Judge grants IPOC, associations writ of certiorari

Sarasota 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Charles E. Roberts granted a petition for a writ of certiorari filed by the Islandside Property Owners Coalition (IPOC) and L’Ambiance and Sanctuary condominium associations in their challenge of a development order related to the Longboat Key Club and Resort’s proposed $400 million redevelopment-and-expansion plan.

IPOC and the associations had argued in the petition that there were seven major deficiencies in the development order approved by the Longboat Key Town Commission June 30, 2010 after more than 20 days of quasi-judicial hearings.

In a 19-page ruling, Roberts wrote that the commission “departed from the essential requirements of law in approving the Development Order” and that the commission’s “departures from the requirements of the Zoning Code infringed on Petitioners’ legitimate expectations under the Zoning Code and constituted a miscarriage of justice.”

Roberts’ ruling remands the development order to the commission. The Key Club and town have 30 days to appeal the ruling.

For more information, pick up a Jan. 5 copy of the Longboat Observer.