Ineffective Local Planning Efforts Push County To Seek Greater Control

"Sarasota County's planning efforts were meant to prevent urban sprawl. Ironically, some of the measures the county implemented encouraged sprawl instead."

"In 2004, doctoral candidate Robert Pennock at Florida State University examined Sarasota County's record for growth planning in detail. Pennock, now a private planning consultant, found the county to have been well-intentioned but not very effective in preventing urban sprawl."

"Now the county seeks to wrest greater control over planning from its cities, through a referendum to amend its charter."

"Voters will have to decide on March 13 whether the county or its cities should have more say in how North Port and Venice will grow. Early voting for the charter referendum began Monday."