Bold Move

On April 7, 2026, the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners made a bold and brave move by adopting a Policy that excludes all residential, RE, and OUE districts from Live Local Act (LLA) eligibility. The decision was unanimous. The Board understood that the Policy may well subject the County to lawsuits from LLA developer/applicants. With that understanding, the Board voted unanimously to protect residential neighborhoods from questionable Live Local projects.

When the LLA was passed in 2023, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, said the clear purpose was to convert under-utilitzed commercial and industrial land in urban areas into affordable workforce housing "close to workplaces, shopping centers and schools." But the Act's vague language has created potential loopholes encouraging developers to apply for LLA approval on residential land far from urban areas - including the massive 2,250 apartment proposal for the Tatum Ridge Golf Links land.

Yesterday's decision provides "belts and suspenders" protection for Tatum Ridge and time for Tallahassee to fully fix the terrible situation created with the LLA. We believe the Tatum Ridge Golf Links is protected from any development by a long history of land use law and court decisions and, now, we are also protected by the Policy adopted yesterday.

THANK YOU to the Commissioners for taking action to address a terrible situation created by Tallahassee lawmakers. Commissioner Knight has been an strong advocate for transparency and for his constituents. In the face of further attacks by the State government on Home Rule, he focused our local government on what can be done and away from the hand-wringing and finger pointing seen in other Florida counties. Thank you, Tom. Commissioners Smith and Neunder have been extremely accessible, responsive and protective of Sarasota citizens - important characteristics to remember as they both seek re-election in November. Commissioners Mast and Cutsinger have consistently supported stayTRU - thank you both.

stayTRU will continue to support local decision making by local government. Yesterday, local government was on full display: brave, bold and representative.