What is Sarasota County Zoning: OUE-2 and Why You Want It!

The property to be developed into nearly 400 high density homes, is currently zoned as "OUE-2" OPEN USE ESTATE, 1 Unit per 2 ACRE parcel (mini-ranch) type properties with the ability to have agriculture, and or other "open vista" environmentally friendly green activities. See below for actual county wording, concerning this zoning....

  4.5.5.

Open Use Estate District (OUE).

a.

The OUE District is intended to retain the open character of land. This district provides for and encourages resource conservation and activities with an agricultural orientation, and is intended to be comprised of a combination of residential and agricultural activity. Normally, necessary urban services can not be efficiently or economically provided to lands in this district in the foreseeable future. Permitted uses are limited to conservation, agriculture, very low density residential development, recreation, and with certain limitations, institutional and other uses not contrary to the character of the district. The open vista, low-density character of residential areas in this district should be protected from the encroachment of incompatible uses. The Comprehensive Plan's objective of protecting the integrity and quality of established residential neighborhoods should be implemented in residential areas within this district.

b.

This district is generally used to implement the Comprehensive Plan within those areas shown as Rural on the Future Land Use Map. Lands within the Urban Service Area Boundary that have existing OUE zoning are acknowledged, and are considered to be consistent with the Future Land Use Map. However, OUE-zoned lands within the Urban Service Area Boundary may be rezoned to a more intensive zoning district consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. 

There is precious little "ranch home properties" in Sarasota County, particularly in locations with a 10 minute access to public beaches! These types of properties are particularly favored by those who don't wish to be socially confined on small lots, and or who might have interests such as gardening, green living, horses, boating, RVing, etc. - and would like to keep such equipment, animals, or activities on their property. A "mini-ranch" is often the destination for those feeling oppressed by over zealous contentious POAs.  It's nice to have "diversity and choice" in all things in life, and that particularly pertains to housing lifestyles as well.


In August 2016 Sarasota County published (updated) a socially and politically motivated guide know as: FUTURE LAND USE (this is part of a larger document called the Comprehensive Plan. This document includes a map riddled with  hidden (often desired by their rich owners) "proposed changes" to current zoning, and seems often employed now by large property owners and developers who wish to "flip" low density existing zoning parcel blocks into moderate/high density housing projects (usually maximized for profit at the expense of lot size, and overall quality of living - for many future packed in residents.)

This seems the exact situation with the parcel in question...  A look on the current Sarasota County GIS mapping system - shows the parcel is clearly OUE-2 (as in the graphic above). Yet, the 2014 Future Land Use Guide (updated in 2016), has "color flipped" it from green to yellow. (Sebpog members directly abutting this property and were NEVER asked for any input concerning this change, never heard or were officially notified about any "guiding land use workshops" about the parcel... that were "supposedly" employed in creating this questionable "guiding zoning map" for Sarasota County. In truth, not a single Sebpog member, knew of even the existence of the Future Land Use Guide.
 

  

It appears, these days, for many existing parcels - this "guide", now seems employed as "first evidence", by rich land owners and housing developers - in their insatiable desire for profit and additional maximized housing density projects.

The developer Taylor-Morrison is requesting rezoning from OUE-2 to RSF-2 PUD.

 

The term "Moderate Density Residential" is in itself, misleading to many.  The definition of "moderate" is quite debatable within the wide zoning spectrum class that the county has seemed to include in this category.