The Sarasota County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a project to build nearly 9,000 homes as part of the Winchester Ranch along North Port. The county commission will make the ultimate determination sometime in early 2026.
A petition from the developer requested to change the Future Land Use of about 2,433 acres of land in southern Sarasota County to allow for the development of 8,999 homes. It would also allow the city of North Port to annex just under five square miles from the county. Major aspects of the development were already approved in 2021, but Winchester Ranch must return to the county for approval of the rezone due to some procedural complications.
The planning commission voted 7-1 Dec. 4 to recommend Winchester Ranch to the county board, with Commissioner Jon Thaxton as the lone dissenter. Thaxton, a noted environmentalist and former county commissioner, came out strongly against the development…