Florida land swap turns 4 Siesta Key beach lots public after decade of lawsuits

Michael Holderness bought four beachfront lots on Florida’s Siesta Key in 2016 and 2017, leading to years of disputes with Sarasota County over public access and development. Under a settlement, the county will receive the four lots and make them public beach property, while Holderness gets a nearby parcel valued at nearly $2.8 million, $500,000 and permission to build a 5,000-square-foot home.