Mega-Hotel News

Don't Let the County Open the Floodgates for Mega-Hotels!

First Step Toward Unlimited Hotel Density on Siesta Key – March 3 BCC meeting

Next Tuesday, March 3, the Sarasota County Commission may take the first step toward potentially removing density limits for hotels in the South Village area of Siesta Key.

The Board will review proposed changes to the Unified Development Code (UDC) — the county's zoning regulations. There are twelve proposed amendments in total (nine privately initiated and three publicly initiated). Among them is a proposal that would eliminate the current maximum hotel density of 26 units per acre in the Commercial General (CG) and add new hotels uses in the Commercial Intensive (CI) South Village area along Stickney Point Road.

This proposed UDC change is designed to align with a Comprehensive Plan amendment the hotel developer submitted more than a year ago. As you know, our strongest protections are in our Comprehensive Plan, which does not allow increases in density or intensity on our already overburdened barrier island.

Let’s be clear:

This meeting is not a public hearing. It is the first gate. The Commission will simply decide whether to allow the developer to move forward with the proposed change, Staff has issued “no recommendation” and is seeking “guidance” from the Board.

If the County opens the door to unlimited hotel density in South Village, it will not stop there. Other commercial property owners will demand the same treatment — and more mega-hotels will follow.

Our island cannot handle more intensity:

• Flooding already occurs during routine downpours.

• Traffic congestion delays emergency response times.

• Hurricane evacuation times continue to worsen.

• Infrastructure is aging and strained.

Besides eliminating density limits, the proposal adds hotel uses to the Commercial Intensive (CI) districts along Stickney Point Road and near Turtle Beach Marina. Hotels (transient accommodations) are not currently allowed in CI under long-standing protective codes dating back to 1989. Adding hotels to CI is not just a density increase — it is an intensity increase, directly conflicting with our Comprehensive Plan protections.

This is our moment to speak up. Protect Siesta Key urges you to email the County Commission today and copy the County planner: Commissioners@scgov.net, Planner@scgov.net

You can send a simple message such as:

Subject: BCC March 3, 2026 – Agenda Item #25 – Proposed UDC Amendment (#3)

I support Protect Siesta Key’s position of NO increases in density or intensity on our barrier island. Allowing hotels with no maximum density — and expanding them into districts where they are currently prohibited — will increase evacuation times, delay emergency response, worsen flooding, and strain our infrastructure. I urge you not to move this proposed UDC amendment forward.



We must show the Commission that our community is united and paying attention.

Please send your email today.

Thank you for standing with Protect Siesta Key and for protecting our island.