Commission votes to contribute $14 million, land access to extend Bee Ridge Road. Hi Hat Ranch is the main beneficiary.
Original Air Date: April 11, 2025
Host: The stakes were high: Planning for 13,000 homes at buildout, the 10,000-acre Hi Hat Ranch is the biggest residential development ever in Sarasota County. After an investigative report by the Florida Trident revealed seemingly inappropriate communications between a former county commissioner on behalf of the developer and county staff, Sarasota County commissioners felt blindsided. In February, they suspended a 4-1 vote in January in which they agreed to provide road access to the development, and they scheduled a workshop on Wednesday. It took up nearly four hours, and we have the details…