The Florida Department of Transportation will close roads and detour traffic May 4-8 at the Legacy Trail overpass at McIntosh Road and Clark Road from 7 p.m Motorists may prefer to take an alternate route or allow for additional travel time advising drivers to use caution in the area This comes on the heels of a May 1 overnight road closure on Bee Ridge Road at the Legacy Trail Overpass For real-time traffic updates, visit https://fl511.com/ The agency is monitoring rabies among wild animals in the area after finding the case of rabies in a raccoon that was killed in the Bee Ridge area off McIntosh Road between Proctor and Wilkinson roads on Jan People should be aware that rabies may be present in the wild animal population People and domestic animals should avoid physical contact with wild animals (e.g. which carry a higher risk of human exposure and a need for rabies treatment receiving appropriate treatment after exposure will protect you from the risk of rabies The health department urged people take these precautions to prevent rabies exposure: Image: Courtesy photo signs placed outside the Winn-Dixie on Bee Ridge Road and McIntosh Road alerted customers that the store is closing It will remain open throughout the month of January and then be converted into an Aldi grocery store that will open later in 2025 Aldi is known for its low-cost groceries sold under independent labels to keep prices down (It's a model Trader Joe's also uses.) Customers can expect an ample freezer selection The no-frills grocery store also requires a quarter to access its shopping carts (the quarter's given back to you when the cart is returned) so be sure to keep one on you at all times Image: Courtesy Photo Aldi acquired the Florida-based Winn-Dixie grocery store chain in 2023 and has since converted some of them into Aldi stores throughout the state There's not a set date for the Bee Ridge Aldi's opening yet but we'll keep you updated as we learn more Filed under: Region: Sarasota County’s largest development project that will add over 13,000 homes east of I-75 recently moved forward with a controversial plan allowing developers to build a road across 24 acres of county land Despite a 2021 ordinance requiring the developer to cover the full cost taxpayers are now responsible for half of the Bee Ridge Road extension to the private development’s entrance The Hi Hat deal could become one of Sarasota County’s most contentious land-use decisions because it is also the largest development project in the county’s history Adding to the controversy, former County Commissioner Al Maio played a key role in drafting the terms of the land deal on behalf of the developer during a private meeting with county staff in December 2024 recommending terms that conflicted with the clear direction commissioners had given at a public meeting just six weeks earlier Records show he was copied on more than 160 emails about Hi Hat Ranch starting in March 2023 and attended multiple meetings with county staff Phone records obtained by the Florida Trident also show Maio exchanged dozens of calls with County Administrator Jonathan Lewis over 10 months totaling more than 5 hours Though Lewis provided phone records in response to a public records request about official business he could not recall any effort by Maio to lobby him on county business Lewis could not recall the exact nature of the numerous calls with Maio but said they most frequently talked about the Peace River board Maio sits on and their families Lewis said he redacted only those calls on the phone logs that were with his family members Maio refused multiple efforts to answer questions about his work on behalf of Hi Hat Ranch Florida law bars former commissioners from lobbying county commissioners and his or her direct reports for compensation for two years after leaving office to prevent conflicts of interest and protect public trust Public records obtained by the Florida Trident do not confirm whether Maio directly lobbied Lewis or his direct reports on business related to Hi Hat Ranch None of the meetings between Maio and county staff reviewed by the Florida Trident included Lewis or anyone who directly reports to him who is vice chair of the Sarasota County Planning Commission recently performed significant construction and remodeling at the Lewis residence “It’s all public record,” Adam Maio told the Florida Trident but declined to detail the work done at the Lewis residence referring further questions to his attorney which were unanswered at press time Lewis said the construction was needed after damage from Hurricane Ian. A permit indicates the work included a new roof and interior remodel valued at $100,000 Extending Bee Ridge Road to the private development is estimated to cost $28 million with taxpayers covering half—though final costs remain uncertain the county did not conduct an appraisal to determine the value of the 24 acres used for the proposed roadway Internal county emails reveal staff strongly criticized the developer’s proposal commissioners were never informed that the first phase of the project—spanning between Fruitville Road and Clark Road —would increase traffic on a segment of Bee Ridge Road by up to 140% pushing it below an acceptable level of service A 2023 county traffic analysis shows that the entire length of Bee Ridge Road already operating at Level D under the county’s adopted minimum standards while Level F indicates gridlock and failure Critics call the deal a giveaway to developers at public expense warning it will worsen congestion on already overburdened roads “The only guarantee for taxpayers on this so-called ‘deal’ is that we’ll be paying millions to sit in traffic,” said Myakka resident Randy Boyd “Drivers on Fruitville Road are held hostage every day,” Boyd said Negotiations over the Bee Ridge Road extension for the Hi Hat Ranch project began in June 2023 A series of internal emails revealed county staff had serious concerns about the developer’s request to build a road across 24 acres of county land between Rothenbach Park and the Sheriff’s Animal Services Office Tensions escalated in August 2023 after Planning Director Matt Osterhoudt instructed staff to cancel scheduled meetings and route all communication through his office By November, Hi Hat’s attorney, Charlie Bailey, requested a meeting with county staff, announcing that Al Maio would join on behalf of the developer Public record emails reveal Maio’s continued involvement in Hi Hat Ranch projects. In November 2023, Mike Campbell, an agent for the developer, asked Osterhoudt to call him, saying, “I will patch Al in.” A few weeks later, Campbell suggested Maio could personally deliver a response to the county Osterhoudt rejected several aspects of the developer’s proposal including a dead-end Bee Ridge extension into the private development calling it “unacceptable.” He also denied a request to relocate an access road to the Sheriff’s Animal Services facility across a wetland On November 29, Hi Hat submitted another proposal, which again failed to satisfy county staff. Senior Transportation Manager Don DeBerry was skeptical of the new proposal, telling Public Works Director Spencer Anderson “I don’t see that much has changed.” DeBerry estimated the developer would profit between $70-$700 million from the first phase alone “We need to make sure the public’s interests are secured.” DeBerry rejected multiple developer demands with responses in red text: “No way!” and “Not good enough!” Staff also opposed the use of county land for the road citing “operational impacts” on existing facilities Anderson, in an email to Osterhoudt recommended that the developer should bear the “full cost of widening” the segment of Bee Ridge Road He warned that the development would increase existing traffic volume by 140% exceeding the roadway’s Level of Service of D Anderson noted that widening would not be required but for the Hi Hat development “A split of this required infrastructure improvement is not warranted,” Anderson wrote DeBerry was more blunt, warning that the development would push daily traffic “well over the theoretical capacity” of a segment of Bee Ridge Road. He suggested a firm stance against the developer’s proposal in an email to Anderson “I feel like our response should just be—sorry You need to move forward with a Clark to Fruitville connection neither Anderson nor Osterhoudt withdrew from negotiations or disclosed the traffic concerns to commissioners At a meeting on October 4, 2023, Jim Turner, the master developer for Hi Hat, attributed statements to Lewis, who was not in attendance. Lewis later took issue with the statement. Following the meeting, Osterhoudt emailed Turner saying “the County has current and planned needs for this County-owned property the County will not be accepting a rezone petition as proposed.” Later that evening, Lewis emailed Turner correcting him regarding the statements attributed to him about the Hi Hat project Maio and others had multiple phone calls with Lewis it appeared that progress was made after Turner met directly with Lewis county staff believed they were close to a deal Turner conceded the developer “shall design and construct [the roadway extension] at no expense to the County.” Turner also agreed to construct a 4-lane road with two lanes completed before the first home receives a certificate of occupancy Turner also agreed to convey 20+/- acres for the widening of Fruitville Road The developer agreed to other concessions to minimize traffic impacts Bailey informed us that they weren’t interested in the deal as previously discussed ‘Just kidding—we don’t agree to that deal,’” Lewis wrote in an email to the Florida Trident Multiple efforts were made to seek comment from both Bailey and Turner for more than 10 days before publication without any response County staff sought commission guidance at a late October 2024 public meeting. Osterhoudt told commissioners that the 2021 master development order required Hi Hat to cover all costs for road and intersection improvements tied to the development Staff outlined six key conditions for any agreement Commissioners were explicit: the developer had to accept all six conditions “We need to have these six items agreed upon by the master developer or not, and that’s it. If they don’t agree …, that’s it, we’re done.” —Commissioner Mark Smith emphasizing that county land belongs to taxpayers “Negotiating against ourselves is never a good place to be,” he said they could access the project through existing routes via Fruitville or Clark Road that did not involve county land both Osterhoudt and Lewis confirmed they understood the commission’s directive the deal Maio drafted on a whiteboard at a meeting with county staff would look far different than the six items commissioners insisted on Little is known about what happened at the December 11th meeting because the public was not invited or even aware of the meeting The Florida Trident obtained a picture of the terms of the “land deal” Maio wrote on a whiteboard taken at the meeting staff came forward with an agenda item vaguely described as “To provide policy guidance on selling access through County-owned land.” Staff recommended taxpayers pay for half of the road extension project Only two of the four planned lanes are to be built initially with the rest delayed until another traffic study justifies the expansion The parties agreed to completion dates and that the developer would be responsible for improving the roundabout on Lorraine Road At a meeting on January 28, 2025, Osterhoudt