The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

The Bee Ridge Neighborhoods Committee met with Racetrac this morning to discussion ways to mitigate impacts of the planned 24-pump Racetrac gas station that is planned for the Northeast corner of Bee Ridge Rd. at Mauna Loa Blvd. Here are some highlights -- more detailed report will follow. Racetrac representative Tom Hardy fielded questions from the Committee for an hour, then addressed questions specific to Lake Sarasota, as this is the nearest and most exposed community. The top items: 1. The company is looking at possibly reducing the size of the store from 6,000 square feet to 5,200 square feet. This is a result of the realization that the station will be on a "tight site" within a cul de sac.  The smaller store will have all the same amenities, including window counter with wifi and a beer cave, that the larger, 6,000 square foot stores have. 2. Because Bee Ridge Rd. is due for widening, Racetrac is now thinking to push back its construction start until...

On Wednesday, November 7 several members of the Lake Sarasota Community Group and the Bee Ridge Neighborhoods Committee met with Tom Hardy, project manager of RaceTrac gas stations for Southwest Florida. Mr. Hardy confirmed that the privately-owned RaceTrac Corp. , which is based in Atlanta, is “rolling out aggressively” in Florida. Over the next few months the company plans to open 30 new gas stations around the state. While most Floridians are familiar with the current RaceTrac format, these 30 stores will use a new design sporting a substantially larger footprint. An example of the current design is found on Fruitville Rd., just west of I-75. That station has a 5,000-square-foot footprint for its store. The new models will have a 6,000-square-foot floor plan . New, Larger Format The new stations will have 24 pumps, open 24 hours a day. The larger structure will enable RaceTrac to offer a broader variety of foods, including hot dogs, sodas, burritos, chicken parmesan, quesad...

As of yet there is no word as to when a Neighborhood Workshop on Terracap's proposal to rezone part of the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce will be held. We'll send out an email as soon as we know. It's easy to get on the email list  -- just send a note to lakesarasota@gmail.com . The Bee Ridge Neighborhoods Committee , which for several years has worked with planners on the widening of Bee Ridge Rd., has written to Racetrac Inc., noting several concerns with the large, 24-hour gas station the company wishes to build opposite the front entrance to Lake Sarasota, at Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge Rd. The full text of that letter is here . The key concerns noted in the letter that relate to Lake Sarasota were: The Committee recognizes that Racetrac will be a large, tall, highly visible and active presence on East Bee Ridge Road., a road consisting mainly of bedroom communities that has heretofore been completely without commercial activity after 5 p.m. In view of the desire of ...

As many know, Lake Sarasota and other Bee Ridge neighborhoods tried to work with RaceTrac to add some buffering to their landscaping - a few more trees, etc. Normally such large gas stations are not situated directly across from residential neighborhoods. Unfortunately the plans for the gas station were submitted years ago and approved by the Sarasota County Commission before virtually anyone in the community knew about it. The letter to County Administrator Thomas Harmer from a couple of days ago came from the Bee Ridge Neighborhoods Committee, which represents 14 communities along Bee Ridge Rd. and Bee Ridge Extension, comprising a total of over 9,000 rooftops. Mr. T. Harmer     tharmer@scgov.net County Administrator Sarasota County Dear Mr. Harmer:   Recently a RaceTrac gas station opened at the intersection of Manua Loa and Bee Ridge Road, (Northeast corner). While facing Bee Ridge, it sits directly across the street from ...

The Bee Ridge Neighborhoods Committee -- a coalition of Bee Ridge communities including Lake Sarasota, Laurel Oaks, Bent Tree, The Hammocks, Misty Creek and several more -- specifically asked the project manager of RaceTrac to beef up the landscaping. In return, the coalition offered to support their petition for a right-in turn lane from Bee Ridge Road. The coalition has kept its part of the bargain, but when Tom Hardy, project manager for Racetrac, was asked why there was not a single plant more than the minimum required by the County, here's Mr. Hardy's reply in toto : I have considered your request for the additional trees along Bee Ridge Road. We will not be adding any additional trees. We feel we have a balanced landscape that meets Sarasota County’s requirements. We have provided significant base shrubs and groundcover along the frontage that is well above code.  As far as the residents of Sarasota Lakes, we look forward to serving them and will embrace ou...

