Planning commission approves developer’s request to remove Bay Acres Avenue extension from obligation

In a tight 4-3 vote, the Sarasota County Planning Commission allowed the developer to abandon a road extension included in the Osprey Revitalization plan.

D.R. Horton, a national developer, successfully petitioned the Planning Commission at Thursday night’s meeting to amend the development concept plan for the 30-acre site, formerly called Sarabay Acres, in Osprey.

The site, which is located between U.S. 41 and Old Venice Road, behind Wal-mart, is part of the Osprey Revitalization Plan. Before the recession, this site was part of a larger parcel with planned-use development zoning, Bay Street Development. In total, it was 40 acres. D.R. Horton purchased 30 acres of the property from Redus Florida Condos, LLC, in 2012. 

D.R. Horton plans to reduce the density of the residential development from 11 units per acre to 6.

In the original plan, the developer was responsible for pay for the cost of connecting Bay Acres Street from U.S. 41 to Old Venice Road. Jeffery Boone, Horton’s agent, argued to the commissioners that the reduction in density for the development eliminated the need for the street’s extension, and that in the original plan, there was only one developer for the entire Sarabay Acres property. Now that it’s been divided up, Horton shouldn’t have to shoulder the responsibility of the street, he said.

Commissioners debated the need to uphold the obligations of the developer in the Osprey Revitalization plan and the necessity of the road. Michael Beaumier, one of the commissioners who lives in Rivendell, a subdivision south of the parcel, did not support the motion to approve. He said this road was very important to Osprey’s connectivity and had a lot of support during the revitalization plan; however, the approval does not strike the road extension from ever being built.

Bob Burrus said he could understand the developer’s perspective.

“I don’t see they’d have the responsibility at this time, but the broader public good here is the question. Does the community want this road to be built?” he said. 

The request will go on to the Board of County Commissioners for final approval.