A letter to the Englewood REVIEW editor
The controversial Buchan’s Bayside project returned to the Sarasota County Planning Commission on May 21, 2026, and received a 4-1 approval from the commission allowing them to move on to requesting approval from the Sarasota County Board of Commissioners.
Libertore’s mission is to rezone to Commercial General/Mixed Use for the Main Street Overlay District, and allow freestanding single-family and also multi-family buildings in the district. The goal was to bring all parcels on Dearborn St. District (as well as their newly added 3 lots) under the same development standards as the recently approved Buchans Phase I.
One key objection was that the proposed rezoning/amendment is not specific to only the Buchan’s Bayside project, it would apply to the entire Central District of Old Englewood, Dearborn St.
Last October, the Planning Commission unanimously told the County Commission to reject the proposed expansion. The primary complication was that commissioners worried bigger, taller buildings would erase the character of Old Englewood Village. The development management team came back removing only the height request, which satisfied the board enough for approval.
At the May 21, 2026 hearing, the developer brought four petitions: a rezoning to bring the new parcels into the Commercial General/Main Street Overlay District; a special exception to allow single-family villas and platted lots in that zone; another special exception for structures and boat slips in Marine Park, a request to expand by eight additional Condos (two per building) and a lowered height cap back to 35ft.
In short, the development management team, primarily Kimley-Horn’s Kelley Klepper on behalf of Buchan’s Bayside Inc. and Scott Libertore has been pursuing a comprehensive plan amendment to bring all parcels into a single, unified mixed-use designation. Phase I is approved, but Phase II has faced significant community and planning board resistance, particularly over adding docks, parking availability and neighborhood character. Their special exceptions and rezoning are not just for their property it is for the entire District. This will change the face of the Historic Old Englewood District forever.
Name withheld upon request
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