praised Maio and Dave Truxton another member of the developer’s negotiating team Staff never told the commissioners about the earlier objections None of the emails obtained by the Florida Trident were part of the agenda packet Nor was any appraisal given to commissioners Although Maio’s whiteboard notes indicate the developer would give 24 acres for the county’s 24 acres the recommendation brought back to the commission only requires the developer to give up 10 acres off of Fruitville Road Commissioner Tom Knight cast the lone dissenting vote raising concerns about financial risks and traffic impacts “I have concerns about the future of our infrastructure that we’re talking about every day And this is what hurts about doing these jobs When asked by the Florida Trident last Friday what changed in the six weeks following the clear direction given in October on the six items commissioners insisted on both Osterhoudt and Anderson indicated the deal was the most reasonable to bring back before the board I’d want them to pay for it all,” said Osterhoudt Anderson said commissioners weren’t told about traffic counts because it wasn’t a factor in the deal for access to land to extend the roadway Osterhoudt did not address his previous insistence that Hi Hat Ranch comply with the requirement in the master development order approved in a 2021 ordinance to fund all costs related to roadway improvements to the project County Attorney Josh Moye told the Florida Trident that county staff acted in good faith with a degree of reasonableness in complying with the requirement to negotiate. But in response to questions from then-County Commissioner Mike Moran, Moye expressly told commissioners at the October 23 meeting that the county was under no legal requirement to agree to anything with the developer Commissioner Smith was contacted by the Florida Trident for comment “I was under the impression that we had gotten what we had discussed in October I’m disappointed that does not appear to be the case,” Smith said He indicated he intended to revisit the issue Opponents warn the deal also poses huge financial risks potentially costing Sarasota taxpayers millions criticized the proposed deal: “If a road serves only a developer not 50/50 with public funds or by a reduction of mobility fees which are supposed to be used to reduce congestion caused by the developer.” “Covert dealmaking to benefit a big developer at the public expense is a betrayal of both the taxpayers and those who drive on roads that will remain inadequate so long as we let our politicians choose their contributors over their constituents,” Lobeck added Hanging in the balance is Sarasota County’s 2050 Plan for growth framework originally adopted in 2002 land use decisions east of I-75 must remain fiscally neutral meaning that any new development is responsible for covering all its associated infrastructure costs The 2050 model offered landowners increased density and non-residential development options in exchange for meeting higher planning and environmental requirements Former county commissioner Joe Barbetta voted against the 2050 model because he did not think the infrastructure east of I-75 was ready for it “You don’t put a new addition on your house without fixing a leaky roof Infrastructure east of I-75 is leaking,” Barbetta told the Florida Trident Barbetta was also critical of the cost to taxpayers and the traffic impact of the Hi Hat project Looking at the existing traffic conditions and level of service now without a full-blown traffic study would be irresponsible,” he said Barbetta also expressed concern about impacts on secondary roadways in that area saying those roads will also be overburdened Others raised concerns about sources used to fund infrastructure to the benefit of developers and at the expense of affordable housing An example is the amount of surtax money allocated to new development projects Almost $100 million of the nearly $1 billion in surtax money will go towards infrastructure for new development and transportation Former Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton characterized the proposal as a lesson learned from the 2050 plan “A future land use policy that pits the public’s interest against developer profits cannot be trusted to protect the public’s interest.” At issue are the growing concerns over Maio’s involvement and the true cost to taxpayers. Commissioners recently learned the flooding from Tropical Storm Debby in August 2024 was caused by a breach in an earthen berm that abuts the property line between county-owned Rothenbach Park and Hi Hat’s property to the east the area immediately south of the proposed roadway A dike separates higher elevation on the eastern side of Cow Pen Slough that abuts Hi Hat Ranch which contains a large natural floodplain Anderson told commissioners three weeks ago that the breach in the berm caused water to flow north causing historic flooding in the Laurel Meadows neighborhood immediately north of the proposed roadway already frustrated with the congested road system “Have they not learned any lessons from what happened in Manatee County,” asked Randy Boyd referring to the sea change when voters rejected developer-backed county commissioners in the 2024 election “They keep approving everything with no infrastructure,” he said “We want our elected officials to do the right thing A written agreement will be brought back to the county commission for approval Hi Hat Ranch will move forward with rezoning and permitting the project Road construction is expected to begin within six months About the Author: Michael Barfield focuses on the enforcement of open government laws He serves as an investigative reporter for the Florida Trident and Director of Public Access at the Florida Center Center for Government Accountability He regularly assists journalists across the country with collecting information and publishing news reports obtained from public records and other sources He is a member of Investigative Reporters & Editors and an associate member of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 We ask that you only edit for style or to shorten provide proper attribution and link to our website This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License The Florida Center for Government Accountability focuses its government accountability and journalistic efforts primarily on local governments providing support and assistance for citizens and investigative journalists working to hold government accountable All donations made to FLCGA are tax deductible FLCGA is a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News — a nationwide network of independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news organizations. Learn more at inn.org A copy of our official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free (800-345-7352) within the State Holding the Powerful to Account#DefendDemocracy Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInUPDATE: The crash has cleared (WWSB) - A crash is blocking two lanes on I-75 northbound at Bee Ridge Road The crash is causing a significant backup of just under six miles 2025 at 11:48 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A raccoon killed in Sarasota’s Bee Ridge area tested positive for rabies the Florida Deptartment of Health in Sarasota County said FL — A raccoon in Sarasota County tested positive for rabies earlier this month according to a Florida Department of Health news release The case was confirmed in a raccoon that was killed Jan off McIntosh Road between Proctor and Wilkinson roads “All residents and visitors should be aware that rabies may be currently present in the wild animal population,” health officials said The department recommends that people and domestic animals should always avoid physical contact with wild animals which carry a higher risk of human exposure and a need for post-exposure rabies treatment Those who have been bitten or scratched by a wild or stray domestic animal should contact the Department of Health in Sarasota County at 941-861-2873 Sarasota Animal Services can be contacted at 941-861-9501 Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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This post was updated because a previous version contained incomplete information The Sarasota County Commission has approved a general plan that will open up the central portion of Hi-Hat Ranch for development by paying half the cost for the widening of Bee Ridge Road deep in rural east Sarasota County with taxpayer money on county-owned land The developer of the Hi-Hat Ranch would pay for the cost of the mile-long extension despite the 10,000-acre property already having access to Fruitville and Clark roads Other road improvements in the area are also planned The developer of Hi Hat Ranch said it would pay the to extend Bee Ridge Road for about a mile from Lorraine Road eastward into the planned housing community on the ranch's east side Sarasota County staff told commissioners there is currently no transportation need for the extension beyond serving the development project Hi-Hat Ranch received approval in 2021 to build up to 13,000 homes on the sprawling property about four miles east of Interstate 75 near Lorraine Road between Fruitville and Clark roads Hi-Hat developers sought the land deal because their current plans are for the project's first phase to be near the Bee Ridge Road extension not along the ranch's current access points to public roads Bee Ridge Road widening talks involved former county commissionerThe land deal — under negotiation since at least September 2023 — was reached last December with the help of former two-term County Commissioner Al Maio a principal with engineering firm Kimley-Horn who had also previously served on the county's planning board The project's cost to taxpayers is currently estimated at $14 million which happens to also be the estimated mobility fees the development would pay for the construction of the roughly 3,000 homes built in the first phase Mobility fees are one-time payments by developers to local governments to help fund transportation infrastructure meaning the entire first phase's fees to offset transportation impacts will be spent on extending Bee Ridge to the developer's property line and widening about a mile of Bee Ridge Road to four lanes west of the ranch The county would also temporarily swap some property with the developer in exchange for land that could be used to widen Fruitville Road which would also benefit the developer's project by adding traffic capacity along a major road future residents will use to access the Hi-Hat Ranch development The developer would dedicate the roadway built through the county's land back to the county after the Bee Ridge Road extension is constructed according to the county presentation on Tuesday afternoon The land deal would see the developer extend Bee Ridge Road through the county's land where Sarasota County has an Animal Services station and a waste water treatment facility while also widening a mile-long section of Bee Ridge between Bent Tree Boulevard and Lorraine Road The Hi-Hat developer would also cover the cost of expanding the roundabout at Lorraine and Bee Ridge Road to four lanes The developer would begin construction within six months of all terms in the land deal being accomplished and complete the project within two years The County Commission voted 4-1 to approve the terms with a formal agreement to come back to the county later even as some commissioners seemed uncomfortable with whether