Medieval Fair owners must file for new FDOT permit. County still investigating complaints
The Florida Department of Transportation has concluded its investigation of the inadequate permits that were initially approved for property off of State Road 70 near Myakka City that did not take into account that the property owners planned to develop a new home for the Medieval Fair.
FDOT did not provide specifics of their investigation, except to say that Jeremy Croteau and Sarasota Building Official Kathy Croteau, Medieval Fair president and board officer, will be required to submit an amended permit application related to “commercial purposes.”
The new applications have not been submitted as of Thursday for the property at 29641 SR 70.
The original permit was approved only for driveway improvements to what was said to be an agricultural project on the property. FDOT was not originally told that the narrow section of State Road 70 would deliver thousands of fairgoers onto the property.
The FDOT investigation into the original permit began in mid-April, shortly after the Manatee County Office of Inspector General opened an investigation of how the county’s code enforcement division handled the development.
That investigation was launched after a code enforcement officer came forward a week prior with allegations that her supervisors were ignoring their own rules to accommodate the Croteaus and turning a blind eye toward Manatee County residents who were being negatively impacted by the development.
Code enforcement supervisors Tommy Wooten and Chet Brown also are accused of closing out multiple citizen complaints while aiding the Croteaus to continue with un-permitted work.
Brown’s internal case notes obtained by the Bradenton Herald show that he advised Jeremy Croteau to pull his advertising for the Medieval Fair while development of the land continued.
As of Thursday, the OIG investigation was still active, but county government sources told the Bradenton Herald that the investigation is expected to wrap up soon. Regardless of the outcome, sources said the Croteaus would have to apply for a special-use permit, which would require a public hearing, if they want to use the site for the fair.
“If the allegations are accurate and the property is being developed for the purpose of a medieval festival, we would have concerns,” said Meridith Wolfson Barcomb, in a joint statement from Preserve Our Wildlife Environment and Resources.
POWER works to preserve and protect rural and agricultural lands from over development and protect wildlife, the environment and natural resources.
“As the citizens of this community, we take into consideration the repercussions it could have on traffic, wildlife and the local environment as a whole,” Barcomb said on behalf of POWER. “We also would be concerned on how this could negatively affect those directly neighboring the property.”
Myakka City resident Patricia O’Connor said enough is enough.
“It’s about time officials, commissioners and developers start to care about the environment, wildlife habitat and the taxpayer citizens of the area instead of money, she said. “Enough is enough, you are already rich.”
“Honestly I don’t understand how they can proceed after this dishonesty and impact to neighbors has been revealed,” said resident Garrett Ramy. “People using political levy to get what they want by deception is never acceptable. Take it back to the drawing board now that it’s been revealed. There is no med for evil.”
Sarasota land-use attorney Robert Lincoln is representing a neighbor being negatively impacted by the development. The neighbor’s property has suffered unprecedented flooding after the development began.
Lincoln has sent letters demanding the county issue a stop work order until all legal permits have been obtained. Lincoln said the county has not responded to his letters.
“I believe this is going to be a case of it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission,” Lincoln said.