Developer withdraws Winchester Ranch comp‑plan amendment after large public turnout citing traffic, water and flooding concerns

The comprehensive‑plan amendment petition for the Winchester Ranch area drew extended public testimony Jan. 27 and ended with the applicant’s formal request to withdraw the petition rather than proceed to a vote.

The proposal sought to change certain parcels inside the current urban service area from rural/semi‑rural to moderate density residential to align Sarasota County’s future land use map with a previously adopted Winchester Ranch Critical Area Plan (CAP). Applicants and representatives from the City of Northport said the amendment was required by the county charter to permit voluntary annexation and reiterated that development densities and infrastructure commitments were established under the CAP adopted in 2021. The applicant’s team emphasized prior board approvals and the CAP’s performance requirements and said the property would remain bound by CAP conditions until annexation.

Public testimony before the board was extensive and overwhelmingly critical. Speakers living near South River Road and the proposed lands cited traffic congestion on River Road and US‑41, routine flooding on local roads, limited water and wastewater capacity from the local utilities, loss of rural character, wildlife displacement and the danger of creating enclave situations. Children and multigenerational residents addressed the board directly to oppose the change of land designation, and several speakers urged the commission to deny or delay the petition.

Commissioners questioned staff and the applicant about transport modeling, evacuation routes, the ability of Englewood Water District to serve the project, and what, if any, funding exists to speed major thoroughfare projects such as South River Road. The applicant’s team and a West Villages representative described investments in right‑of‑way and road design and noted commitments to help fund River Road design and permitting.

After hearing the public comment the applicant requested to withdraw the petition. The board reopened the public hearing, considered the request and approved the withdrawal by a unanimous vote. County staff said the withdrawal will leave the underlying CAP and prior approvals in place until or unless a new petition is filed.

What happens next: The applicant withdrew the petition and the county will not transmit the proposed comp‑plan amendment to the state for review. Any future modification or re‑submittal would require a new application and public hearings; the CAP remains the governing document for approved densities and conditions until different approvals are adopted.