the project meets a county growth policy that requires development projects to not impact county budgets Both Commissioners Mark Smith and Tom Knight raised questions about this "fiscal neutrality" policy after concerns hearing concerns from constituents Critics of increasing east county development have for years pointed to the thousands of approved but not yet built homes in Sarasota County as budget busters for roads despite the county's policy stating that development projects should pay for themselves the county's director of planning and development services told Smith that fiscal neutrality becomes an issue later in the development review process the only commissioner to vote against the project asked whether there was a county need for this project now the driving nexus for widening Bee Ridge Road would be that development," Osterhoudt told Knight While Knight pressed Osterhoudt on the details of the project other county commissioners viewed the deal's elements as positive noting that growth in that area of the county would require the improvements sooner rather than later County Commissioner Teresa Mast said the developer would invest "$50 million of infrastructure improvements that will be made that will not come from taxpayer dollars." Osterhoudt said he could not confirm the $50 million figure but that the improvements would be "a public benefit for the long-term for our thoroughfare plan." Commissioner Ron Cutsinger pointed to the long negotiation period noting he viewed the results as a "fair deal." "I think it's good for the county," he said "I think it's good for future growth and I'm going to support it." Sarasota County commissioners have slammed the brakes on a plan to split the $28 million cost of a road widening with a planned super development called Hi-Hat Ranch The County Commission faced immediate backlash on social media for what many saw as the public subsidizing a private development when it agreed in January to pay $14 million to widen a portion Bee Ridge Road from Bent Tree Boulevard to Lorraine Road even though officials said there is no need for it beyond access for the development This week the commission directed its staff to bring the agreement back to them within six months The board also decided to hold a public workshop on the road plan in the meantime The County Commission last month voted 4-1 to split the cost of the road with Hi-Hat Ranch’s developer The Hi-Hat Ranch development calls for 13,000 homes on 10,000 acres stretching between Clark and Fruitville roads about four miles east of Interstate 75 Hi-Hat has access to both Clark and Fruitville The ranch sought the road widening of Bee Ridge to its property along with other improvements to the eastern end of the road because development plans are for the project's first phase to be on the west side According to a memo by county Planning and Development Services Director Matt Osterhoudt obtained by the Herald-Tribune the developer estimated last October that the road widening would cost $14 million – which it would pay for that projected cost had doubled with a new estimate by the engineering firm Kimley-Horn with the county to pick up half of the cost and right-of-way property issues also in the plan The entire road deal was negotiated by Alan Maio – a principal at Kimley-Horn and former Sarasota County Commissioner Knight criticized the deal again on Facebook “Apparently county staff KNEW this was a bad deal from the beginning and they KNEW that it would make an already bad traffic problem much worse, but somewhere along the line they flipped and actually RECOMMENDED that the commission pass it,” Knight posted, along with an angry emoji, in reference to reporting by the Florida Trident.  Commission Chairman Joe Neunder first brought the topic up Tuesday as soon as the meeting began “Last agenda meeting we had a discussion on the Hi-Hat Ranch negotiation and deal,” Neunder began a lot of thought and information has been brought to my attention Neunder then asked if there was a board consensus to direct county staff to not move forward with its Hi-Hat agreement The commission chair said he wanted to take a much closer look at the details “I think we want to reconsider some things and ask some more questions,” Knight said “This is a big project that involves millions of millions of citizens’ dollars.”  The commissioner called for an “open dialogue” workshop Both motions to stop the road deal and do conduct the workshop passed unanimously Knight asked whether there was a county need for this project now Sarasota County spokesperson Jamie Carson said in an email that the workshop will be scheduled for some time before the six-month deadline “The commissioners will be able to provide their questions about the topic to staff before the workshop so that staff will be able to gather information and data for the workshop,” Carson said Herald-Tribune Staff Writer Derek Gilliam contributed to this story 2025 at 10:52 AM ESTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSARASOTA (WWSB) - Sarasota Police responded Wednesday night to another pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle the crash happened in the area of US 41 and Bee Ridge Road around 9 p.m Southbound 41 was closed while officers investigated Do not wear dark clothing and wear something reflective so cars can see you The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County (DOH-Sarasota) is monitoring cases of rabies locally after a confirmed animal case in the Bee Ridge area "All residents and visitors should be aware that rabies may be currently present in the wild animal population," a county statement said The rabies virus is found in saliva and is usually passed on via a bite Wild animals with rabies may behave unusually or drool The advisory comes after officials confirmed a rabies case in a racoon that was killed near McIntosh Road, between Proctor Road and Wilkinson Road, on Jan. 25. Officials advised that residents keep clear of wild animals that can transmit the disease, such as raccoons, bats, skunks, coyotes Florida health officials recommend owners vaccinate their pets against rabies and avoid letting them frolic around among suspect wild animals Outside cats are the most common pet to have rabies State officials ask that those who think they may have been exposed to rabies contract their local health department after consulting their doctor The Centers for Disease Control warns that the onset of rabies in humans feels like the flu Christian Casale covers local government for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune Email him at ccasale@gannett.com and or christiancasale@protonmail.com 2024 at 9:34 AM ESTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSARASOTA (WWSB) - Early Tuesday morning (December 10) Bee Ridge Rd will be detoured at the Legacy Trail Construction crews are continuing work on two new pedestrian bridges The detour will be happening between12am and 6am Consider using Wilkinson Rd or Webber Street as alternates to avoid detour delays When Sarasota County Commissioners scheduled a workshop in April to figure out what exactly was going on with Hi Hat Ranch it wasn't because everything has been smooth sailing The squabble: Whether Hi Hat Ranch developers can use county-owned land to build an access route to their planned housing subdivision as well as how much the county will pay to widen a section of Bee Ridge Road leading up to that road Hi Hat Ranch is currently 10,000 acres of flat-as-can-be grazing land nestled between I-75 and Lake Myakka it’s set to be Sarasota County’s next megadevelopment featuring more than 13,000 homes built in stages and up to 450,000 square feet of commercial space The Sarasota County Commission first approved the development in 2021 through a “Master Development Order” (MDO) which essentially incorporates Hi Hat into the county's long-term plans Hi Hat's development team has run up against some resistance from the new commission commissioners approved a plan that would allow the developer access to 24 acres of public land where Bee Ridge Road ends as well as agreeing to split the costs with Hi Hat of a $28 million project to widen the 1-mile stretch of road leading up to that land – from Bent Tree Boulevard to Lorraine Road There was immediate backlash on social media for what many saw as public subsidies for private development in a Sarasota County where recent local elections showed a groundswell against development-friendly candidates Reporting by the Florida Trident also showed that the road deal was negotiated by Alan Maio – a former Sarasota County Commissioner who voted to approve the Hi Hat development in 2021 and is now a principal at Kimley-Horn the engineering firm ubiquitous in local development County documents revealed that the initial estimate Hi Hat developers came up with for the road widening was $14 million A new estimate in recent months doubled that to $28 million – half of which the county commission agreed to pay for Hi Hat’s developers have made clear they would really like this deal to go through The first stage of their development calls for 3,000 units to be built east of where Bee Ridge Road ends A connection from Bee Ridge to the development seems the most natural entrance and exit for these houses and Hi Hat has also said it would pay all the costs for the road that would cut through county land and to widen the nearby roundabout All this was the result of extensive negotiations between the developers and county officials that went on for over a year county officials expressed reservations about the cost of the road widening and who would pay for it The Bee Ridge dead-end is also home to a several county facilities: Animal Services County officials were concerned that the new road would hamper activities there would receive at least 10 acres of land from Hi Hat along Fruitville Road Why exactly the county needs this land is still murky Officials only said in an email that the county “anticipates needing” it but did not confirm or deny if that's because of Hi Hat County documents said that sections of Fruitville Road – from Honore Avenue to I-75 and from Coburn Road to Sarasota Center Boulevard – will need to be widened because of the increased traffic from the development the county’s director of Planning and Development services as well as comments by local officials to the Herald-Tribune indicate that county staff have apprehension about giving the developers what they want an attorney with the Williams Parker law firm has been something akin to the development’s ambassador His family has owned Hi Hat Ranch for over 80 years; the MDO was granted to his brothers’ company Turner told the Herald-Tribune that the initial widening cost estimate of $14 million provided to Sarasota County came from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Unit Price Model “This is well understood in the industry to produce a crude ‘back of the napkin’ basic cost per mile estimate,” Turner said The county acknowledged the costs could be much higher than what it described as the developer’s “simple” calculation Osterhoudt estimated $2 million for design and $20 million for the construction - $22 million total the Opinion of Probable Cost (OPC) put together by Kimley-Horn came out to about $25.8 million in construction costs it ended up a $28 million project to widen the 1-mile stretch of road Turner said it's common in development projects like this for the very first estimate to be off County officials would not directly comment on whether a doubling of the cost was a typical misprojection The entire negotiation process seems somewhat confused – Osterhoudt wrote that “it was challenging for the County to determine who the decision-making authority was as there were multiple parties in negotiations.”  