The amount of money wasted in this community is unimaginable. All of them live within close proximity to the proposed site for Grand Lakes, the Circuit Court petition notes. Shortly after the suit was filed, a spokesperson for Hunt said: The company takes these matters extremely seriously and is focused on providing our residents with healthy and comfortable homesThe company has introduced reforms and initiatives to improve living conditions, including at Randolph Family HousingOne initiative referred to as the Humidity Project is designed to assess units for excess moisture and take corrective action when necessary. Villages shall be supported by internally designed, mixed-use Village Centers(designed specifically to serve thedaily and weekly retail, office, civic, and government use and services needs of Village residents) [emphasis in the petition], and the Village shall be surrounded by large expanses of Open Space , The petition adds that the county staff report justifying the policy change for Grand Lakes offers nothing to reverse the Countys previous findings that the contiguous Village requirement is necessary to maintain internal consistency [with the Sarasota 2050 policies]., The plans for Grand Lakes that the County Commission approved on July 11 would allow up to 1,097 homes on 533 acres south of Clark Road in an area where other several other 2050 Village developments have been approved or proposed, Detectives seeking help from people who were at the 10th Street Boat Ramp on Aug. 10, when a female apparently drowned, Save Our Siesta Sand 2 formally requests that U.S. Army Corps of Engineers undertake in-depth environmental analysis of Big Pass dredging plan. Neal said the community averages about 120 sales a year. 2023, International Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc., separately incorporated Better Business Bureau organizations in the US, Canada and Mexico and BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, Inc. All rights reserved. 21st CENTURY DELIVERY., 12thJudicial Circuit Court case begun, and petition submitted to Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, saying Sarasota County violated its policies in approving the plans, (Editors note: This article was updated on Aug. 20 to include the fact that Commissioner Charles Hines cast the lone No vote against the Grand Lakes petitions.). Plaintiff's response in opposition consists mainly of (1) an argument that diversity jurisdiction exists and (2) the reassertion of some of the claims and allegations set out in his complaint. A large group of Serenoa, Serenoa Lakes and nearby large lot homeowners, along with Twin Lakes Park users, presented their objections during the public hearings leading up to the boards' July decisions. That was to allow both the Neal Communities team and the commissioners the opportunity to review the challenges and enable the Neal representatives to respond to them. Kohatsu joins Neal Communities as a digital strategist and Leinaweaver will act as the new community association manager. Choose wisely! He also wrote for the New Jersey Law Journal and Brill's Content. All 300 communities on. Winds are forecast to be around 40-50 mph in the valleys and up to 70 mph in the mountains. The second suit asks the Sarasota County Circuit Court to reverse the rezoning approval because the Grand Lakes application did not satisfy the protected open space and non-residential use requirements in the countys village zoning regulations. Three companies affiliated with Hunt Military Communities were recently hit with a lawsuit over poor living conditions. As you know, we tried to settle this for almost two years before the lawsuit was filed, he continued. ORDER ON MOTION TO WITHDRAW - GRANTED AS TO FRANCE LITIGATION GROUP. "We design models every two years," he said. Whether you're a seasoned professional, beginning your career or looking for a new opportunity, Neal Communities prides itself on hiring exceptional people at every level. Market-leading rankings and editorial commentary - see the top law firms & lawyers for Civil litigation/class actions: plaintiff in United States BBB reports on known marketplace practices. The Manatee-Sarasota Sierra Club and 1000 Friends of Florida Inc.are providing financial support and legal assistance to the plaintiffs, Anderson pointed out to The Sarasota News Leaderin an Aug. 13 telephone interview. David J. Neal 305-376-3559 Since 1989, David J. Neal's domain at the Miami Herald has expanded to include writing about Panthers (NHL and FIU), Dolphins, old school animation, food safety,. Community Indigo: Neal Communities ******************* has the worst customer service we've ever experienced. The REIT currently owns and operates a portfolio of 50 income-producing manufactured housing communities within four contiguous states - Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee, and a fleet of approximately 700 manufactured homes for lease to residents of such housing communities. 