Good News Should Travel Fast

After a long period of "hurry up and wait", we now have good news to report. In a hearing today, the Special Magistrate found no sympathy for the wanton disregard for the Rule of Law that TCA has shown since the Special Exception was granted to them.

Today the Sarasota County Special Magistrate found Grace Community Church in violation of Sarasota Code Chap 124, Sec. 4, and ordered them to “either remove all modulars from the property or obtain all the necessary permits from Sarasota County, Florida that allows the modulars to exist at the property, to include the site development construction plan approval and building permits.” Corrective action must be completed by March 11, 2024. (45 days) TCA asked for 60 days and were denied the extra time. The order is attached.

The County issued the notice of violation back on September 11, 2023. However, until January 23, TCA failed to remove any of the illegally placed modulars. Three days before today’s hearing, TCA submitted permits to remove three of the 54 modulars. At the hearing today, the Special Magistrate asked about the rest of modulars. At first, Longenecker said that the delay was because of “unexpected roadblocks, and delays because of the opposition.” They claimed to be in the process of selling 24 of the modulars. Longenecker then stated that TCA had shown the Planning Commission that they planned to use the modulars but there had been opposition. However, the Special Magistrate saw through this argument and said that the approved site plan doesn’t have any modulars on it and they will need approval. If the modulars weren’t on the site plan, it was likely because there was opposition to it. Longenecker then squirmed by saying that they were just updating the old site  plan while the next plan was pending. The Special Magistrate saw through this and pointed out that the new plan superseded the old plan. The Special Magistrate asked TCA’s attorney point blank if her client concedes that there is a violation or if they have any argument against it. Their attorney tried to duck the question. The Special Magistrate asked her again and she conceded her client violated the code.

ORD 00108.pdf

Download PDF • 179KB

Although this is great news, the real test is yet to come. SEERD's appeal in the Circuit Court will be next, and we need to gird ourselves financially for this battle.

I urge you to show your support for our efforts by donating now. Against all tenets in fundraising, I'm revealing to all who read this - and be aware that our website is regularly visited by the TCA community - that at the moment, we do not have the funds to cover the costs of the appeal.

If you read our posts and have never donated, now is the time to do so. If you've donated before, even if you've donated more than once, be aware that without your help, we never would have come this far, and without your further support, we may not be able to take advantage of the judicial momentum that we gained today.