Bold Move
- mattprocaccini
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Yesterday, the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners took a bold and brave step 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.
This is fantastic news! Thanks Matt for your continued diligence in this matter and keeping us informed!
Great news! I will send the Commissioners a heartfelt "Thank You!" for their bold move!
I'm proud of the work we have accomplished and the great management and work put into our efforts by StayTRU and our homeowners.
Thanks, Matt, your Committee, and all the volunteers and residents that worked together to protect our cause! Well done!
Again, Thank You All!
Sue McGrath
7923 Kavanagh Court
Legends of Tatum Ridge
This is good news! Thank you, Matt, for your continued commitment, diligence and unselfish hard work to help this community. We are fortunate to have you and your staff in our corner! You’ve kept every resident of Tatum Ridge informed of developments that affect us all and are, like me, appreciative.
Sol Calone
Good to hear this. Thank you for posting and keeping us up to date on what's happening. Always need to keep an eye out.
That is great news Matt! I was hoping we would have some recourse and a solution to this insane and greed driven proposal. We are fortunate to have Commissioner Knight and the rest of the county board members on our side!