Commissioner Aims to Gain Financially from Land Donated to Sarasota County for Conservation Efforts

In 1998, the Hardie family, pivotal in establishing the Englewood area, donated over 190 acres of conservation land to Sarasota County, forming the backbone of several parks along Lemon Bay. A particular deed, concerning a mangrove-filled shoreline on Bay Shore Drive, has sparked a campaign by County Commissioner Ron Cutsinger to vacate a public right-of-way, declare the land surplus, and permit its private sale to him and surrounding property owners.

Although Cutsinger has acknowledged a conflict and abstained from voting, he is pushing for the county to relinquish its rights to the environmentally sensitive area. Public documents indicate that he has engaged in real estate transactions in the vicinity following new directives to explore this proposal.

Cutsinger argues that the donated land was a “wild deed,” intended to obstruct views of Lemon Bay and prevent dock construction across the mangroves. However, James Hiller Hardie, a descendant of the family who donated the land, counters Cutsinger’s claims. “Absolutely not,” Hardie stated emphatically, asserting that their intentions were rooted in conservation, not spite.

A challenged deed

The Hardie family has owned property in Sarasota County since post-World War I. In April 1998, they donated several parcels of land, including the contested deed, which was professionally prepared and duly notarized.

When Cutsinger first proposed to scrutinize this deed, he was serving on the Planning Commission. The matter resurfaced in 2024, despite staff reports reinforcing the need to protect such lands as per the county’s Comprehensive Plan. Specific policies discourage privatization of waterfronts and loss of environmental buffers.

• Parks Policy 1.1.12: Prohibits rights-of-way vacating that grants shoreline access.
• Environmental Policy 1.3.9: Mandates full protection of mangroves.
• Environmental Policy 4.4.3: Advocates for Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve Management.
• Policy 4.6.2: Redirects boating activity away from sensitive habitats.

Cutsinger-guided process

During the 2024 meeting, Cutsinger’s proposal miscommunication led to errors in the reading and subsequent voting on motions. Shortly after, he sold two adjoining parcels valued at $1.75 million, acquiring land adjacent to his holdings while substantial mangrove habitat lay to the west.

Critics highlight that Cutsinger’s remarks about the family’s motivations for the donation are unfounded. Hardie emphasized that their intent clearly stemmed from a conservation ethos. The county attorney has confirmed the deed’s legality, undermining Cutsinger’s assertions that it was improperly executed.

Environmental Concerns

According to Dr. Abbey Tyrna, Executive Director of Suncoast Waterkeeper, mangrove systems are essential to Florida’s ecology, providing critical benefits like habitat for fisheries and serving as protection against tropical storms. The removal of any mangrove area is detrimental to local ecosystems.

Former county commissioner Jon Thaxton reiterated the vital economic and ecological roles of mangroves, citing their capacity to filter pollutants and support diverse wildlife.

Next steps

Pending county commissioners’ decisions could pivot the outcome of declaring the county land as surplus, allowing Cutsinger and neighbors to modify mangrove conditions for development purposes. If approved, this would facilitate greater residential expansion and potential alterations to the natural landscape.

About the Author: Michael Barfield focuses on open government laws as an investigative reporter for the Florida Trident.