its “representatives,” the homebuilders Lennar and Pulte Osterhoudt wrote that “many of these parties were reaching out to individuals in various County departments and attempting to obtain information or consent on specific topics...”  Turner indicated that the Hi Hat development team was doing the county a favor by lending a hand to widen the road “It is important to understand that the initiative to widen Bee Ridge Road is not coming from us,” Turner said “The County is insisting that Bee Ridge needs to be widened now due to existing traffic (particularly in the AM peak hour) and not because of traffic that would be associated with a future development of Hi Hat Ranch and has asked us to financially contribute to that widening project.” Osterhoudt pointed out to the Herald-Tribune that although the traffic on that stretch of Bee Ridge Road may be deeply unpleasant at times it meets the county’s Roadway Level of Service (LOS) Hi Hat’s own transportation studies showed its development would exceed the LOS County documents also said that the widening project would coincide with the new traffic Hi Hat would generate The MDO also states that Hi Hat would “be fully responsible for all costs associated with” road improvements on its development something the county made sure to mention during negotiations Census Bureau estimates there are about 2.11 people in the average Sarasota County household With 3,000 homes from the first wave of development that would be about 6,330 more people who would have only Bee Ridge Road as their easiest throughway to civilization County officials understand this would make widening the road a sudden imperative “Lorraine Road north of Palmer Boulevard to Fruitville Road is also anticipated to see a significant amount of traffic attributable to Hi Hat when it is built,” Osterhoudt wrote which are paid by developers to local governments to offset some of the new infrastructure needed when their residents start to move in The county is set to pay $14 million for the Bee Ridge Widening; it would be set to receive about $14 million in mobility fees for the first phase of development This may seem a convenient balance to some but the county would be owed those fees anyway which could ostensibly go towards the other tens of millions of dollars needed to improve traffic infrastructure around the development Another six segments of public roads may need to be widened as Hi Hat and its population grow Hi Hat is not legally responsible for traffic improvements off its site even if those surrounding roads are more clogged up because of its development County officials said that because of state laws “there is no regulatory mechanism to require the Developer to provide 100% funding of the off-site improvements on Bee Ridge Road west of Lorraine Road." The widening wouldn’t be complete until at least late 2027 Hi Hat's developers seemed to believe that they were entitled to build an access road to their subdivision through the county-owned land – 24 acres of swamp cut through by Cow Pen Slough The MDO states that Hi Hat and Sarasota County must “work together” to establish future access to Bee Ridge Road that the condition does not grant legal access Officials said there was no requirement for Bee Ridge to be the community’s first access point Hi Hat doesn’t seem to have another good option The other primary way to the first development site is Utopia Road – a bumpy winding stretch that cuts through farmland and cow pastures and blows a cloud of dust behind the cars that traverse it That road dumps out onto east Fruitville Road would need much more pavement built and is similarly proportioned to I-75 and the rest of Sarasota’s internal arteries it’s easy to see why the development team may be anxious to ensure Bee Ridge Road would be accessible – first for the construction the only dissenting vote when the commission initially agreed to the proposal has since called the right-of-way a “driveway for a developer” and attacked the Hi Hat plan online This offensive did not go unnoticed by Jim Turner Knight posted on Facebook his indignation at the commission’s vote “The deal included a minimum of $14M out of YOUR pocket and access through 24 acres of YOUR county-owned property WITHOUT SO MUCH AS AN APPRAISAL OF ITS VALUE,” Knight posted also forwarded to the rest of the county commission and on "behalf of the Hi-Hat family," where he accused Knight of spreading “materially inaccurate information.”  “The extension will not cost taxpayers anything Hi-Hat has also agreed to split the cost with the County to widen existing Bee Ridge Road...” Turner wrote The developers and county officials have stressed a hard binary between the “extension” of Bee Ridge (the access deal) and the “widening “of Bee Ridge (more lanes leading up to the aforementioned extension) Turner argued the widening would be in the public’s benefit due to complaints by local residents about the traffic which is only bound to get worse as development in eastern Sarasota County booms I fundamentally oppose using citizens' money and land to front the cost of a road that is mainly going to benefit a developer,” Knight had told the Herald-Tribune On March 25, Turner sent a second letter to Knight again copied to the other four county commissioners again over the commissioner’s Facebook posts “It has been pointed out that my previous post erroneously said the deal was for the county to help pay to extend Bee Ridge Road when the ask from the developer was to actually widen it (let’s just say ‘expand’),” Knight said in a Feb they want $14M taxpayer help [sic] to get it done.”  Turner again said the road widening was unrelated to Hi Hat and portrayed it as the developers helping out the county “County staff insisted my family help Sarasota County widen Bee Ridge Road to correct an existing problem unrelated to our future Hi Hat Ranch project,” he wrote “There is no legal obligation for my family to widen this segment of Bee Ridge Road Turner again asked that Knight “correct the misinformation.” Knight told the Herald-Tribune he did not intend to "I already made clear in one Facebook post that it's a road 'expansion,' and I do not intend to 'correct' news reports that he considers to be inaccurate on my social media," Knight said "The bottom line is that he has his viewpoint issues related to this situation The Sarasota County Commission will revisit the Hi Hat issue at an April 9 workshop Email him at ccasale@gannett.com or christiancasale@protonmail.com Judge Stephen Walker of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court agreed with Thompson’s February 2024 assessment as well as with the Bee Ridge Road residents who initially filed the legal complaint against the modular buildings Thompson deemed the buildings “significant modifications” to the site plan while the County Commission concluded that the buildings were “minor modifications” that adhered to the plan in voting to overrule the zoning administration’s decision last April More: Family of children killed in Sarasota hit-and-run protest after suspect released on bond said Walker’s ruling indicates the court understands that local officials like the County Commission are obligated to adhere to procedure  “You have to follow the code and follow the book,” Graham said  It’s unclear when or how the county will enforce Walker’s ruling or whether The Classical Academy has any immediate plans to scrap the modular buildings The County Commission voted unanimously to stay out of any potential appeal proceedings that the school might pursue in response to the court ruling at its meeting this week The Classical Academy’s original site plan projects a full enrollment of 1,310 students by 2027 and it will phase in students as construction continues The plan stipulates that Bee Ridge Road will gain a roundabout or a traffic signal when the school reaches its projected capacity It’s unclear how many students currently attend the school The Classical Academy and its lawyers didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment The school has faced pushback since the commission first approved a special exception approving its new campus in 2023 A resident group known as the Sarasota East Enders for Responsible Development (SEERD) has been among the most vocal opponents filing both the legal challenge to the school’s modular buildings and an initial lawsuit contesting County Commission approval of the special exception Residents have repeatedly voiced concerns regarding traffic noise and compatibility with nearby neighborhoods regarding the school SEERD President Miles Toder said the group’s fears have mostly materialized since The Classical Academy began transferring students from its previous campus at 8751 Fruitville Road “We’ve seen the volume of traffic just explode,” Toder said More: Sarasota County Commission praises county administrator after online ethics questions As its first legal challenge remains in limbo SEERD has launched efforts to raise public awareness of their opposition to The Classical Academy including a blog that updates followers on legal proceedings with the school and regular emails to county officials lobbying them to reconsider previous approvals The Classical Academy filed a defamation lawsuit against SEERD and Toder that accuses the organization of spreading false information to damage the school’s reputation The defendants “initiated a writing campaign designed to degrade and falsely convince people that TCA is in violation of the law and that TCA is creating safety issues as well as to cause injury to TCA’s reputation as a reputable and respectable school,” the complaint reads The court approved SEERD’s motion to drop the lawsuit March 3 and The Classical Academy has 20 days to amend its complaint before the case officially closes SEERD’s original challenge to The Classical Academy’s campus is still pending in the Second District Court of Appeal 2024 at 11:47 AM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSARASOTA (WWSB) - Sarasota County has set up multiple points of distributions of supplies Comfort points are available throughout Sarasota County Individuals are encouraged to come out to an air conditioned area charge your phones and enjoy some food and coffee while supplies last The second annual Holly Ridge Bee Festival will be held on April 26 from 10 a.m and ten different types of food/drink trucks will be provided along with beekeepers and bee displays This I-75 traffic camera photo shows a car upside down in the northbound lane of Interstate 75 at Bee Ridge Road SARASOTA — Traffic is backing up and slowing to a crawl as emergency personnel deal with a car crash in the northbound lanes of Interstate 75 at the Bee Ridge Road interchange An I-75 traffic camera shows a car upside down Firefighters said that all passengers were out of their vehicles but that ambulances were needed to evaluate the motorists Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account A credit union will replace the Crazy Papas gas station at the corner of Bee Ridge Road and Tuttle Avenue after the decades-old convenience store was demolished last month MIDFLORIDA Credit Union will build the 5,200-square-foot retail banking center which will be the Lakeland-based financial institution's second Sarasota location Current plans call for four drive-thru