Sarasota County Commissioners deny rezoning near Celery Fields amid flooding, wildlife and safety concerns

The Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 12 denied a developers rezoning request to build a 126-unit single-family community on the 50.82-acre Smith Farm, which borders the county-owned Celery Fields regional stormwater facility and birding preserve.

The vote followed a full day of presentations and more than 60 public speakers, including local residents, conservation groups and technical experts. Commissioner Mast moved to deny RZ-23-30, citing incompatibility with the Celery Fields and floodplain concerns; Commissioner Knight seconded the motion and the board voted unanimously to deny the petition.

Why it matters: The Smith Farm parcel sits across Raymond Road from the Celery Fieldssouthern cells and the Raymond Road birding boardwalk, a site repeatedly described in testimony as one of the countys most important wildlife and ecotourism assets. Opponents argued that adding 126 homes and associated roads, roofs and lawn care would reduce floodplain storage, increase runoff and lighting and produce traffic and noise that could degrade habitat and public access.

What the applicant said: The applicants team, represented by attorney Charlie Bailey and planner Kelly Klepper, said the plan reduced density from an earlier 170-unit proposal to 126 units and incorporated enhanced mitigation including 60-foot roadside buffers, opaque wood fencing, restrictions on street lights, limits on roof color and heights adjacent to the Celery Fields, and more than 45% open space under the countys current UDC definition. Engineer Andrew Pluta and the applicant said the project would be designed to exceed county 100-year storm standards and offered to proffer a stipulation to design the stormwater system to handle 11.8 inches of rain over 24 hours.

What residents and experts said: Dozens of speakers representing neighborhood groups, Sarasota Audubon volunteers and professional planners and floodplain managers urged denial. They cited recent flooding during Tropical Storm Debbie, the parcels inclusion in FEMA Zone AE, and modeling and elevation analyses that show extensive low-lying areas on the Smith Farm. Speakers also highlighted Celery Fieldsrole in local ecotourism and education, citing high eBird checklist counts and large numbers of visitors who come for birding and wildlife viewing. Several technical witnesses and residents said the proposed fill, earthwork and impervious surface would displace on-site flood storage and risk increasing off-site flooding and infrastructure impacts.

Commissionersreasons and next steps: During deliberations commissioners repeatedly noted the parcels floodplain status, the intensity of public concern, and the difficulty of guaranteeing long-term maintenance of mitigations on private developments. Commissioners and staff said the county will draft a formal resolution of denial and return it for adoption; several commissioners also encouraged pursuing conservation options and county or nonprofit acquisition of the parcel as an alternative to residential development.

The motion and vote: The board accepted a motion to deny RZ-23-30. The motion passed unanimously; the chair announced the motion carried and staff said they would prepare the final resolution of denial.

What remains open: The applicant may revise the proposal or pursue other discretionary options. Members of the public and conservation groups said they will pursue conservation funding and advocacy to protect the Smith Farm and expand buffers around Celery Fields. The county indicated it will continue work on broader stormwater policy changes following a January workshop referenced repeatedly during testimony.