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The Contract has changed FOUR TIMES since it was posted yesterday!

It is impossible for any Homeowner, let alone a Board member who is being asked to approve the contract at 1:30pm tomorrow to have any idea what is being proposed. There are no revision marks to help you keep up, let alone any indication that they are different versions. This is NUTS.

The most current version was posted just 24 hours before the meeting.

The latest version (as of this moment) now makes it REALLY REALLY clear that the 3 golf courses ARE included in the Conservation Easement and Wetland Mitigation Credit sections.

This despite this verbatim transcript from Friday’s meeting where the MCA President and their lawyers tried to make it crystal clear that the golf courses weren’t included, only 110 acres of open space was:

Chris Perone: Lisa, I’m going to ask you again to define the acreage under this agreement with Benderson and the water coming the possibilities of water coming in. Can you just mention that again?

Lisa Reves (Becker & Poliakoff lawyer):  Yes. The areas that are being looked at for the mitigation credits thus the conservation easements is a grand total of 110 acres. It is not a guarantee that all 110 acres are going to be used and there is no proposal to bring in new water to these areas. We are not creating wetlands. We are improving the existing wetlands.

Chris Perone: And Lisa, do you think, does this incorporate the golf courses?

 Lisa Reves: No.

Chris Perone: Okay. Thank you.

What is actually in the contract:
The total of the open space parcels is 192.9 acres.
The total of the golf courses is 307 acres.
That’s 500 acres in total
(see Footnote 1 for the details and links)

500 acres (including all 3 golf courses) is not 110 acres of open space.

(We are not at a loss for words at this point, but we are a long way from “if you can’t say anything nice….”)

We don’t know how any Board member can approve whatever contract they may be asked to approve, and believe they are fulfilling their fiduciary duties to make informed decisions in the best interests of the community.

If you are an MCA Homeowner* and would like to discuss this and other MCA matters with your fellow Homeowners*, join the “For The Meadows” Facebook group. Please provide your address in your request to join the group so your ownership can be confirmed. (* or spouse of a Homeowner)

Footnote 1 (43,560 sq ft per acre. We’ve done the math for you)

Parcel 2: 0033020005 (77.2 acres)

Parcel 3: 0033010001 (24.3 acres)

Parcel 4: 0041090002 (30.8 acres)

Parcel 5: 0041090006 (9.5 acres)

Parcel 6: 0039020021 (33.3 acres)

Parcel 7: 0039010002 (13.7 acres)

Parcel 8: 0039080002 (2.6 acres)

Parcel 9: 0031150033 (1.6 acres) (why does Benderson even want this?)

TOTAL: 192.9 acres of open space parcels

Parcel 1: 0031010002 (310 acres – tennis/pool/CCL/Fitness etc = about 307 acres)

GRAND TOTAL SUBJECT TO CE’S AND WMC’S: 500 ACRES.

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3 responses to “The Contract has changed FOUR TIMES since it was posted yesterday!”

  1. MB White Avatar
    MB White

    Thank you, thank you for catching.

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  2. dope8f32ae781a7 Avatar
    dope8f32ae781a7

    I’ve lived in Sarasota for 46 years… 15 of those in The Meadows. For 33 years, I worked in the commercial/industrial construction industry, as a project superintendent and project manager/estimator. Over the years, I’ve had several direct/indirect dealings with BDC. I found I couldn’t trust them any farther than I could throw them!!
    I believe Benderson’s SOLE mission, regarding this proposed land lease contract, is to secure a means to continue their development at UTC and other BDC properties. Beyond that, they have little or no interest in The Meadows… unless it’s for future development on Meadows land itself. It’s now apparent to me WHY the MCA BoD extended the proposed initial contract term from 18 to 36 months. After the initial ‘honeymoon’ period, most, if not all, BoD members’ tenures will be over. By then, they might have moved, died, or simply recluded themselves from Meadows contact. More importantly, they can no longer be held accountable for their actions while associated with the MCA. A lot of incentives float around when situations like this come up. That is also very concerning. And based on recent statements and actions/inactions, I’m not fully convinced of where the attorneys’ loyalties lay. I mean, along with certain board members, whose side of the fence are they really on??
    I’d also like to point out that the 36 month initial lease term appears to be a period of feasibility study ONLY. IMO, it doesn’t seem ANY actual work and/or improvements will be undertaken during this time. , After the three years, BDC could easily ‘bail out’ of their commitment at little cost to them, but will have secured the credits and easements they’ve long sought. Even after this initial lease term, it would be YEARS (if at all) before we could see any potential ‘profit sharing’. After all, financial reports and budgets can be manipulated, juggled, and doctored to mislead. BDC stands to make MILLIONS off this ‘deal’… and we’re giving away the farm!! IMO, we don’t need BDC… they need us!!
    Finally… What is the status of the bankruptcy?? All I’ve heard for months is that nothing could progress because ‘of the bankruptcy’. The course(s) can’t open… insurance isn’t in place… the point of sale system can’t be set up… the carts can’t be used… et al, ad nauseam. The public can’t access the golf course because ONLY residents can operate the carts. Yet, Bobby Jones group (100+) and several outings/leagues (of 30+) can access the carts/course as ‘guests’ of a resident. Furthermore, HOW did the Tennis operation escape the claws of the ‘bankruptcy’?? After all, wasn’t Golf and Tennis under the same umbrella of TMCC?? Didn’t take long to get tennis going, did it??
    A big THANKS to Don Breece for taking the initiative in filing the injunction against the MCA to delay/postpone signing the Benderson ‘deal’ until 100% truth, clarity and transparency is realized. In addition, I’m not so sure the State Attorney’s office shouldn’t look into the questionable activities of the MCA.

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  3. We are NOT in a “Financial Crisis” – Home | Sarasota Meadows Blog

    […] are they telling us that the golf courses AREN’T subject to CE’s and WMC’s, when they plainly ARE in the previous and latest […]

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