2018-04-16, Hillsborough County 13th Judicial Circuit Courts | Property | Between Sept. 5, 2014 and July 12, 2021, Neal and his associates paid about $3.8 million in building permit fees. He just couldn't think of the word. This is a multi-location business. Well guide you through the process. After wash out again they decided to throw a handful of sand bags into the holes that were forming. Follow the true stories of real Neal Communities homebuyers and learn why were Americas Best Builder. Along with homeowners who will be near Grand Lakes, Anderson pointed out to the News Leader, people who use the countys facilities at Twin Lakes Park which is close to the Grand Lakes property have voiced concerns about the potential intensification of traffic as a result of the development. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. 52 Black former McDonald's franchisees are suing the company for racial discrimination. Before the County Commission vote on July 11, Anderson pointed out, Pat Neal had asked him more than once during the hearings outside the Commission Chambers whether people were planning to file a lawsuit. Copyright 2023 Observer Media Group, Inc., All Rights Reserved, Manatee works to bring self-checkout to libraries, Lakewood Ranch teacher found dead in Parrish, Repairs to major Manatee waterline to be complete in February, Arcadia man dies in east Manatee crash on CR 675, Sarasota area ranked third in top retirement destinations, County rescinds administrator's confirmation after harassment allegation. Yet, the petition continues, The Countys analysis on July 24, 2014 importantly found that the provision for non-residential uses through the establishment of mixed use Village and Neighborhood Centers is central to the concept of Villages as an alternative to urban sprawl. FACEBOOK COMMENT POSTING AND VIEWING BELOW. They were very helpful throughout the. As you review our website, watch our videos and sign up for special updates and information, we hope youll see at Neal Communities, we dont just build homes we aim to improve lives. Appointed Scott Williams to fill the unexpired term of Jerry Towery on the Venice Planning Commission. Neal's attorneys contend that a building fee formula - which the city adopted in August. H-E-B, S.A. Sports Hall of Fame included in NFL auction lawsuit Joseph's Storehouse Baking co-owner launches massive cookbook SAPD: 3 people dead in rollover crash on city's Northeast Side After that began to wash out, they attempted to rectify it again by adding some more dirt. Although he couldn't come up with the term, Neal pointed. "Our emphasis is designing homes for families," he said. At that time, several large landowners and developers, including Neal, proposed eliminating the mixed-use center. The plans for Grand Lakes that the County Commission approved on July 11 would allow up to 1,097 homes on 533 acres south of Clark Road in an area where other several other 2050 Village developments have been approved or proposed. Some of them testified about their worries during county public hearings on the proposed project. After an attempt to negotiate a settlement failed, the city sued in an attempt to enforce payment. (Cooper, Backman and Watts are not parties in the DOAH challenge, however.) Audy has produced, composed and engineered 3 award winning albums and his signature #1 song "Lovers & Friends."Although best known as a musician, he is very involved in marketing-having written and produced 7 national TV commercials in Japan for clients such as NEC Computer, Toyota, Hasegawa Komuten, Dentsu and most recently 7-Eleven. Arrangements are incomplete at Rollins Funeral Home, Kenova www. 2019-04-26, Hillsborough County Courts | Property | It alleges overpayments of at least $1.45 million through June 30, 2021, and asks that the court declare Venice has effectively inversely condemned the funds, requiring repayment of the unconstitutional taking with interest, costs, and attorneys fees. Neal is set to build 1,100 homes on 500 acres he purchased for $20 million last December. Coopers property, for example, is just 120 feet away from it, and Backmans is only 130 feet away. Be careful buying from **** because once they have your money they no longer care to provide any form of customer service. Really glad.. The entire process from build through present day has been nothing but a nightmare. In that same deposition, Black admitted that the fees were based on the previous system and not a formal analysis of the impact of development. Since inception in Southwest Florida over 50 years ago, Neal Communities has formed its reputation on building quality new homes and providing home buyers with innovative floor plans, a long list of choices to personalize their new home, and inspired service from a financially stable, highly-awarded, privately-held, new