Project Grace

Spoke about Project Grace, which was discussed at the September 1 Board meeting.

Questioned the square footage discrepancy in renderings and whether a hotel rezoning is implied by the lease terms.

Argued the land was bought with impact fees and the lease rate undercuts fair market value, exposing the county to lawsuits.

Submitted a 14-page financial due diligence roadmap instead of delivering his planned speech.

Urged commissioners to negotiate a win-win with any future private partner, tying park completion to any deal.

Raised child safety concerns about a parking garage near school bus stops and asked for a park, BMX trails, and ballfields instead.

Criticized staff for ignoring the board's July 28 directive to evaluate alternative sites and submitted a site evaluation matrix.

Pointed to Sarasota's competing 100,000-square-foot indoor sports complex near UTC and questioned the ice rink's market viability.

Walked through the project's history and said the public never learned how Premier was selected as the site.

A Solera resident argued the facility would ruin Lakewood Ranch's aesthetic and tax base advantage over Sarasota County.

A Solera resident submitted a petition with over 1,600 signatures asking that Project Grace be relocated.

General manager of Ellenton Ice, she thanked the board for the motion to end the project.

Ellenton Ice representative announced a privately funded third sheet of ice and new amenities coming to the existing rink.

Sapphire Point resident said kids need safe places to ride and challenged staff's claim that the facility is not commercial.

Complimented the board's decision but accused staff of keeping commissioners in the dark on projects.

Wants transparency, community workshops, and environmental review before the 250,000-square-foot ice complex advances near her neighborhood; not against the project, just the site.

Said the IceMan development agreement's 180-day deliverables deadline passed August 17 and demanded release of operational plans, the economic impact study, and alternative-site research.

A retired surgical nurse from Lorraine Lakes urged the board to move Project Grace off the Rangeland/Uline site, citing school-bus safety, traffic, and stormwater risks.

Presented notice and rezoning documents arguing residents were never told an ice megaplex was planned, and that 270 homes sit within 500 feet of the site.