Sarasota County Vacates 50-Foot Drainage Easement Following Stormwater Review

Sarasota County Vacates 50-Foot Drainage Easement Following Stormwater ReviewThe Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a plat vacation for a residential drainage easement, with officials confirming the unusually wide corridor was not critical to local flood control.

The board approved plat vacation PV26-06 to vacate a 347-square-foot portion of a 50-foot drainage and utility easement at 2057 Country Meadow Lane.

Stormwater Director Ben Quartermain confirmed the 50-foot width is unusual but noted the specific area lacks a dedicated stormwater system.

The vacation allows for residential construction without impacting regional drainage or adjacent property access.

The Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a measure on June 2, 2026, to vacate a portion of a large drainage and utility easement, following confirmation from the county's stormwater division that the site lacks critical flood control infrastructure. The petition, PV26-06, requested the vacation of a 347-square-foot section of a 50-foot-wide drainage easement located at 2057 Country Meadow Lane. The move was requested by the property owners to allow for the construction of a residential swimming pool in their rear yard. During the public hearing, commissioners questioned the unusual 50-foot width of the drainage corridor and whether altering it could cause unintended consequences or exacerbate flooding. Sarasota County Stormwater Director Ben Quartermain addressed the board, confirming that the scale of the easement is atypical but does not house active infrastructure. "This area was dedicated for stormwater and utility. There's not a dedicated stormwater system in this area," Quartermain stated. "There are stormwater issues away from here, but not in the subdivision. So we didn't have any issue with this." Justin Sago of the county's Property Management Division noted that internal review departments, including stormwater and public utilities, raised no objections to the vacation. Although the county received two letters of objection from property owners in a neighboring subdivision citing concerns over boundaries and property values, staff determined the vacation would not adversely affect adjacent ownership rights or access. Following the staff presentation and stormwater review, the board voted unanimously to approve the resolution.