The Neighborhood Workshop regarding Rezoning of Bee Ridge Park of Commerce is now scheduled for Wed. Feb. 20th, 6 pm. at the Disabled Veterans Lodge. Here's the confirmation from County Planning: Peter Dailey contacted our office this afternoon to confirm that the neighborhood workshop IS ON for February 20th at 6 pm at the Disabled American Veteran’s Lodge located at 7177 Bee Ridge Road (the lodge is located approximately a ¼ mile east of Mauna Loa Blvd. on the north side of Bee Ridge Road). Note: As of this posting we still do not know whether Racetrac, which plans a 24-pump gas station on this site, will be included in the proposed rezoning (in which case it will need a special exception to have more than 4 pumps), or whether it will stay with the PCD, which allows for 24 pumps. If built as planned, it will be the largest Racetrac on the West Coast of Florida. Here is a letter to Racetrac from local neighborhoods  (also here ) - as yet we have received no response from the...

The TerraCap Rezoning Neighborhood Workshop of 2.20.13 was attended by roughly 65 residents of the East Bee Ridge Communities. The point of most pressing interest to many at the meeting -- the size of Racetrac , and the potential nuisance and safety factors of its 24-hour operation -- was not addressed, because Racetrac Petroleum Inc. recently chose to remove itself from the rezoning petition. TerraCap’s first act, upon purchasing 40 acres of the BRPOC for $3.2 million in 2011, was to sell two acres at the intersection of North Mauna Loa Blvd. and Bee Ridge Rd. to Racetrac for $1.35 million . The rezoning petition is limited to 7.7 acres which TerraCap, the Canada-based developer, is asking to change from PCD to CN. See more about those two kinds of zoning here. The Workshop disclosed little in the way of new information. Peter Dailey of Dailey Design, who represented TerraCap and is the consultant working for them on permitting issues, said the rezoning to CN would replace an ...

Members of the Board and other interested residents of Lake Sarasota will meet today with representatives of TerraCap in a final effort to negotiate a neighborhood-friendly agreement addressing the concerns regarding safety, tranquility, and property values. The results will be reported here. === A conversation about a legally binding Covenant between Lake Sarasota residents and agents for TerraCap Mgmt. has not progressed since a June 12 meeting . The community has concerns about traffic, nuisance noise and odors, and damage to property values that could arise from mishandled development of the commercial land opposite the front entrance of the Lake S. community at Mauna Loa Blvd. and Bee Ridge Road. Agents for TerraCap , the Canadian owner of the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce who sold the front property to Racetrac, were approached in April about a Covenant, but ignored the Community's overture. After the developer's latest rezoning plan failed to receive County app...

A re-zoning long sought by the owners of the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce (BRPOC) was approved Tuesday by the Sarasota County Commission. The approval (changing zoning from PCD -> Commercial Neighborhood) was delayed due to complications of road design as well as concerns from nearby neighborhoods about impacts of the development upon traffic, tranquility, and property values. The owner/developer, the Canadian firm TerraCap, entered into discussions with neighborhood representatives that led to a compromise agreement. A voluntary Declaration or Covenant, it limits the kinds of businesses that can operate in the Park of Commerce, and imposes other constraints upon hours of delivery, lighting, noise and signage. Once signed and recorded, it is legally binding upon the developer. The Commission made the rezoning approval contingent upon the signing and recording of the Declaration. A copy of the final document can be downloaded here . In addition, the developer stipulated that no spa...

The agent for the Canadian owner/developer of the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce -- the site opposite the entrance to Lake Sarasota -- offered a more detailed, pared-down version of a plan he presented in February . The plan now calls for creating a 77,400-square-foot commercial building and two restaurants on land on the north and east sides of the site designated for a Racetrac gas station. The presentation by Peter Dailey contained a few surprises, and was somewhat different from what appeared on earlier paperwork submitted to the county planning department. This is a summary of key items. A longer analysis will come later. 1. The petition seeks permission to build a single commercial building about 77,400 square feet in size. Earlier, the developer had wanted two separate buildings. The single structure now proposed would have one floor, eliminating a second-story residential floor sought in earlier stages of the plan. 2. The developer seeks to raise a limit to 33,700 square f...

