Acquisition would create two acres of marine access near Siesta Key

By ChrisAnn Allen

A key waterfront property may soon be a public park complex.

Sarasota County is moving toward the purchase of a well-known waterfront property that serves as a colorful gateway to Siesta Key, approving an $18.1 million acquisition that could lead to a new public park and expanded access to the bay.

During a Feb. 10 regular meeting, county commissioners voted 4-1 to approve a contract to buy the 2.04-acre site at 1500 Stickney Point Road, on the mainland near the south bridge to Siesta Key. Officials said the price was supported by two appraisals and that the purchase would position the county to create a nature tourism and waterfront recreation hub.

County plans call for evaluating existing buildings and potentially demolishing some structures to make room for public waterfront space. Staff estimates that acquisition and startup items, operating impacts, debt service and internal service charges could bring total authorization to about $21.4 million.

The seller is Big Main Street LLC, which bought the property for $8.9 million in January 2024, according to property records. Christopher Brown, a Sarasota property investor and restaurant owner is listed as the company’s registered agent.

Interim Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Director Shawn Yeager said the property includes 21 individual parcels consisting of colorful commercial units, along with extensive waterfront features. Those amenities include about 700 feet of bay frontage, 390 feet of canal and boat basin access, more than 5,000 square feet of docks, boardwalks and decks, and 72 parking spaces, he said.

Yeager said the dock and condominium structures suffered significant damage during hurricanes Helene and Milton. In a Feb. 10 memo to county officials, he said buildings will be evaluated for operational functionality and that some or all could be demolished if they have no appropriate function and use.

Under concepts discussed by staff, the site could support recreation such as fishing, boating, kayaking and wildlife observation. Yeager said it also could serve as a much-needed spot for a charter boat and tour operator program recently approved by the county. Potential improvements could include a fishing pier, a kayak launch, additional docks, picnic shelters, concessions, restrooms and parking, according to Yeager.

Next steps include a due diligence period through May 21, with closing documents due by July 10. Yeager said the parks department will draft a concept plan and return to commissioners for approval, with the possibility that some structures could be retained if they fit the final design. He said one building near the end of the canal and a lighthouse structure associated with Siesta Key Watersports could be candidates for preservation.

The project would be financed through a specialized loan to be repaid with revenue from Sarasota County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program and Neighborhood Parkland Program ad valorem tax. The Environmentally Sensitive Land Fund is scheduled to expire in 2029 unless voters approve an extension by referendum in November.

Yeager said ongoing operating and maintenance costs would be funded through the Environmentally Sensitive Land Fund and the county general fund. Additionally, the plan anticipates adding one facilities maintenance staff member and a fleet vehicle.

Representatives of Siesta Key Watersports, which operates within the property at 1536 Stickney Point Road, asked the county to allow the business to continue at its current location as planning proceeds. The company offers parasailing, jet-ski rentals, boat rentals and private charters, and owners said the operation draws over 40,000 guests each year and helps support neighboring businesses, as well as safe watersport practices with coastguard inspections, and an awareness of the local environment and marine species.

The owners said the business generates more than $100,000 annually in sales taxes and employs about 20 people, and displacement could lead to closure after two decades on the site, as no other location could support a 49-passenger tour vessel, a 24-passenger shuttle boat, three parasail boats and jet skis. They urged county officials to work with them as the property transitions to public ownership.

Brown said the contract stipulates all tenants must vacate within 90 days. However, he referred to the business as “wonderful tenants,” and suggested the commission consider them as part of the “long-term planning for that facility as well.”

District 2 Commissioner Mark Smith asked Yeager if the business could be considered for the updated property. Yeager said there would be a bid requirement, but it is a definite possibility.

Commission response

Commissioner Tom Knight cast the lone vote against the acquisition, citing concerns about unknown future costs such as demolition and ongoing operations. He said he supported public ownership and access but wanted clearer information on the business plan, the final concept and the full cost of implementation. Knight also warned that moving forward could limit the county’s ability to buy other parkland properties in the next few years.

“If it’s a business plan that most businesses would have, they would pretty much have an idea of what all these costs are going to be,” Knight said. “I see a lot of words like ‘could, shall, may,’ those are ambiguous, and we took $23 million out of fund balance last year, so it concerns me about how ambiguous it is.”

Commission Chair Ron Cutsinger emphasized the site’s location at a main entrance to the barrier island and said county ownership could preserve waterfront access that might otherwise be lost to private redevelopment.

“You only get one chance to buy a property like this,” Cutsinger said. “They don’t come along very often, and I would feel very, very disappointed if we missed the opportunity.” He added the potential of the property aligns with the strategic priorities laid out by the county to increase access to waterfront recreation.

“I’ll be increasingly interested as time goes on to see what type of conceptual drawings you have and what comes up with the ability for either open space, charter boat captains, public recreation area,” Commissioner Joe Neunder said. “I think this project is young and I’d love to see, as it progresses, what it could be, potentially.”

“I think this is a great acquisition for the county and a real opportunity,” Smith said. He added people on Siesta Key have concerns with accessing the property from Siesta Key, so a turn lane might be considered in future plans.

“I just think what’s so critical about this entire project is, although it’s about an acre-and-a-half, you are actually allowing us to have the opportunity to access thousands and thousands of acres when it gets to our water,” Commissioner Teresa Mast said. “So, for me, it’s not just the parcel where you might gather to begin that adventure, but it’s what it’s allowing the next generations to have access to.”