Venice denies Toscana Isles PUD amendment after residents raise traffic and flooding concerns

Venice City Council voted Dec. 9 to deny a developer’s proposed amendment to the Toscana (Tuscana) Isles planned‑unit development that would have allowed 50 townhomes in Subarea 3 and a new vehicular access from private Jean Green Road.

The vote followed a multi‑hour quasi‑judicial hearing and an afternoon of public testimony from more than a dozen Toscana Isles residents who described repeated flooding since Hurricane Ian, the importance of a narrow drainage channel and weir (Track 17) for the community’s outflow, and safety concerns about adding residential traffic at a private/commercial access used heavily by large trucks. Several residents also said a prior court judgment limited the developer’s ability to use internal Villa Rossi Boulevard access shown on the master plan.

The applicant and its consultants presented traffic, environmental and stormwater analyses, argued that townhomes would generate fewer trips than some commercial uses already permitted in the master plan, and said they hold an easement to use Jean Green Road. Staff presented decision criteria, environmental work (a SwiftMud wetland determination) and a recommended stipulation that a certificate of occupancy not be issued until the Southwest Florida Water Management District concurs that Curry Lane/Curry Lane‑style stormwater deviations are resolved for a separate petition (similar stipulations were used for other Curry Lane projects).

Residents disputed the applicant’s access claims, questioned the title/easement documentation, and urged the council to deny the amendment because of health, safety and welfare risks tied to flood conveyance and heavy truck traffic on Jean Green Road. Several speakers described prior courtroom rulings related to access and asked that council respect the neighborhood’s drainage and safety concerns.

Councilmember Howard moved to deny petition 25‑01RZ on the basis it was not consistent with the land development code and raised traffic and public‑safety concerns (decision criteria 5.a and 6). The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

The council’s action blocks the proposed change to the Toscana Isles binding master plan; staff and the applicant may pursue other options consistent with the city’s land development code and applicable processes. The record shows a technically detailed staff review, a contested community response focused on stormwater and safety, and a council conclusion that the petition did not meet the applicable criteria.

Next steps: The developer may revise the proposal or pursue other lawful avenues; staff will continue to apply code standards for any future petitions related to Subarea 3.