DAN COUNSELS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES REGARDING LAND USE PLANNING AND ZONING IN SARASOTA
As one of the region’s most experienced land use and local government attorneys, Dan understands the community and how things work at the local level. He has decades of experience with the handling of site plans, variances, administrative appeals, special exceptions and conditional uses, rezonings, zoning text amendments, street vacations, comprehensive plan amendments, development agreements, and developments of regional impact.
Dan serves as general counsel to the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport and Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority, and previously served as counsel for Sarasota Memorial Hospital and the Sarasota County Clerk of Court. He served as co-chair of the 2018 campaign that secured voter approval of a $65 million bond issue to fund the extension of the Legacy Trail. Among his many civic activities, he is currently one of our board members for The Patterson Foundation—one of the state’s largest and most progressive foundations; he also serves on the Community Advocacy Team of the Library Foundation for Sarasota County. His prior civic activities include service either as president or as chairman of the Sarasota Chapter of the American Red Cross, the United Way of Sarasota County, the Sarasota Tiger Bay Club, the Sarasota County Bar Association, the William G. & Marie Selby Foundation, and SCOPE (Sarasota County Openly Plans for Excellence).
Dan is a sixth-generation Floridian who grew up in Sarasota.
COMMUNITY
- The Patterson Foundation, Governing Board Vice-Chairman
- University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, Community Leadership Council, Former Board Member
- Sarasota Regional Campus of Florida State University College of Medicine, Former Community Board Member
- Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority, General Counsel
- Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Former Principal Counsel
- Sarasota County Clerk of Court, Former General Counsel
- Sarasota Chapter of the American Red Cross, Past Chairman
- United Way of Sarasota County, Past Chairman
- Sarasota Tiger Bay Club, Past Chairman
- William G. & Marie Selby Foundation, Past Chairman
- SCOPE (Sarasota County Openly Plans for Excellence), Past Chairman
- Kiwanis, Division 21, Lt. Governor
- Community Advocacy Team of the Library Foundation of Sarasota County
- Sarasota Civic League, Past President
- Corporate Council of Ringling College of Art & Design, Past Chair
- Big Brother
- Sarasota County Wastewater Advisory Task Force, Past Chair
- Sarasota County Reinventing Government Council, Past Chair
- Sarasota County Pennywise Committee, Member
- Sarasota High School New Life Initiative, Past Chair of Executive Committee
ACCOLADES
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent
- Best Lawyers in America, Land Use and Zoning Law
- Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year
- Florida Super Lawyers
- Florida Trend, Legal Elite
- Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court, Honorary Member
- Education Foundation of Sarasota County “Alumni of Distinction” Award
- Argus Foundation “Lifetime Achievement” Award
- Community Video Archives Inductee
- Community Youth Development Leadership Award
- Economic Development Corporation “Clyde Nixon Business Leadership” Award
- SCOPE “Boundary Crosser” Award
- Westcoast Center for Human Development “Flames of Distinction Award”
- The Volunteer Center “Heart of the Community” Award
- City of Sarasota Mayor’s Citation
- Kiwanis Club of Friendship “Second Annual Citizen’s Roast” Award
- United Way “New” Volunteer of the Year
- Sarasota Jaycees’ Distinguished Service Award
- Sarasota High School Hall of Fame Inductee
- Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce “Spirit of Sarasota” Award
- Sarasota Magazine “Greater Good” Award