The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

The March 10th meeting of the Lake Sarasota Community Group was an opportunity to share some information, meet new residents, and ask new questions. Additionally a new Board was elected. Some questions that were answered:  1. Waste Management Trucks might be backing up streets like Chaucer, where there is a new cul de sac. According to the County, the cul de sacs should be wide enough to allow even WM trucks to do a three-point turn, so they should not be backing up the street - some people are concerned because of small children playing in the road. Chaucer Lane is not a circular cul-de-sac. Because of limited right of way, it has been designed as a T, so bigger vehicles may have to make a 3 point turn in order to turn around. There should not be any reason for the Waste Management trucks to back up the street, they should be making a 3 point turn at the end of the street. (Note: A letter from Lake Sarasota will be sent to Waste Management to follow up)  2...

A meeting of the Lake Sarasota Community Group is scheduled for Thursday, March 10, at 7 pm in the meeting rooms behind Sarasota Alliance Church. The agenda so far: Update on Entrance Signage Update on roadwork on Bee Ridge Cul de Sac question Retention Pond question Election of Officers for Volunteer Board of LSCG New Business.

The latest proposal for a monument sign at the Mauna Loa entrance is below.  The material is reinforced foam structure with stucco coat, with a false brick work. We are considering placement at the southwest corner of Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge Rd., with the addition of "No Solicitors" at the bottom of the sign. There are questions about lighting, about whether to have the name on both sides of the sign, and about what sort of base, or pedestal, it might have. Several residents are meeting with the County Thursday to look at options for placement, color, font, size, etc. Anyone with strong preferences can comment below.

This evening, June 12, is our quarterly Lake Sarasota Community Group meeting. It begins at 7 pm at Sarasota Alliance Church, on the North side of Bee Ridge Rd., opposite Chaucer, in the meeting rooms behind the church. Here is the Agenda: Discussion of Neighborhood-Friendly Covenant for the development opposite our front entrance with Representatives of TerraCap. Rescuing the existing Lake Sarasota signs at Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge before the road widening begins. Update on the timing of the Bee Ridge Road Widening. Update on Sheriff's report for Lake Sarasota. Brief background on the first item: Ever since the residents of Lake Sarasota were surprised to learn about the plan for a supersized Racetrac gas station at Bee Ridge Rd. and Mauna Loa Blvd. in 2012, some of us have tried to keep an eye on plans for "Bee Ridge Park of Commerce" (BRPOC) to avoid further surprises. In April, we wrote a letter to the developer asking him to work with us o...

The Lake Sarasota Community Group meeting of 3.13.14 took place at Sarasota Alliance Church. Here's a brief summary: 1. Tax Attorney Mary King presented some tips on what to do if you're audited by the IRS, and gave out a copy of each of her books: Resolve IRS Problems , and Protect and Defend . 2. The Board will ask the Treasurer to renew the LSCG's 501(c)3 status and its CONA membership. The Group also noted that the Treasury is running low and some means of replenishing it need to be found. This will be an agenda item for the next meeting, set for June 12th. 3. The Garage Sale is set for March 29th . So far some 35 homes are on the Neighborhood Garage Sale Map . Sandy has asked for volunteer to help distribute the maps on the day of the sale. To get on the map, or to help hand them out anytime between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., contact her at Sarasotadreams@gmail.com. 4.  A letter to the County Commission expressing a desire that the County proceed cautiously wit...

The January 16th Brainstorming Meeting (of the Lake Sarasota Community Group) produced some doable project ideas. Folks also clarified what purpose any such project is about. It's really about contributing in any way we can to the 1,600-home community we call home. Here's the thinking: If you own or rent a house here, then Lake Sarasota matters to you. If bad things happen, chances are the value of your property will sink. If good things happen -- because people care -- the value of the neighborhood will rise, not just in Realtors' eyes, but in the eyes of all of us. Here are the ideas that came up at our January Brainstorming meeting. The one we have committed to putting into action is the March Neighborhood Garage Sale. The rest will depend upon support from you -- not necessarily money, but a bit of your time and energy. UPDATE: Take a moment after reading this to use the POLL at the right tell us which one or two projects matter most to you. It will be open fo...

Anyone in Lake Sarasota familiar with legal and/or liability issues for property? Our community is being offered a new signature sign for our entrance that will be placed on an easement at Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge after the widening of Bee Ridge road is complete. We need to evaluate options regarding future responsibility for the care, upkeep, and liability issues of the sign. Liability: E.g.: If a car hits the sign, (1) who pays for the repair/replacement of the sign? and, (2) If someone in the car is hurt from hitting the sign, who can be liable? Maintenance: For safety reasons, the County has prohibited residents from working on the medians of Mauna Loa. Would this apply to the landscaping area around the new sign? If so, then what landscaping will be allowed, and who will maintain it? If you have expertise and would like to help our Volunteer Board evaluate options, you can reach us at lakesarasota@gmail.com - thanks! Sample Entrance Sign

Here's a summary of the June 27, 2013 Lake Sarasota Community Group meeting: Treasurer's Report The treasury has $358.71. The LSCG renewed its not-for-profit corporate status with the state of Florida. Ellie went over some of the options for grants, and knows how the application process works. Grant funds must be matched to man-hours. One idea: get a resident boy-scout troop involved. A few ideas for projects that could be funded by grants include: Nature Walk from Mauna Loa through to the Oak Park/Lakeview School area. Improvements to Lakeview Park Make something of the dead space at Luzon and Lancaster. Revitalize Hina Park Interested? Contact Ellie, or email her via lakesarasota@gmail.com. Sheriff's Office Rep A flyer left at some homes projecting high crime in the area appears to have no basis in fact, according to Sheriff's Office Representative Det. Vince Riva, who spoke about the crime stats for Lake Sarasota. For the last 6 months there...

Several Lake Sarasota residents met with county road managers and zoning and real estate specialists Tuesday to discuss the design, placement, costs, and maintenance of new Mauna Loa entrance signs. The meeting was preliminary. In outline, Lake Sarasota folks indicated that the community would be agreeable to the removal of old walls and signage at Westminster and possibly at Wake (the wall there is apparently on a private easement), if some signage can be placed either at the Aberdeen Roundabout, or at the eastern end of Lake Sarasota to inform drivers coming from the East that they within the precincts of the Lake Sarasota community. Those present from the County agreed in principal to pay for a monument-style sign at Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge Road, so long as Lake Sarasota assumes responsibility for maintenance of it, and to explore what kind of signage might be suitable, and where, for those approaching from the East. Details all remain to be worked out as the planning for the ...