In Osprey, a proposed Take 5 Oil Change is making waves once more, despite facing two rejections from Sarasota County. This has sparked strong opposition from local residents.
The developers, Cougar Investment Management LLC and 8Square LLC, are back at it after a recent meeting with a special magistrate. They are seeking to bring a revised proposal back to the County Commission for another vote. The developers had previously challenged the county’s rejection, arguing that it unfairly limited their use of the land, despite existing zoning regulations.
The site in question is a 1.4-acre plot located at the corner of Tamiami Trail and Habitat Boulevard. It’s just a quarter-mile from Oscar Scherer State Park. Residents from the nearby Willowbend community believe that building an oil change facility could threaten the park’s unique ecosystem.
At the recent hearing, about 50 residents expressed their frustration, feeling that county staff could do more to prevent the oil change plan from moving forward. Deputy County Attorney David Pearce reassured them that the County Commission ultimately holds the power to either approve or deny the project. He noted that the current zoning laws technically allow for the oil change business.
“This particular use is allowed in this zoning district,” Pearce explained. “We don’t make decisions as county attorneys.”
Residents have raised concerns that the oil change facility, which is a more intensive use of land, conflicts with the area’s development pattern, which mostly consists of offices and smaller businesses. There’s also a protective covenant in place designed to preserve the surrounding environment, which residents fear could be compromised.
Larry Kaplan, a Willowbend resident, warned that the Take 5 facility could harm the nearby park if standards are not enforced. “Is this an asset or a liability for the environment?” he asked during the meeting.
The situation around the covenant itself is also confusing. The original property owner released the restriction in 2021 but had sold the land by then. Residents argue that the covenant should still be valid, while the developers believe that it no longer applies since the original owner lifted it.
As part of their new proposal, the developers plan to include limits on signage and construct walls to help separate the oil change facility from Willowbend and protect Oscar Scherer Park. However, many residents are not convinced that these changes address their main concerns.
Jane Graham, an attorney representing Willowbend residents, expressed skepticism about the modifications, stating, “This is not going to resolve the issues for my clients.” The County Commission will now have to carefully consider both the legal aspects of this settlement and whether the oil change business can proceed at this location.
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