lanes and multiple lobby offices for loan and mortgage officers The credit union bought the property at 2800 Bee Ridge Road for $3.4 million in September 2023 The first location opened in May 2022 at 544 S The business also opened a Bradenton office in April 2023 Recent real estate coverage: 'Costco is here, baby!' North Port welcomes opening of new store in Wellen Park More: Replacing a roof in Sarasota County will no longer result in higher taxes after challenge "We have been serving Sarasota and Manatee counties for many years by offering auto financing through local dealerships in that market so in 2022 we started following up with physical locations," Vanessa Hernandez said of the credit union's decision to expand in the Sarasota-Manatee market Hernandez said MIDFLORIDA is the fourth largest credit union in Florida and the largest if you rank them by business deposits "We have a total of 63 offices throughout Florida ranging from Gainesville down to Naples on the West Coast and Stuart on the East Coast," Hernandez said She said the site plans are under development with construction expected to start in 2025 The credit union hopes to open the branch office by the end of next year Hernandez said the credit union typically has about 10 staff per location She said the company will have a total of about 24 people employed in Sarasota once both offices are open "I’ve personally grown up and lived all my life within an hour of Sarasota and so it’s very exciting for me to see MIDFLORIDA expanding in that area," she said Image: Everett Dennison Casa Masa’s second location opens this Friday, Jan. 10, in The Landings shopping plaza on Tamiami Trail. Owner Rob DiSilvio purchased Casa Masa's original location on Bee Ridge Road two years ago and transformed the menu by eliminating processed ingredients—including tortillas a process that involves soaking ground corn in an alkaline solution so he could make his corn tortillas truly from scratch It took him six months to get his tortilla recipe just right To call him obsessed would not be an overstatement Casa Masa’s Bee Ridge Road location presents a simple menu featuring tacos quesadillas and tlayuditas (described as “Mexican pizza”) you'll find the standards you love at the Bee Ridge location as well as dishes that further showcase DiSilvio's culinary imagination a scallop crudo tostada features thin slices of raw scallops that rest atop an herbal sauce akin to pesto It's topped with microgreens and served on Casa Masa's signature blue corn tortilla Enmoladas de huitlacoche showcase the tortilla in a different manner squash blossoms and huitlacoche (a corn fungus otherwise known as Oaxacan truffle) then topped with mole blanco and pomegranate seeds but everything marries together for a rich sweet and acidic bite covering all the flavor bases Casa Masa in The Landings also offers a full bar complete with craft cocktails designed by Brad Coburn (former owner of downtown Sarasota's Pangea Alchemy Lab) His playful take on cocktails results in a drink menu that is as strong as the food “I tried to stick with Rob’s concept and lean into a lot of corn-based spirits,” Coburn says “That laid a solid foundation and allowed us to add out-of-the-box ingredients while still keeping the drinks approachable.” The “Corn Hub” cocktail lives up to that philosophy With a Tito’s vodka base with lemon and soda water but Coburn added a surprise ingredient: popcorn simple syrup Each sip is like a tangy lemonade with a burst of popcorn at the front of the palate Casa Masa will open Jan. 10 in The Landings shopping plaza at 4862 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. For more information, call (941) 921-0578 or click here A for-profit Sarasota County charter school is a step closer expanding at a coveted location along Fruitville Road east of Interstate 75 The Sarasota County Planning Commission voted unanimously this week to grant a special exception for Red Apple Development a Fort Lauderdale-based charter school contractor a playground and an amphitheater for of a new charter school at 8751 Fruitville Road 5 approval followed a withdrawn petition that Red Apple filed last April which the planning board opposed because of to traffic concerns a future charter school that the Sarasota County School Board signed off on in March The Classical Academy is gradually transitioning students from its current campus to its new location at 8000 Bee Ridge Road, though an ongoing lawsuit from neighboring residents against the school argues the new location isn't compatible with its surrounding residential developments Though the lawsuit is still open — and plans for The Classical Academy's Bee Ridge campus could go back to the drawing board if a judge rules in favor of the neighbors — the Fruitville Road address is still the presumed location for the new school More: Concerns about reduced meeting schedule cited at final 2024 Sarasota School Board session already has a special exception attached to it that allows The Classical Academy to operate Sarasota County Commission approval to extend this exception would allow the future school to build the additional classroom buildings Red Apple Development filed its initial a special exception request under the “Fruitville Charter School” in April Resident concern about approving the special exception stemmed mostly from traffic on the road which they said the new school would exacerbate “There’s no way you can call what happens at the access point to this school to be safe,” Susan Schoettle a former assistant county attorney and responsible growth advocate very aggravating situation that should not be allowed to be made worse.” The developer withdrew this application and presented a new one to the planning board Dec The timeline and new site plan accommodate a planned widening of Fruitville Road with the addition of a turn lane and amended rights-of-way Planning commissioners were brief in their remarks quickly casting an 8-0 vote to recommend approval of the exception by the County Commission Planning board member Alan Maio said he was satisfied with the application and confident it would smooth traffic concerns “These changes are thought out and will work much better than the previous,” Maio said More: Former Florida ballerina seeks to be released on bond pending appeal, hearing set for new year listed in application material to the planning board as the “Sarasota Charter School,” will cap its student body at 1,105 and plans to phase students in over time The soonest it would open for kindergarten through sixth grade students is the 2026-27 school year with seventh-graders beginning to attend in the 2027-28 year and eighth graders in the 2028-29 year board members also said the future school's location was a question mark Florida statute makes a school board denial of a charter school an uphill battle with limited discretion and the board on the hook for the charter school’s legal fees should it challenge the school at the state level Board members cited the charter school’s approval as a “foregone conclusion” during its March vote and ultimately voted in favor of it The County Commission will make a final decision on the school’s special exception at a future meeting Contact Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@gannett.com Filed under: exactly two weeks after they authorized staff to proceed with an agreement involving transportation access to the first planned phase of the Hi Hat Ranch development in the eastern part of the county the Sarasota County commissioners unanimously approved a motion to stop staff from proceeding with that agreement “at this time.” Neunder cited “information that has been brought to my attention,” adding that he felt sure his colleagues also had seen it That was a reference to an article by Michael Barfield an investigative reporter for the Florida Trident and director of public access at the Florida Center for Government Accountability Using information gleaned from county emails and phone records that he had received through a public records request Barfield reported at length on the behind-the-scenes efforts of county staff members to reach the agreement with representatives of Hi Hat Ranch on issues related to the Bee Ridge Road access to the ranch Barfield also focused on the involvement of former county Commissioner Al Maio in the discussions “Phone records obtained by the Florida Trident also show Maio exchanged dozens of calls with County Administrator Jonathan Lewis over 10 months totaling more than 5 hours.” “Though Lewis provided phone records in response to a public records request about official business he could not recall any effort by Maio to lobby him on county business.” “Florida law bars former commissioners from lobbying county commissioners and his or her direct reports for compensation for two years after leaving office to prevent conflicts of interest and protect public trust.” Read More. Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSARASOTA (WWSB) - Here are the major road closures that are still in effect as of Tuesday Some still have standing water or damage from Hurricane Debby SR-70 from Verna Rd to Singletary RdSR-62 from US-301 to Saffold RdCity of Sarasota sent us this earlier: Bahia Vista Street is closed from Kruppa Avenue (just west of Beneva Road) to S Conrad Avenue due to floodwaters South Beneva Road is closed from Bahia Vista Street to Legacy Trail All other major thoroughfares are open for travel to work please proceed with caution as there are still pockets of standing water and some debris Tuttle Avenue is still blocked near Bee Ridge Road due to water and stranded vehicles 66 road closures are reported in Manatee County . You can check them in real time here. This includes Riverside Drive and US 301 among others Fire and rescue crews are working to deal with stranded drivers and multiple roads are closed Police departments urge residents to avoid flooded areas and stay home if you do not need travel as roadblocks are in place for your protection You should not drive through any flooded roads It takes just 6 inches of water to cause vehicles stall and a foot of water is able to float most vehicles Riverview Boulevard from 19th to 26th Street West 51st Street West from 9th to 18th Avenue West 9th Street West from 9th to 17th Avenue West Martin Luther King Avenue West from 14th to 18th Street West Virginia Drive from Manatee Avenue to 9th Avenue West Riverside Drive East from 2nd to 6th Street East and from 18th to 24th Street – Cones and barricades placed at 2nd Ave East to stop westbound traffic 13th Avenue East between 19th Street Court East and 25th Street East until 3:00 p.m Dearborn has over a foot of water on the roadway North Beach Road is closed at the Sarasota County line due to erosion at Middle Beach Manasota Key Road at the north end of Blind Pass Beach is underwater and closed A number of the rocks used for shoreline stabilization are on the road Most roadways on Siesta Key are under water Bee Ridge Road / Cattlemen Road (Sarasota) Rye Road / Upper Manatee River Road (Manatee) several lanes of Fruitville Road are closed between Beneva Rd and McIntosh Rd Tuttle Avenue is blocked near Bee Ridge Road The access road between Eager and Grobe along U.S and North Port Fire Rescue units are canvassing other areas that are prone to flooding 24th Avenue W from 10th Street W to 12th Street W are closed due to flooding Roads currently closed due to flooding are Wood Street between Marion Avenue and Olympia Avenue and Berry and McGregor Streets between Retta Esplanade