There are two proposals to change the laws currently protecting Siesta Key in the Comprehensive Plan:
1. A 2023 proposal by Benderson Development seeks to change the laws to allow mega-hotels on all commercial properties on Siesta Key.
2. A 2025 proposal by developer Gary Kompethecras aims to permit mega-hotels on commercial properties located south of Stickney Point Road.
Both proposals are currently being processed by County Staff, and no public hearings have been scheduled yet.
Stop
Mega-Hotels!
(Video)
The Board of Protect Siesta Key is grateful for the support of our local advocate, J. Phair, who created this video. The video highlights the potential consequences if the Sarasota County Commission approves changes to our long-standing protective laws in our Comprehensive Plan. We hope that by illustrating the potential negative impact of proposed out-of-scale hotels, the County will reject the proposal. The video is based on our personal observations and review of the proposed changes to our protective laws.
As of March 1, 2025, no public hearing has been announced before the County Commission.
Video Links:
Proposed Changes to Sarasota's
Comprehensive Plan to allow Mega-Hotels
Update May 2025!
Another developer has proposed to change the Comprehensive Plan's laws that has protected Siesta Key since 1989. The proposal includes allowing mega-hotels in commercial areas south of Stickney Point Road. Sign up for our newsletter for updates on this proposal (see sign-up form on bottom of page)
Benderson Proposal 2023
In November 2023, Manatee-based Benderson Development proposed several changes to Sarasota's Comprehensive Plan to either eliminate or change Siesta Key's decades-old protective laws. Some of these are the same laws that were successfully defended in court in 2023.
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Florida Department of Administrative Hearings Court Decision (DOAH), April 2023 (Link)
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Circuit Court Decision, August 2023 (Link)
The following is a partial list of Benderson's proposed changes to our Comprehensive Plan, our response, and County staff's initial comments. Note Benderson's proposed changes are either underlined words meaning newly added language or strike-through words which means to eliminate the language from our Comprehensive Plan.
Benderson Mega-hotel final application submitted to staff Feb. 28, 2024 (Link)
PSK letter to County Staff, November 2023 (Link)
Attorney Richard Grosso's letter to the County November 2023 (Link)
Sarasota County initial staff comments in 2023 (Link)
Comprehensive Plan amendment process steps (Link)
Where are we now in the process?
On February 28, County Staff received Benderson's final application for mega-hotels.
The final application to change the protective laws of our Comprehensive Plan
and to approve mega-hotels in Siesta Village, is now being reviewed by County staff.
No date is set for public hearings at this time.
See list of process steps (Link) for more information.
What you can do?
When announced, attend all County Commission meetings on this topic to show Siesta Key's opposition to the proposals. Wear White tops to show support!
Send emails to County Commissioners and staff:
Cut and paste into your email: jneunder@scgov.net, tknight@scgov.net, mhsmith@scgov.net, tmast@scgov.net, rcutsinger@scgov.net, planner@scgov.net
To send to one email only that may get to all commissioners: Commissioners@scgov.net