home builder. UniCourt uses cookies to improve your online experience, for more information please see our Privacy Policy. The transcripts enabled members of the group to pore over details provided by county Planning and Development Services staff and the Neal Communities project team. Not the case in three of the five new Neal models, the Endless Summer, Silver Sky and Victory (the other two,Tidewinds andSandcastle paired villas, really are geared for empty-nesters or active adults). Image courtesy Sarasota County. Each model had children's bedrooms that were decorated with kids' books and paintings. The premise of the citys defense equated the fees to a cover charge at a club, versus actually paying for a meal an analogy used by former Venice city attorney David Persson in explaining the concept. A Neal Communities guiding principle is to . In our commitment to hire the best candidates our interview process is intentionally rigorous, with the duration ranging between 2 and 4 weeks. The plaintiffs efforts to avoid litigating against Neal are futile, because Neal Communities will intervene and vigorously defend against these meritless claims that were obviously interposed solely for purposes of delay.. Gullett Elementary school, are game changers. The new policy was ordered by a judge in late November as part of ongoing ligation between Bloomington and an Indiana University student. LOOKINGTOMOVE-INFAST TOYOURNEWDREAMHOME? The builder is sponsoring two upcoming events in the amount of $5,000 each. "We set up these homes for elementary and middle school kids," he said. The opponents, he continued, reviewed the Grand Lakes application in the same manner county staff was supposed to have reviewed it. Make Yahoo Your Homepage Discover something new every day from News, Sports, Finance, Entertainment and more! This case was filed in Manatee County Courts, Manatee County Courthouse located in Manatee, Florida. That argues that a county Comprehensive Plan amendment which the County Commission initially approved in March and formally adopted in July will enable Neal Communities to eliminate a commercial center from the design of Grand Lakes, even though Grand Lakes will not be contiguous to a Village with such a center. whether its within the first 30 seconds of arrival to any of our distinctive neighborhoods, during interactions with a member of the Neal Team, or while browsing this website. LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. - Neal Communities, southwest Florida's most experienced homebuilder, recently promoted Carl Allen to an area construction manager and Mark Dolan to a builder. The areas top boating and fishing news will be delivered to you email every Thursday morning. We won't share it with anyone else. Avery & Morgan Models Townhomes Now Selling at Riverfield From the $300s+ 1,790 sq. Home prices start at $259,990. VENICE A state judge denied a motion by the city of Venice to dismiss a lawsuit filed by developer Pat Neal over the city charging too much for building permit fees. Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works: Related Items: Data will display when it becomes available. It is very discouraging that the commissioners ignored the merits of our arguments and approved the Grand Lakes proposals, so, our only recourse available is very costly litigation.. BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. The land manager stated they don't have anything like that to provide to us, wont work with us on a date, and stated they just come into the land and do what they do and dont have to abide by Fl state building codes. Worse still is that it is impossible to speak to someone by phone and our emails go unanswered. Edit ArticleAdd New ArticleClose By continuing to use this website, you agree to UniCourts General Disclaimer, Terms of Service, There was an error processing your request. Most of us probably haven't come in contact with many poufs as we check out models in the Lakewood Ranch area. "It is a shame when citizens have to dig into their own pockets just to make sure the planning officials follow their own rules, said David Anderson, spokesperson for the petitioners. We promote vibrant, sustainable, walkable, livable communities which provide residents with affordable housing choices and transportation alternatives.. The city had also stressed that landowners had been free to develop their properties under county regulations, which typically allow for fewer homes per acre. Our home flooded from the inept contractors they hire to hook up appliances, every single window in our home has leaked, our driveway crumbling apart only to have to be ripped up and redone numerous times since moving in but our most concerning and frustrating issue is our home lot. As an experienced, family-owned, home builder and developer, Neal Communities has built over 19,000 new homes in Southwest Florida neighborhoods