and Marion Avenue Charlotte County reminds motorists to remain alert at all times and to exercise caution when traveling in storm-affected areas Harbor Drive at South Brohard is closed due to significant erosion Check all Manatee County road closures here. A three-car crash near the Interstate 75-Bee Ridge Road exit left seven people with minor injuries on Tuesday afternoon A Nissan was traveling north on I-75 in the left lane at 3:40 p.m. approaching Bee Ridge Road, while a Mack truck headed north in the center lane and a Ford pickup truck was going north in the right lane, all approaching the same exit The Nissan driver failed to make sure the center lane was clear before changing lanes causing the front right of the car to collide with the Mack Truck's front left The truck's front right also collided with the Ford's left front In case you missed it: Missing Sarasota man found dead inside submerged car on Phillippi Creek, deputies say a 45-year-old passenger and 15-year-old passenger in the Nissan sustained minor injuries while two other passengers in the vehicle were uninjured The 21-year-old truck driver from Winter Haven and 22-year-old and 20-year-old truck passengers also had minor injuries The 38-year-old Ford pickup driver from Bradenton was also injured The accident snarled traffic on the interstate There have been 4,142 crashes in Sarasota County in 2024. Of those, there have been 37 deaths and 2,509 injuries, according to the Florida Crash Dashboard there have been 32 deaths and 2,765 injuries (WWSB) - Important updates from Sarasota County Water Restoration: Siesta Key and Casey Key areas now have water restored except Fisherman’s Haven and Sanderling Road The boil water notice for Casey Key and Siesta Key has been lifted Some properties that are served by a master meter have been isolated because of leaks on private property Please contact your Homeowner’s Association or Property Manager company for service-related questions POD Sites: UPDATED HOURS: PODs are operating daily from 8 a.m at the following locations as supplies last:-Venice Community Center The Point of Distribution site at San Pedro Catholic Church will conclude operations at 7 p.m Disaster Recovery Center: The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) has opened at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium The DRC site at the Sarasota Christian Church is no longer open.  This site has FEMA representatives available in person to assist with applications and answer questions. Applications can also be made online at disasterassistance.gov ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Public Drop-Off Sites for Vegetative Storm Debris: Sarasota County is establishing public drop-off sites for vegetative storm debris that will be available for free to all county residents including both unincorporated and municipal residents debris vendors will resume collection of both construction and vegetative debris in unincorporated Sarasota County The vendors will begin collection on the barrier islands and other areas in the Level A evacuation level all unincorporated areas of Sarasota County will have collection by these vendors recycling and yard waste collections for residents in unincorporated Sarasota County have resumed regular collection schedules for roadways that are accessible to collection vehicles Properly prepared yard waste (no plastic bags) will be collected as part of normal collection Remember to place recycling carts separately from other materials so that collection vehicles can access them then you’re scheduled to receive service Monday Residents may experience delays in collection services due to an increase in the amount of garbage and yard waste placed curbside over the upcoming weeks Please leave materials curbside if they are not collected on your regularly scheduled day The boil water notice for Casey Key has been lifted Siesta Key remains under a boil water notice The county urges Casey Key and Siesta Key residents not to do laundry or run dishwashers at this time inland areas are not under a boil water notice as they did not lose pressure during the storm Breeze OnDemand – operational 7am-7pm in 2 zones: North Port and Venice/Englewood; suspended in Siesta and Lido/Longboat includes 77 Siesta Key Islander and 76 Flyer (Siesta Key is closed to the public and SRQ is closed until Wednesday) - will detour northbound at Mecca to 41 because light at Old Bradenton Road is out Route 3 – Open – Hourly service from Downtown Transfer Station to Cattlemen Transfer Station only Route 17 – Open – we will stay on 41 instead of using Waldemere and Osprey behind SMH We will go to normal routing when a supervisor clears the street turning around at SRQ for passengers to connect to MCAT Beach and Barrier Islands: Sarasota County is still evaluating our local beaches for direct damage and impact from Hurricane Milton Preliminary assessment of the beaches for possible accretion or erosion for public beaches on buildings and other amenities at beach parks were substantially impacted by Hurricane Helene Less traffic on the islands allows crews to work in the area efficiently FDEM Fuel Sites: Please see the attached photos of the Florida Division of Emergency Management-operated fuel site operating today, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Suncoast Technical College, 4445 Career Lane, North Port fuel will only be provided for VEHICLES and not portable gas tanks Find a list of open fuel sites: FloridaDisaster.org/Updates (WWSB) - A major crash involving multiple vehicles currently has 2 northbound left lanes blocked on I-75 The crash is just before the off-ramp to Bee Ridge Road One vehicle is completely overturned on the concrete barrier Southbound is backed up over 6 miles due to on-lookers (WWSB) - Fire and rescue crews are working to deal with stranded drivers and multiple roads are closed Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — Residents living in the Laurel Meadows neighborhood in Sarasota County say all 86 homes in the community have been flooded and they’re frustrated that the water kept rising days after Tropical Storm Debby passed by the area “We had nearly 75 hours since the stop of the rain … it only got higher and higher,” said resident Jeff Schermerhorn “We’re not in a river or a riverway or an overflow Schermerhorn owns a Humvee and has been one of the few residents who can navigate the deeply flooded roads in the neighborhood Many of the parked cars were submerged in floodwater and will also be a total loss On Thursday, Schermerhorn noticed there was one home that was just beginning to dry out “He’s a little bit higher,” said Schermerhorn Some homes had several feet of water inside. Schermerhorn said there was about a foot of water inside his family’s home He said they put their life savings into remodeling it and the entire family has been devastated “No father wants to see their daughter or son or child literally just break down but that was probably one of the hardest days of my life Being a father was seeing my kids’ reaction to their life being destroyed.” Tropical Storm Debby dumped 18 inches of rain on the community according to Spectrum News Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay Many residents firmly believe the unprecedented flooding they experienced was not just from Debby and anybody who has been driving through here now is really fully understanding this is somebody’s mess up,” said Schermerhorn Resident Mike Vance said he has lived in the Laurel Meadows community for 20 years and has seen hurricanes dump a lot of rain with no problems “We had Ian come right through," he said "It rained right along the outside of Lorraine Road All the big bands dropped 14 inches of rain Schermerhorn said residents have been left wondering if the extreme flooding is due to the area being overdeveloped and drainage not being properly maintained He said some residents have video of water flowing over a road from the Bee Ridge Water Restoration Facility which has a large reservoir of treated wastewater and is located next to the community “It was a constant river of water flowing directly into our neighborhood.” The facility’s retention pond did not overflow during the storm according to Sarasota County spokesperson Sam Parker “It has an additional 2-3 feet of capacity that was not reached throughout the storm,” she said “This retention pond contains fully treated wastewater that is reused for irrigation.”  Parker said public utilities can confirm no wastewater is present in the flooded out area “Regarding the two spills that occurred at the Bee Ridge facility due to increased flows caused by Hurricane Debby,” she stated “All wastewater from these spills was contained onsite and has not contributed to the flooding in the Laurel Meadows community.” Public works was inspecting the area on Thursday began actively clearing vegetation and has placed a pump in the area to improve and quicken the drainage which is the main artery into the community Schermerhorn said he has noticed the floodwater has begun to recede very slowly “It doesn’t look as bad as it did just even last night,” he said “There are a lot of questions that need a lot of answers.” Every year, Sarasota's culinary scene grows with new and exciting offerings—but over the past 365 days it's soared to new heights with fancy food Check out our list of the best new restaurants in the region 501 Quay Commons, Sarasota, (941) 404-1024, ocean-prime.com Although the original Sarasota Quay was demolished in 2006 The Quay Sarasota has added a premier restaurant partner in Ocean Prime Gone are the days of driving to the Tampa location for an indulgent date night because now we've got one in our own backyard the chain's 19th location (pictured at top) You can expect everything you love about Ocean Prime at this new spot seafood and that incredible warm butter cake 4862 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 0578, casamasa-srq.com When owner Rob DiSilvio bought the old Island House Taqueria he set to revamp it by learning how to nixtamalize so he could make his corn tortillas truly from scratch (Nixtamalization is a process that involves soaking ground corn in an alkaline solution.) DiSilvio is a madman and we love that for him At Casa Masa's new location in The Landings you’ll find the standards you love at the Bee Ridge location as well as dishes that further showcase DiSilvio’s strange but brilliant take on Mexican cuisine grab a “Corn Hub” cocktail made with a crazy-drinkable Tito’s vodka base lemon and soda water and a surprise twist: popcorn syrup It's burst of popcorn at the front of the palate might sound weird but is unexpectedly awesome Image: Simo Ahmadi 1812 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota, (941) 444-0155, lucky9srq.com 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota (941) 388-4415, cafeonstarmands.com One of Sarasota's oldest restaurants, Café L'Europe, has been reimagined in the wake of this year's devastating storm season After some serious recovery efforts due to damage from the hurricanes Oysters Rock Hospitality group introduced Café on St Armands in the same beloved location with a full menu overhaul Café L'Europe's 1970s continental-style menu was in desperate need of a revamp and the new offerings lean heavily into Mediterranean flavors we are oh-so-glad to see that Café L'Europe's French onion soup is still around Image: Kathryn Brass-Piper 1920 Hillview St., Sarasota, (941) 444-7692, adelinesrq.com It's not technically new, but it's also not technically old. Adeline