Clash over impact fees continues

Local entrepreneur Michael Evanoff lost his first battle against Sarasota County in a skirmish over impact fees — though he refuses to concede defeat.

Evanoff, who along with his family runs Evie's, a chain of well-known taverns and golf centers in Sarasota, is battling county officials over the fees assessed on his latest project: A plan to turn a onetime construction equipment rental business into a restaurant, nightclub and bar called White Buffalo Saloon. Evanoff says he would hire at least 80 people for the project, which doesn't include construction.

But the project is in limbo. That's because Evanoff balked at paying the county's impact fees, which are taxes municipalities levy to cover a broad range of services, including roadwork near the property, water and sewer lines. The initial impact fee was $221,330 — nearly one-third the $595,000 Evanoff paid for the property, the former ASAP Enterprise building. (See Business Review, June 22.)