First hurdle cleared for 10,000-acre Hi Hat Ranch development plan in Sarasota County
SARASOTA COUNTY – A blueprint for one of the largest housing projects ever planned in the rustic, wide open area east of Interstate 75 has been OK’d by Sarasota County’s planning board.
The Planning Commission’s unanimous decision last week brought the owners of the 10,000-acre Hi Hat Ranch closer to its vision for replacing much of the rural landscape with a cluster of villages, retail shops and new schools 30 to 40 years from now, despite pleas from residents against moving forward.
Opponents raised concerns about potential traffic, environmental impacts and other aspects of the proposal. They also argued that there were not enough details or proposed solutions to proceed with the plan to bring more than 13,000 new homes on a tract of land that stretches from Fruitville to Clark roads.