Sarasota County’s plan to trade a publicly owned property at 162 Beach Road, plus $400,000 in public money, for three private beach lots is now headed to court. Protect Siesta Key Inc. and four residents filed a lawsuit challenging the exchange, arguing the county may not have the legal authority to dispose of land purchased with restricted Neighborhood Parkland Program funds.
The county bought 162 Beach Road in 2017 for about $1.4 million, using money designated for acquiring and protecting parkland and environmentally sensitive land. The three lots on the other side of the deal were once valued by the county at roughly $30,000 each in federal litigation, about $90,000 combined. The plaintiffs also say those lots may have ownership issues and are largely unsuitable for lawful development.
Organization president Lourdes Ramirez said the lawsuit is not an objection to the Neighborhood Parkland Program itself, and that she supports its renewal in the November referendum. Instead, the case asks a court to clarify what protection actually means when restricted funds are involved. For Siesta Key residents and Sarasota County taxpayers alike, the outcome could shape how public land is handled for years. Do you think the county should pause the exchange until a judge weighs in?