spanning cities including: Bradenton, Parrish, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Venice, Englewood, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers and Naples. The case status is Pending - Other Pending. Best Review Site for Digital Cameras. The motion is scheduled for a hearing on Nov. 30. That approach didnt stand up in comparison to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Become a Neal Communities subscriber and dont miss out! Pat Neal said the neighboring new Mona Jain Middle School, along with B.D. The website of 1000 Friends of Florida says it is the states leading not-for-profit smart growth advocacy organization. As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. David Anderson, president of the Serenoa Lakes Association since 2010, is one of the plaintiffs in both legal challenges. The lawsuit asks that the State of Florida hold an administrative hearing to find that the Neal amendment is inconsistent with the other goals, objectives, and policies in the countys comprehensive plan because eliminating the village mixed-use requirement promotes urban sprawl. Neal Communities is a privately held land development and home building company based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, and founded in 1970. Before the annexation of Henry Ranch, which has since been developed as Willow Chase and the Venetian Golf and River Club, the city of Venice would ask developers to pay an up-front fee to come into the city. Today, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Karina Gould, announced up to $24.9 millionin funding for 17 projects that will ensure programs supporting social inclusion and the. "I think we have made a successful transition.". "Most people want to live in a community made up of all ages," Neal said. BBB is here to help. No market study accompanied the Grand Lakes application, the petition points out. The company is ranked #1 locally by Metrostudy and by Hanley Wood Market Intelligence based on number of home sales and ranked #94 nationally among home builders by BUILDER Magazine. Finally, one place to get all the court documents we need. In the meantime, however, they said enough retail businesses already exist in close proximity to the Grand Lakes site to serve their residents. The White Stork Synagogue is a nineteenth century synagogue in Wrocaw, Poland. The DOAH petition also notes that Chapter 8 of the Future Land Use Element of the countys Comprehensive Plan says, Villages are a collection of Neighborhoods that have been designed so that a majority of the housing units are within a walking distance or [one-quarter] mile radius of a Neighborhood Center. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile. To. Endorsed by groups such as Color of Change, Race Forward, Brooklyn Movement Center, PolicyLink, Million Women . Related: Developer's unusual relationship with Venice now includes a $1.4 million suit on building permit fees, Venice council: New Venice mayor fulfills childhood dream; new council members sworn in, Venice beaches: Laws prohibiting smoking and permitting alcohol sales at Venice beaches pass first reading. He walked briskly through a model, right to a bedroom designed for kids. Each family was told the home they were renting was safe and had no unresolved issues, according to the suit, which was filed back on December 29 in the Western District of Texas. Fluffy and soft would be good adjectives to describe them. Developer's unusual relationship with Venice now includes a $1.4 million suit on building permit fees, New Venice mayor fulfills childhood dream; new council members sworn in, Laws prohibiting smoking and permitting alcohol sales at Venice beaches pass first reading, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. In support of part of the argument on those issues, it contends that the Grand Lakes team did not provide county staff updated maps. In late July, McDonald's said it planned to enhance its efforts to attract and recruit . The developer responded by filing the lawsuit. But she didn't answer. A few days ago, I published a LinkedIn article titled "Working Together to Increase Black Firefighter Representation." Some reached out to me and said they had Error! They also pointed to the plans for the LT Ranch Village. When I asked for them to show me another home in a community of over 700+ houses where this was happening, they couldn't. According to each family, they signed leases between 2016 and 2018. Select a topic to see what people are saying about different issues Professional development Explore skills and training, pay raises and promotions and management and culture. Neal Communities took a big bounce back from this spring's COVID-19 quarantine, with 107 home sales across its 31 developments from Manatee County to Naples in Mayan increase of 47 percent . ncoolong@gmail.com Neal Coolong is the senior editor of NFL sites with USA TODAY Sports Media Group. We closed on our house in March of 2022, but since then items on both our 1 month and 6 month list were never taken care of, nor acknowledged. The most recent obituaries newsletter, sent out every morning. Neal Communities Purchasing Manager - Sarasota Sarasota, FL 30d+ $40K-$57K Per Year (Glassdoor est.) "The young people moving here almost are equal to the empty-nesters," Neal said. Founded in 1970, Neal Communities' first residence was a 960-square-foot unit in the Whitney Beach condominium complex on northern Longboat Key, which sold for around $23,900. Holic participated in an executive session meeting on the decision, before the vote. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Top headlines of the day, delivered to your email every morning. 2016-10-27, Polk County Florida Courts | Property | The DOAH petition asks that the case be assigned to an administrative law judge and that a hearing be conducted to determine whether the Comprehensive Plan amendment complies with Sarasota County policy. Neal Communities, which started acquiring the parcels after the Great Recession, started paying the fees under protest in 2014, and the city has not spent them. 11/28/2022 - NOTICE OF APPEARANCE THAMIR A. R. KADDOURI, JR., ESQUIRE, OBO STARK TRUSS COMPANY, INC., 11/14/2022 - SUMMONS SERVED STARK TRUSS COMPANY INC 11-7-2022, 11/14/2022 - SUMMONS SERVED MANASOTA FLOORING INC 11/7/2022, 11/14/2022 - SUMMONS SERVED TAILORED FOAM OF FLORIDA LLC 11/8/2022, 10/28/2022 - SUMMONS SUBMITTED TO CLERK ISSUED TO V.A. Copyright 2012-22 The Sarasota News Leader. The developer would still be responsible for building an eight-foot-wide multi-use recreational trail in front of the SJMR/Hurt property. To the extent that the plaintiffs are challenging ordinances no longer in effect, their claims are being made too late, it says, so there is no present controversy to be decided and they should be dismissed without an opportunity to amend them. Even before the Sarasota County Commission voted 4-1 on July 11 to approve the petitions necessary for Neal Communities Grand Lakes development to be built, Pat Neal, chair of the companys executive committee, indicated he was expecting a lawsuit. Steve W. said: Austin came out to do a routine maintenance check and spend hours, Elizabeth S. said: Our AC system was leaking water via a small crack in the drip pan., David W. said: We had a treatment for drywood termites which involved spraying, Established in 1981, ALECO AC & Heating Experts serves the Sarasota community by, Faith Z. said: I purchased a custom rug made from one of my favorite carpets that I, AJ R. said: Great experience with Duraclean. Local public notices delivered daily to your email account. Even before the Sarasota County Commission voted 4-1 on July 11 to approve the petitions necessary for Neal Communities' Grand Lakes development to be built, Pat Neal, chair of the company's executive committee, indicated he was expecting a lawsuit. SARASOTA A group of affected neighbors filed two lawsuits against Sarasota County on Friday that could put a massive Neal Communities subdivision east of I-75 and south of Clark Road on hold. Neal Communities Cincinnati Bengals vs Buffalo Bills will not be replayed after Damar Hamlin cardiac arrest, The NFL have made the decision to not replay the game after safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field and was transported to hospital where he is now making a recovery From all of us, we look forward to building your dream home together. The case is . An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Recently we received a letter from warranty explaining the limited warranty is expiring! 01/05/2023 - ORDER ON MOTION TO WITHDRAW - GRANTED AS TO FRANCE LITIGATION GROUP. Neal Communities values your privacy and will not sell or share your information. ArthurSaga0 47 min. Cancellation of the fees devised in 1999 while the city was annexing the Henry Ranch and attached to more than 40 pre-annexation agreements means the city will not collect roughly $12 million it had anticipated receiving as future development comes on line. (213) 257-2000 Media@da.lacounty.gov Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascn announced today that County Counsel has retained former acting U.S. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Think about the last time you went through athree- or four-bedroom model home. The city is represented by outside counsel Bowen & Schroth, of Eustis. ), NEAL COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA LLC VS 84 LUMBER COMPANY Et Al, MANASOTA FLOORING, INC.'S FIRST REQUEST FOR PRODUCTION TO PLAINTIFF, NEAL COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, LLC, CIRCUIT CIVIL CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER AND ORDER SETTING INITIAL CASE MANAGEMENT HEARING / 11-30-22/ 10 AM, Total Receipts: 2 receipt(s); Total Tender Amount: $587.50; Total Voided Amount: $0.00; Receipt Number: 1038273; Tender Amount: $427.50; Receipt Number: 1085078; Tender Amount: $160.00, Payment received:Receipt Number C 1038273, Compliance Type FILING FEE ASSESSED was satisfied with Compliance Action - FILING FEE PAID set on 6/2/2022, CIVIL ATTACHMENT TO COMPLAINT - EX 1 COMP ALL AMERICAN SUBCONTRACTS / EX 2 ASSOCIATED SUBCONTRACT / EX 3 BREEDLOVE SUBCONTRACT / EX 4 CURRY SUBCONTRACT / EX 5 DANIEL SUBCONTRACT / EX 6 HIS SUBCONTRACT / EX 7 MANASOTA SUBCONTRACT / EX 8 SOUTH BAY SUBCONTRACT / EX 9 VA MANSORY SUBCONTRACT / EX 10 TAILORED SUBCONTRACT / EX 11 INSIDE OUT SUBCONTRACT / EX 12 ROCKWELL SUBCONTRACT / EX 13 WHETSTONE SUBCONTRACT / EX 14 DEMAND FOR ARBITRATION, Compliance FILING FEE ASSESSED has been created with due date of 6/2/2022 - id number 2387284, Assessment 1 assessed at sum $400.00 AssessmentID 11905742, Case 412022CA002215CAAXMA Filed with Clerk on 6/1/2022. Since early last year, the city has been engaged in a. The County staff thoroughly reviewed every aspect of Neals application and concluded that the application complied with all requirements and the Board of County Commissioners agreed. saying Saints LB Jonathan Vilma's lawsuit against him . Many of the models are designed for seniors, or make that active adults in terms of politic correctness. Neal Communities was recently named one of 2012's "America's Best Builders" by BUILDER Magazine. Edwards won the Neal award for business journalism in 2005 for investigating bribery in the advertising sector. When commenting on the matter, Jennifer Neal, one of the attorneys representing the families, At the moment, the suit is requesting a trial by jury and is seeking, Shortly after the suit was filed, a spokesperson for Hunt. Neal Communities is asking for a refund of at least $1.45 million in building fees in the lawsuit. The $1.45 million represents what he contends are overcharges. As part of the settlement, each side will pay its own legal fees. How BBB Processes Complaints and Reviews. Another major concern for residents in the Serenoa Lakes and Serenoa communities which would be the closest neighbors to Grand Lakes is that Ibis Street is the only immediate access to their homes and the Grand Lakes site. Williams served as the neighborhood development director for the city of North Port until he retired last September. See Docket Entry No. When your e-Edition is ready to be read, we send you a reminderemaileach day letting you know. A graphic shows plans for the two neighborhoods in Grand Lakes. That was critical.. Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022. View community ranking In the Top 1% of largest communities on Reddit. CABINETRY, INC. / MANASOTA FLOORING, INC. / SOUTHBAY DRYWALL & STUCCO INC / TAILORED FOAM OF FLORIDA, LLC / STARK TRUSS COMPANY, INC. / 84 LUMBER COMPANY - NOVEMBER 1 2022. See all of our quick move-in homes and start living the life you've been dreaming of. There was enough spacefor a family, but dad and mom would have to do some creative thinking to picture the spare bedrooms as kid friendly. Read More Attorney Allison Riggs, accompanied by attorney Neal Katyal, center, and Common Cause National Redistricting Director Kathay Feng, left, speaks in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, as the Court hears arguments on a new elections case that could dramatically alter voting in 2024 and beyond. The law, also known as House Bill 5471, was passed Jan. 10 and bans the sale and distribution of assault weapons, .50 caliber rifles and ammunition and high-capacity magazines. Neal Communities, southwest Floridas premier, private homebuilder, frequently contributes to nonprofits and events in the locations where the companys employees and customers live and work. Further litigation would cost the city additional money, without any guarantee of a better result.. "It's about this big," he said. Before the house was built the land was not properly built out and formed to match the land survey. Neal is asking for reimbursement of his companys overpayments after July 12, 2021, too as well as interest and penalties. That change affects the entire county.. What a laugh! Ian estimated agriculture damages tops $1 billion, Help wanted: Sarasota School Board moves to replace superintendent, Report: Nighttime conditions may have led to fatal plane crash, Sheriff investigating shooting in Nokomis, Cops: Two arrested in sexual assault of minor, No decision in North Venice shopping center matter. Neal Communities is asking for a refund of at least $1.45 million in building fees in a lawsuit filed against the city of Venice. He knows the emphasis could be somewhere else in the near future, and that's why he continues to design new products. Gayle Reynolds, Sarasota conservation chair of the Manatee-Sarasota Sierra Club, told the News Leaderthis week that that organization has more than 3,400 members.