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Commissioners authorize public hearing to modify Twin Laurel rezone stipulation that blocks parcel conveyance
Summary
The board directed staff to advertise a July public hearing to consider removing or modifying a rezone condition that requires a commercial subdivision plat prior to conveyance; the developer argued the Unified Development Code already addresses the county’s concern and that hurricane review delays prevented earlier platting.
Sarasota County commissioners on June 4 authorized staff to advertise a public hearing in July to consider modifying or removing a condition in a 2023 rezone for property along Twin Laurel Boulevard in Nokomis that currently requires a commercial subdivision plat before any land conveyance.
Matt Osterhout, director of Planning and Development Services, explained the rezone (rezone number 22‑52 approved by ordinance number 2023029) contains stipulation number 2 requiring that the owner record a commercial subdivision plat pursuant to the Unified Development Code prior to conveyance. The condition has delayed a multifamily parcel transfer because the applicant could not file the plat until the master infrastructure site development plan was approved; that plan was delayed by hurricane response and only recently received staff approval.
Jeff Boone, counsel for the property owner and master developer, told commissioners the site plan and master infrastructure approvals are now in place and said the current Unified Development Code already prevents occupancy until plats are recorded and therefore the ordinance stipulation may be superfluous. Boone asked the board to authorize a public hearing to modify the stipulation; commissioners voted unanimously to advertise the hearing.
Commissioner Smith moved to authorize staff to advertise the public hearing and Commissioner Cutzinger seconded; the motion passed unanimously.
Osterhout and Boone said if the board directs staff to modify or remove the condition, a formal ordinance amendment would return to the full commission at a July public hearing. Boone said his client seeks to convey the multifamily parcel to a multifamily developer so site‑plan work for that phase can proceed without further delay.
Commissioners asked staff whether striking the condition would create unintended consequences; Osterhout said the standard county procedures and code protections, including the prohibition on issuing certificates of occupancy before plats are recorded, mitigate that risk. The board voted to advertise the hearing and indicated it will consider ordinance language next month.
