JULY 3, 2026
New Pope Sues Sarasota County
New Pope files suit against Sarasota County and the five County Commissioners, challenging the County's Live Local policy and its handling of the Tatum Ridge application.
The lawsuit seeks declaratory, injunctive and monetary relief.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
The Live Local Lawsuit Moves Forward
The Circuit Court holds a hearing in the New Pope litigation as the parties dispute the County's Live Local policy, the status of New Pope's application and the relief the developer seeks.
The case remains pending.
TODAY
The Record Is Still Being Written
stayTRU continues researching the original approvals, monitoring the litigation and working to understand the rights and obligations attached to the Tatum Ridge property.
Different parties may disagree about what the law permits today.
But the historical record tells us something important:
The golf course, the open space and The Legends have shared a development history for nearly three decades.
QUESTIONS NEIGHBORS ASK
Straight answers to common questions
We've compiled the questions we hear most often from neighbors and the community. If you don't see your question here, please contact us - we're happy to help.
Not without addressing the property's existing approvals. The golf-course land was part of the original 336-acre Tatum Ridge approval. County records identify the golf-course area as open space associated with the cluster-housing development that became The Legends. Any redevelopment must address those existing approvals, restrictions and property rights.
In this case, “Open Space” has a very specific history. When Sarasota County approved The Legends in 1998, the approximately 336-acre Tatum Ridge property was treated as a single development consisting of the residential area and the existing golf course and open space.
The approved Development Concept Plan identifies approximately 207 acres as “Tatum Ridge Golf Course & Open Space.” County records also indicate that this land was used to satisfy the open-space requirements associated with the cluster-housing development.
What those historical requirements mean for the property today is an important question—and one that remains central to the current dispute.
The Live Local Act is a Florida law intended to encourage attainable workforce housing. For qualifying projects, the law can require counties to allow ultra-high density, multifamily rental housing in certain areas without the traditional rezoning process.
At least 40% of the residential units must meet the law's affordability requirements for at least 30 years. The law can also provide significant density, height and administrative-approval benefits.
The current dispute includes a fundamental question: does the Tatum Ridge golf-course property qualify for those Live Local benefits in the first place?
In April 2026, Sarasota County adopted a policy treating RE-1 and OUE-1 zoning districts as ineligible for Live Local development. That policy decision meant that the Tatum Ridge application would not proceed under its interpretation of the Live Local Act.
But Tatum Ridge also presents property-specific issues that existed before that County-wide policy. County staff had already raised questions about the 1998 Special Exception, required open space, remaining residential density, The Legends subdivision and existing property rights.
New Pope disputes the County's position and has filed suit. That litigation remains pending.
No.
stayTRU's concern is not affordable housing—it is whether this particular property can lawfully be developed as proposed.
The Tatum Ridge golf-course land has a nearly three-decade history as part of the development that created The Legends. County records repeatedly identify much of that land as golf course and open space associated with the original approval.
We believe affordable housing is important. We also believe existing development approvals, open-space commitments and property rights matter.
For now, the legal and administrative process continues.
New Pope has sued Sarasota County and the five County Commissioners over the County's treatment of its Live Local application.
At the same time, stayTRU continues reviewing historical records concerning the original Tatum Ridge approvals—including documents that may help clarify the relationship between The Legends and the golf-course/open-space property.
We'll continue sharing important developments as they occur, while distinguishing established facts from issues that remain disputed.
Stay informed, stay involved and help us protect the integrity of the public record.
Read our updates, attend community meetings and encourage your neighbors to learn about the issues. If you have historical documents, photographs or firsthand knowledge concerning Tatum Ridge and The Legends, we'd especially like to hear from you.
And if you'd like to support stayTRU's work, join our mailing list, become a member or make a contribution.