Hi Hat Ranch: What’s Planned for Sarasota County’s Largest Future Community

Snapshot

• Location & size: East Sarasota County, between Fruitville Rd. and Clark Rd., generally west of Lorraine Rd.; roughly 10,000 acres total. About 55% is planned as open space and native habitat. sarasotanewsleader.comYour Observer
• Planned homes at build-out: ≈13,000 dwelling units over multiple phases/villages (20-year horizon often cited by county staff/commissioners). The first village application targets ≈3,000 homes on ~2,070 acres. WUSFsarasotanewsleader.com+1
• Framework: The project is proceeding under Sarasota County’s “2050 Plan” village/hamlet model (mixed uses, walkability, preserved open space). Sarasota Magazine

Types of Homes Envisioned

Hi Hat Ranch is planned as a series of “villages” and potentially smaller hamlets, which—under the county’s 2050 framework—allow a mix of housing types at varied densities. Expect a spectrum that typically includes single-family detached, townhomes, and higher-density multifamily near village centers, along with estate-style residential in select areas. (For example, The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch already exists as a low-density estate neighborhood of large lots.) Sarasota MagazineSarasotaHomes.com

Amenities (Planned/Anticipated)

While each village will go through its own detailed planning, the ranch-wide planning and public statements to date point to:

• Extensive open space (≈55% of the property), parks, native habitat areas, lakes/retention, and trail networks that connect neighborhoods and amenities. Your Observer
• Civic and community uses, with county planning discussions noting provision for future public schools and village centers with neighborhood-serving retail and services. Lee Wetherington Homes, SarasotaSarasota Magazine

Current Status (as of August 20, 2025)

• Land-use approvals: In 2021, Sarasota County approved comprehensive plan changes (under the 2050 Plan) that set the stage for Hi Hat Ranch’s village development program. Sarasota Magazine
• First Village application: Filed August 2023 for about 3,000 homes on roughly 2,070 acres (south of Fruitville, east of Lorraine, north of Clark). sarasotanewsleader.com
• Road access agreements: After debate earlier in 2025, the County Commission approved terms to provide access to the ranch from Bee Ridge Rd. with the developer funding construction of the new connection and contributing to related improvements; later action brought full commission approval of the access agreement. These steps are key prerequisites to vertical development. Your ObserverBusiness Observersarasotanewsleader.com
• Scale reaffirmed: County discussions and local reporting through 2025 continue to reference an ultimate build-out of ~13,000 homes, phased over decades. WUSFWSLR+Fogartyvillesarasotanewsleader.com

What This Means for Buyers & Neighbors

Hi Hat Ranch is not a single subdivision, but a multi-village, multi-decade buildout that will introduce a diverse housing mix, new parks/open space, and supporting infrastructure east of I-75. The first major residential village (≈3,000 homes) is the earliest piece in the pipeline; subsequent villages will follow as infrastructure and market conditions allow.

Currently Active: The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch

This is the only neighborhood within the Hi Hat Ranch area currently in active development:

• The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch is a gated estate community offering 50–54 home sites, each ranging from 3 to 6 acres. Homes are being built—some already completed, others in progress—giving buyers opportunities for customization.
• As of July 2025, available lots start around $395,000, with some elegant estates on 4-acre lots featuring libraries, attics, pools, and even private nature preserves.

This community is already delivering homes and is the only part of Hi Hat Ranch where construction is visibly underway.

Upcoming Development: “Village 1”

The much larger, high-density first village (roughly 3,000 homes on ~2,070 acres) remains in the planning phase:

• Site plan and rezoning were submitted in August 2023, envisioning a mix of single-family and attached homes across six neighborhoods. sarasotanewsleader.com
• Construction is anticipated to begin in 2025, with full build-out extending to 2034. sarasotanewsleader.com
• However, infrastructure challenges remain unresolved—most notably approval of road access agreements—which delayed final approvals. While a contentious roads deal was approved in early 2025, the rezoning for this village has not yet been finalized by the county as of mid-2025. WUSFBusiness Observersarasotanewsleader.com

So, while “Village 1” is the next big step, it’s still waiting to move beyond the planning and permitting stage.

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Summary Table

Final Take

Yes, one neighborhood—The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch—is actively under development with existing and ongoing home construction. Meanwhile, the larger, more ambitious Village 1 remains in planning, with construction expected to begin soon—but not yet underway as of now.

Let me know if you’d like details on builders, pricing of finished homes, or timelines for public meetings on Village 1!

Sources

Key facts above rely on Sarasota County and local reporting, including the Sarasota News Leader (acreage, first-village filing, commission discussions), Observer/Business Observer (acreage, road-access agreements), WUSF/WGCU/WSLR (≈13,000 homes at build-out), and community/Builder materials (Forest at Hi Hat Ranch, anticipated schools and amenities). Citations are embedded after each statement.