is a reincarnation of the former Meliora—but with the same great food and chef (Drew Adams) we all love Adams has teamed up with Edward Zaki (see above) to zhuzh up what was already one of Sarasota's best restaurants If you're like us and go gaga for the raw scallops with herbed cream it's still on the menu—but now you can stop by for lunch because the Adeline team is serving some killer sandwiches now under the moniker Little A 1301 6th Ave. W., Bradenton, (941) 357-7772, tavernatoscana.com This new addition in Bradenton—courtesy of former Top Chef contestant Fabio Viviani— offers a rustic Tuscan Italian dining experience An enormous double-cut pork chop is brined for days then grilled and plated with a bright romesco (red pepper pesto) and toasted chickpeas It's big and meaty but also simple and glorious 5049 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key, Sarasota, (941) 298-9660, instagram.com/theduo_donerdeli If you've had the luxury of traveling abroad—or even just to some of the U.S.'s major cities—then you've probably indulged in some late-night döner kebab Chunks of beef or chicken—or the two mixed together—are griddled on a flat top and rolled into pita or lavash (a very thin flatbread) with cabbage tomatoes and cucumbers with a creamy garlic spread hummus and so much more for a filling meal day or night We are thrilled to finally have döner in Sarasota 1534 State St., Sarasota, (941) 330-8890, asprigofthymesrq.com A Sprig of Thyme recently moved from its Hillview Street location to State Street in downtown Sarasota Owners Luigi Cirelli and Jessica Rueda—who are also married—met while working in the cruise industry where they honed their hospitality skills Those skills are demonstrated from first entry to last bite refreshing watermelon and a mint vinaigrette that will leave you begging for more 5239 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, (941) 289-1299, enrichbistro.com Local legend Rich Knowles was forced to close his original EnRich Bistro during the pandemic and Bradentonians lamented the loss to anyone who would listen and he's revived the old Enrich Bistro concept with fresh new dishes is aggressively brined (to the point of almost being over-seasoned) then pulled back from the brink by Oaxacan mole and black bean purée 1580 Lakefront Dr., Sarasota, (941) 866-8962, osteria500.com Located in Lakewood Ranch's Waterside Place Osteria 500 (pictured above) takes it's name from the Fiat 500 a car that the restaurant's owners call "one of the main symbols of Italy." You can peep that car behind the kitchen line where it's been fused to a wood-burning pizza oven that's pumping out delicious Neapolitan-style 'za Many other flourishes pay reverence to Italy a lemon-shaded mezzanine and a converted blue bus that doubles as a cocktail bar 2053 Reynolds St., Sarasota, (941) 487-8677, capopazzo.com Sarasotans are abuzz about this little pizzeria in South Sarasota a spot that could make any New York transplant happy about their decision to move here thanks to a pizza crust that's charred on the edges and perfectly thin throughout An arancini starter is made with tomatoey bolognese loads of cheese and deep-fried for an epic flavor bomb From the towering LED cherry blossom tree in the foyer to the nine huge buffet stations overflowing with Asian American-style food it's tough to figure out where to focus first We were impressed by the buffet's sushi quality and are obsessed with the build-your-own hibachi station and bourbon chicken were better than standard Chinese takeout restaurants' Image: Chad Spener 6644 Gateway Ave., Sarasota, (941) 921-3133, kolucan.com Chefs Gino Calleja and Jose Rojas have combined their shared Mexican heritage and culinary prowesses to bring upscale Mexican cuisine to Sarasota makes for a lively-looking plate that tastes incredible with crispy skin and expertly seasoned meat so ask your server for guidance if you're sensitive to heat Hot pot offerings at Hong BBQ & Hot Pot Image: Lauren Jackson 445 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, (941) 213-9972, honghotpot.com This lively hot pot spot is nestled in the quiet corner of a shopping plaza on Cortez Road you would never know the goodies it holds inside the servers are friendly and everyone is having a great time select from eight different broths and a seemingly infinite array of proteins Korean-style barbecue is also available and only an additional $5 charge to the original $30.99 all-you-can-eat hot pot price — Eight million gallons — that might sound like a lot but Sarasota County Public Utilities Director Brooke Bailey said that's the amount of wastewater the Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility treats on a normal day But she said what the treatment facility saw in the aftermath of Debby was anything but normal we saw 25 million gallons a day," Bailey said We treated 25 million gallons a day." Bailey said nine of the county's nearly 800 lift stations malfunctioned as a result of Debby She told reporters Friday afternoon that contributed to nearly a million gallons of spillage of raw sewage and treated reclaimed water "The majority of the spills were mostly contained they were not contained because it was a flooding event." She said in cases where spills weren't contained crews are collecting samples in the area and are following spill protocol.  who lives in the nearby Laurel Meadows neighborhood told Spectrum News crews earlier this week that residents have video of water flowing from the plant's reservoir across the road "It was a constant river flowing directly into our neighborhood right here," he said A county spokesperson said public utilities staff walked that area and found the water in Laurel Meadows was stormwater especially if it would've been a big event if you would look at where it would go out (WWSB) - Locations listed will be open for regular voting on November 5th Here are all of your Suncoast voting locations: 3809 CHAPEL DRSARASOTA, FL 34234 2801 NEWTOWN BLVDSARASOTA, FL 34234 6050 LONGWOOD RUN BLVDSARASOTA, FL 34243 4080 LAKEWOOD RANCH BLVD NLAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34240 1620 MYAKKA RDSARASOTA, FL 34240 5101 BEL AIR AVESARASOTA, FL 34234 1845 34TH STSARASOTA, FL 34234 5900 N LOCKWOOD RIDGE RDSARASOTA, FL 34243 1201 N BENEVA RDSARASOTA, FL 34232 2004 LONGMEADOWSARASOTA, FL 34235 124 S TUTTLE AVESARASOTA, FL 34237 3333 12TH STSARASOTA, FL 34237 4880 FRUITVILLE RDSARASOTA, FL 34232 8010 FRUITVILLE RDSARASOTA, FL 34240 3330 FRUITVILLE RDSARASOTA, FL 34237 8200 BEE RIDGE RDSARASOTA, FL 34241 7601 STATE RD 72SARASOTA, FL 34241 501 BAY ISLES RDLONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228 (TEMPORARY MOVE) BAYFRONT COMMUNITY CENTER 803 N TAMIAMI TRLSARASOTA, FL 34236 1300 BLVD OF THE ARTSSARASOTA, FL 34236 2050 OAK STSARASOTA, FL 34237 803 N TAMIAMI TRLSARASOTA, FL 34236 2256 BAHIA VISTA STSARASOTA, FL 34239 4041 BAHIA VISTA STSARASOTA, FL 34232 6901 BEE RIDGE RDSARASOTA, FL 34241 2035 MAGNOLIA STSARASOTA, FL 34239 3224 BEE RIDGE RDSARASOTA, FL 34239 4835 BENEVA RDSARASOTA, FL 34233 7091 PROCTOR RDSARASOTA, FL 34241 1460 GLENEAGLES DRVENICE, FL 34292 1535 E VENICE AVEVENICE, FL 34292 1115 CENTER RDVENICE, FL 34292 6207 W PRICE BLVDNORTH PORT, FL 34291 1602 KRAMER WAYNORTH PORT, FL 34286 2365 ESTUARY DRVENICE, FL 34292 13800 TAMIAMI TRLNORTH PORT, FL 34287 2200 PLANTATION BLVDNORTH PORT, FL 34289 2400 TAYLOR RANCH TRLVENICE, FL 34293 10500 TAMIAMI TRL SNORTH PORT, FL 34287 12125 WARM MINERAL SPRINGS DRNORTH PORT, FL 34287 3050 PAN AMERICAN BLVDNORTH PORT, FL 34287 4200 S BISCAYNE DRNORTH PORT, FL 34287 4675 CAREER LNNORTH PORT, FL 34289 2001 LYNX RUNNORTH PORT, FL 34288 219 MARLETTE DRNORTH PORT, FL 34287 428 VIVARNORTH PORT, FL 34287 5401 HOLIDAY PARK BLVDNORTH PORT, FL 34287 4615 GLEASON AVESARASOTA, FL 34242 2300 HALEY LNSARASOTA, FL 34231 4826 MCINTOSH RDSARASOTA, FL 34233 6210 CRESTWOOD AVESARASOTA, FL 34231 6908 BENEVA RDSARASOTA, FL 34238 8490 MCINTOSH RDSARASOTA, FL 34238 6700 CLARK RDSARASOTA, FL 34241 7112 CURTISS AVESARASOTA, FL 34231 (TEMPORARY MOVE) OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH 2705 N TAMIAMI TRLNOKOMIS, FL 34275 8885 S TAMIAMI TRLSARASOTA, FL 34238 OSPREY PUBLIC LIBRARY AT HISTORIC SPANISH POINT 337 N TAMIAMI TRLOSPREY, FL 34229 290 B AVENUE OF KINGSNOKOMIS, FL 34275 509 COLLINS RDNOKOMIS, FL 34275 502 VENETO BLVDNORTH VENICE, FL 34275 234 NIPPINO TRL ENOKOMIS, FL 34275 129 S TAMIAMI TRLOSPREY, FL 34229 208 PALM AVENOKOMIS, FL 34275 1060 LAUREL RD ENOKOMIS, FL 34275 326 NOKOMIS AVE SVENICE, FL 34285 606 BIRD BAY DR SVENICE, FL 34285 425 US 41 BYPASS NVENICE, FL 34285 800 TAMIAMI TRL SVENICE, FL 34285 700 WATERWAYVENICE, FL 34285 101 VIA VENETOVENICE, FL 34285 695 CENTER RDVENICE, FL 34285 2550 ENGLEWOOD RDENGLEWOOD, FL 34223 2395 SHAMROCK DRVENICE, FL 34293 406 SHAMROCK BLVDVENICE, FL 34293 3167 ENGLEWOOD RDVENICE, FL 34293 3951 WOODMERE PARK BLVDVENICE, FL 34293 4365 STATE ROAD 776VENICE, FL 34293 700 E DEARBORN STENGLEWOOD, FL 34223 1300 S RIVER RDENGLEWOOD, FL 34223 27075 Fairway DrPunta Gorda, FL 33982 Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center 75 Taylor StPunta Gorda, FL 33950 1120 Centennial BlvdPort Charlotte, FL 33953 3436 Indiana RdRotonda West, FL 33947 6868 San Casa DrEnglewood, FL 34224 4070 Beaver Lane NWPort Charlotte, FL 33952 23000 Midway BlvdPort Charlotte, FL 33952 12650 Wilmington BlvdPort Charlotte, FL 33981 26900 Harborview RdPort Charlotte, FL 33983 6400 Taylor RdPunta Gorda, FL 33950 750 Essex AvePort Charlotte, FL 33948 370 Atwater StPort Charlotte, FL 33954 2001 Shreve StPunta Gorda, FL 33950 43281 Cypress Pkwy (Field House)Babcock Ranch, FL 33982 1780 W Marion AvePunta Gorda, FL 33950 11200 First AvePunta Gorda, FL 33955 3460 N Access RdEnglewood, FL 34224 24411 Rampart BlvdPort Charlotte, FL 33980 245 Cougar WayRotonda West, FL 33947 670 Cooper StPunta Gorda, FL 33950 1201 Aqui Esta DrPunta Gorda, FL 33950 8600 29th Ave EPalmetto, FL 34221 5601 16th Ave EPalmetto, FL 34221 9505 Moccasin Wallow RdParrish, FL 34219 8565 Crowns CtPalmetto, FL 34221 9608 US 301 NParrish, FL 34219 6750 US 301 NEllenton, FL 34222 1012 57th St EBradenton, FL 34208 9422 Old Tampa RdParrish, FL 34219 Summary of Precinct 115 5525 Fort Hamer RdParrish, FL 34219 12180 US 301 NParrish, FL 34219 1200 Glory Way BlvdBradenton, FL 34212 35800 State Road 62Duette, FL 34219 26604 State Road 64 EMyakka City, FL 34251 10525 Lebanon St Myakka City, FL 34251 637 43rd Street Blvd W Palmetto, FL 34221 1701 10th St WPalmetto, FL 34221 501 17th St WPalmetto, FL 34221 1 Haben BlvdPalmetto, FL 34221 2410 4th Ave EPalmetto, FL 34221 3607 US 301Ellenton, FL 34222 1816 9th St WBradenton, FL 34205 3200 15th St EBradenton, FL 34208 1812 27th St EBradenton, FL 34208 Summary of Precinct 217 1100 15th St EBradenton, FL 34208 2112 53rd Ave EBradenton, FL 34203 570 57th Ave WBradenton, FL 34207 512 Pine AveAnna Maria, FL 34216 1505 Center RdTerra Ceia, FL 34221 248 Harbor Dr SHolmes Beach, FL 34217 201 2nd St NBradenton Beach, FL 34217 6200 Gulf of Mexico DrLongboat Key, FL 34228 6311 3rd Ave WBradenton, FL 34209 4701 Independence DrBradenton, FL 34210 2000 75th St WBradenton, FL 34209 3120 1st Ave WBradenton, FL 34205 1301 Barcarrota AveBradenton, FL 34205 2511 75th St WBradenton, FL 34209 5502 33rd Avenue Dr WBradenton, FL 34209 3700 26th St WBradenton, FL 34205 1805 30th Ave WBradenton, FL 34205 1305 43rd St WBradenton, FL 34209 5051 26th St WBradenton, FL 34207 6081 26th St WBradenton, FL 34207 1903 69th Ave WBradenton, FL 34207 7226 Tamiami Trl NSarasota, FL 34243 5115 Cortez Rd WBradenton, FL 