Sarasota County last month signed off on the final step of a land swap meant to end a years-long court battle over a stretch of sand on Siesta Key — only to find itself facing another lawsuit.
A year ago, county commissioners agreed to trade a piece of Siesta Key real estate to businessman Michael Holderness in exchange for four sandy lots he owns next to Beach Access 3. The settlement was intended to resolve Holderness’ latest lawsuit accusing the county of turning his private land into a public beach.
For the deal to go through, Holderness required the county to grant him permission to build a 5,000-square-foot house on the property he was set to receive in the swap — about a quarter acre near his beachfront lots. Commissioners granted that approval on Nov. 5, clearing what was expected to be the final hurdle…