34210 415 67th Ave WBradenton, FL 34207 7461 Prospect RdSarasota, FL 34243 6919 26th St WBradenton, FL 34207 5840 26th St WBradenton, FL 34207 5601 Country Club WaySarasota, FL 34243 7671 Lockwood Ridge RdSarasota, FL 34243 7671 The Park BlvdUniversity Park, FL 34201 8000 Stone Harbour LoopBradenton, FL 34212 4915 53rd Ave EBradenton, FL 34203 515 Upper Manatee River RdBradenton, FL 34212 5215 Lorraine RdBradenton, FL 34211 2113 57th St EBradenton, FL 34208 7340 Tara Preserve LnBradenton, FL 34203 7704 CR 675Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211 4602 Lena rdLakewood Ranch, FL 34202 8175 Lakewood Ranch BlvdLakewood Ranch, FL 34202 15800 State Road 64 EBradenton, FL 34212 16410 Rangeland PkwyLakewood Ranch, FL 34211 11315 Palmbrush TrlLakewood Ranch, FL 34202 (WWSB) - Seven people were left with minor injuries after a multi-vehicle crash on I-75 on Tuesday afternoon a Nissan was traveling north on I-75 in the left lane approaching Bee Ridge Road a Mack Truck was traveling in the center lane and a Ford was traveling in the right lane The Nissan failed to make sure the center lane was clear before changing lanes and collided with the Mack Truck which caused the Mack Truck to collide with the Ford The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash COMMUNITY PARTNER Stay connected to All Things Good in the Burg by subscribing today Since I Love the Burg launched in May of 2009 The Sarasota County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday morning to stop work on a proposed agreement with Hi Hat Ranch directing staff to cease further drafts of any agreement The project will not move forward until a public workshop is scheduled within six months The decision follows a Florida Trident investigative report published just a day earlier which raised concerns about the deal’s financial impact—requiring taxpayers to cover half of a $28 million road-widening project for a segment of Bee Ridge Road between Bent Tree Boulevard to Lorraine Road The report also revealed that county staff initially opposed multiple proposals from the Hi Hat developer during more than a year of negotiations The developer did agree to fully fund extending Bee Ridge Road to the entrance of the project and improving the roundabout at Lorraine Road Citing new information and concerns about the agreement Commission Chair Joe Neunder passed the gavel to Commissioner Ron Cutsinger before making the motion at the start of Tuesday’s regular commission meeting Neunder noted that Hi Hat Ranch is the largest development project in Sarasota County “We want to get it right for the citizens Commissioners emphasized the need for a workshop to facilitate open dialogue and address questions regarding the massive development—the largest in Sarasota County’s history—which is expected to add more than 13,000 new homes in phases east of I-75 between Clark and Fruitville Roads Hi Hat Ranch has not yet been approved for a rezone of the master development Sarasota County would not advance the project further until there was a formal agreement on the widening of Bee Ridge Road As reported earlier by the Florida Trident county staff met privately with the Hi Hat development team on December 11th where former County Commissioner Al Maio drafted a “land deal” on a whiteboard The deal did not include any valuation for 24 acres of county-owned property needed for the construction of the road to the entrance of the Hi Hat Ranch The proposed deal deviated from six key items that commissioners had previously insisted upon during an October 2024 public meeting commissioners had firmly stated they would not negotiate with themselves on those six conditions the commission voted 4-1 to advance Maio’s drafted deal Commissioner Tom Knight was the sole dissenting vote citing concerns over the project’s impact on traffic Residents have consistently voiced frustrations to commissioners about worsening congestion on major roads Commissioner Knight emphasized the millions of taxpayer dollars the project would entail and said it was important that citizens see the county working in their best interest This story will be updated with further details Image: Sarasota Police Department Although Sarasota-Manatee avoided a direct hit from Hurricane Debby snarling residents' plans and closing businesses and government operations The Sarasota Police Department reported more than 500 water rescues yesterday and Manatee County said that more than 200 people were rescued from high-water situations Although the waters are beginning to recede the following roads are closed throughout the region We'll keep this list updated throughout the day A comprehensive flood map for Sarasota County can be found here Bahia Vista Street from Kruppa Avenue to S South Beneva Road from Bahia Vista to the Legacy Trail Manatee County's extensive road closures can be accessed via map here Hidden River Trail at Lakewood Ranch Boulevard Sarasota County Publics Works director Spencer Anderson advises that the Phillippi Creek basin has crested and will continue to recede Drivers are instructed to exercise caution when accessing roadways near the basin 70 from Post Boulevard to Bourneside Boulevard Pennsylvania Avenue and Commerce Boulevard N Fruitville Road between Beneva Road and McIntosh Road — Tropical Storm Debby dumped heavy rains in Sarasota and Manatee Counties that caused flooding in many neighborhoods Sarasota County Fire Department says they responded to 495 total calls for service since 8 p.m The widescale flooding has prompted an evacuation center for those impacted by Tropical Storm Debby in Sarasota County to open at 5 p.m The center offered transportation for those needing assistance by calling 311 Opening the shelter comes as water rescues are ongoing across Sarasota and Manatee Counties after Debby dumped more than 16 inches of rain in the area The Sarasota Sheriff's Office said Debby dumped a record 9.52" of rain in the county on Sunday alone the Sarasota Sheriff's Office asked residents to "please stay off the roads." In the Pinecraft area of Sarasota entire neighborhoods along the Phillipi Creek were underwater as crews rescued more than 500 people Monday a total of 35 water rescues have been conducted in Manatee County resulting in 186 people being safely brought to higher ground Another shelter was opened at Virgil Mills Elementary to add to the two previously opened prior to the storm’s arrival Manatee County's 311 Call Center received over 1,400 calls in a 24-hour span an additional 782 emergency calls and 900 non-emergency calls came into the Emergency Call Center The Manatee County Sheriff's Office released photos of major flooding in the area on their Facebook page To search for closed roads in Manatee County, click here Here's a partial list of the roads closed in Sarasota County The City of Bradenton said these roads were closed: The City of Venice said the following roads are closed due to flooding: “I think, like more people feel compelled to say something now if they hadn’t been before.”Animal lovers have ramped up their advocacy after being angered by an ABC Action News report about a Polk County shelter falling short of expectations More Sarasota and Manatee County News from ABC Action News Report a typo it’s bustling and it’s overflowing with food I’m not talking about a weekend farmers market which opened in a shopping plaza on the corner of Bee Ridge Road and McIntosh Road in February I first heard about it at a luncheon for the Boys & Girls Clubs A pan-Asian buffet restaurant with a build-your-own hibachi station where you can eat as much as you want for just $18.99 I grew up with the buffets of yore—places like Ponderosa Steakhouse and Golden Corral where the main attraction was dry sliced steak wilting under a heat lamp people understandably grew wary of sharing tongs with strangers and buffets were hit hard leading to the closure of longtime favorites like Sweet Tomatoes and rising food prices have customers hunting for deals and embracing a maximalist YOLO mindset that syncs perfectly with the buffet lifestyle Sweet Tomatoes recently reopened its first location since its 2020 shutdown and sales at Golden Corral were up 14 percent last year compared to 2020 It’s easy to blow past Buffet City without noticing it you’re greeted by a giant cherry blossom tree made from LED lights that twinkle fuschia pink Buffet City servers skip the long spiel about the offerings and instead send you on your way to explore the space The interior is filled with eight large hot food kiosks and punctuated by a sushi and cold food bar and the hibachi stand where you can choose from dozens of ingredients to be stir-fried with noodles or rice three chefs perpetually roll fresh sushi to replenish the ever-diminishing offerings but after seeing how quickly the products were turned over but buffet oysters are too adventurous for even my iron stomach.) The hot food stands largely feature Chinese American cuisine with established favorites like bourbon chicken pepper steak and General Tso’s chicken alongside huge trays of lo mein and fried rice steamed clams and an impressive seafood boil made with crawfish If you’re dining with someone who prefers a simpler approach to flavors like a kiddo or just an unadventurous eater opt for tiny portions of each dish that spikes your interest then go back for larger portions of the dishes you love I went back twice for a few select sushi rolls and the coconut shrimp (Let’s be real: I’d pay $18.99 just for endless crab Rangoon.) No meal at Buffet City is complete without a visit to the dessert station A deep freeze is filled with Good Humor-style ice cream snacks and situated next to a row of bite-sized cakes a small square plastic container filled with red goop It turned out to be strawberry cheesecake-esque and it was so good that I had to have seconds Sometimes I need to take a break from swanky new openings inflated bills and “mixologists” and just sit down and eat food that feels uncomplicated Buffet City is a delightful departure from the standard foodie experience and it reminds me why I fell in love with food in the first place—because it’s fun to make and eat And that’s exactly what Buffet City is: fun BUFFET CITY | 4458 Bee Ridge Road | (941) 342-6818  Fla (WFTX) — Officials in Sarasota County are optimistic about the progress crews have made restoring power and water to thousands of residents three days after Hurricane Milton hit officials said 85,000 residents are still without power Water access was restored to Casey Key Saturday afternoon but residents there are under a precautionary boil water advisory Officials said attention has now shifted to restoring water access in Siesta Key WATCH: Sarasota County Officials provide a Hurricane Milton update Saturday evening More information about resources available in Sarasota County can be found at scgov.net. — Local businesses have announced free services and meals for community members who were affected by Hurricane Milton and a place to re-energize both mentally and physically The services are for both members and non-members Here are all the locations across the Tampa Bay area offering services: Fantastic Sams is offering free shampoos to those without access to water simply call your local Fantastic Sams salon to schedule a visit Mercy Chefs is providing free lunch and dinner at Bayside Community Church located at 15900 FL-64 in Bradenton and grab a coffee at Floyd's Barbershop in Clearwater and St Pete location is also offering half off haircuts while you can get a $10 haircut in Safety Harbor