RaceTrac is proposing a 6,000-square-foot gas station and convenience store at the corner of North Mauna Loa Blvd and Bee Ridge Rd. This is directly opposite the entrance to Lake Sarasota. Potential impacts include: A much busier intersection at Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge. Light and glare from large signs and station lighting 24-hours a day. Noise of cars and trucks. Odors of gas and oil. Attracting traffic from I-75. Large ugly signs. Urbanizing the look of Bee Ridge and the Medical Park at North Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge.. Members of the Lake Sarasota Community Group are meeting with a representative of RaceTrac next week to explore possible methods of shielding our community from some of these impacts. If you wish to share ideas, please send them to LakeSarasota@gmail.com. Here is a detailed traffic analysis done for RaceTrac with more info and images.

The Lake Sarasota Community Group meets Thursday Dec. 12 at 7 pm, Sarasota Alliance Church - in the meeting room facility behind the church. Treasurer's report (Ellie) Update on roadwork timing, demolitions, Bee Ridge Rd. utilities, FDOT, Racetrac, Neighborhood Workshop set for Dec. 16 (Tom) Update on Lake Sarasota sign, Community Yard sale, etc. (Sandy) Grants (Ellie) Sheriff's Report for Nov. if available (Ted) New Business  Photos of the new style Racetrac, likely similar to what Racetrac plans to build opposite th entrance to Lake Sarasota:

An unusually large number of Lake Sarasotans turned out Thursday evening to the quarterly Community Group meeting, and they made their feelings regarding a proposal for intensified development loud and clear: A straw vote was unanimously opposed to any enlargement of the "Park of Commerce" directly across from the main entrance to the neighborhood. The group was also largely supportive of focusing on working with county planners to create a well-designed front entrance as Bee Ridge Road is widened. On a third topic, there was vocal opposition to expanding SCAT bus routes through Lake Sarasota, but some supported the idea. Most said they'd want to see clear evidence that buses would be needed and used by the community before agreeing to an expansion. The meeting drew so many people that it was moved to a larger hall  offered by Sarasota Alliance Church  in the same building to accommodate everyone.  The proposed enlargement of the commercial plan at the Park of C...

The Lake Sarasota Community Group - a volunteer group for the neighborhood - plans to meet on Thursday, Dec. 13th at 7 pm at Sarasota Alliance Church - the meeting rooms are in the building behind the church, which is at 7221 Bee Ridge Road , across from Chaucer. Three items up for discussion address potentially significant changes to the area east of  I-75: 1. New Look for Front Entrance The existing entrance to Lake Sarasota at Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge Rd. will be removed when Bee Ridge is widened, beginning a year from now. County planners working on the project wish to meet with representatives from Lake Sarasota to get a sense of what our community would like to see at that entrance after the project is complete. Walls? Fencing with landscaping? Signage?   We welcome ideas and want to know your thoughts. If you can't make the meeting, please share your input with us at lakesarasota@gmail.com. 2. New Commerce Several proposals for a new RaceTrac gas station ...

The Sarasota County Commission Wednesday voted to continue the rezoning petition brought by the developers of the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce. The Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to postpone consideration of the proposed plan for the BRPOC , situated opposite the entrance to Lake Sarasota at Mauna Loa Blvd. and Bee Ridge Rd. The Commissioners cited several reasons for not approving the petition:  For one thing, the proposal for an 77,000-square-foot building lacked clear definition of how it would be used. "You could do something more imaginative and appealing," said Commission Nora Patterson, adding that with some creative work, it could prove to be a community asset. For another, the request for an extra median cut in North Mauna Loa Blvd. opposite the planned Racetrac Gas Station raised public safety concerns because of its proximity to the signal at Bee Ridge and Mauna Loa Blvd. A third issue mentioned by three of the five Commissioners was that the developer,...

Lake Sarasota Community Group meets Thurs. March 14, 7 pm at Sarasota Alliance Church , 7221 Bee Ridge Rd., Room C106. Design of 6,000 s.f. Racetrac Gas Station at BRPOC Agenda 1. Treasury (Ellie) 2. Racetrac update (Tom) 3. TerraCap Update a. PCD vs CN (Sandy, Francine and Arnis, Tom, and anyone else). b. Options allowed by the process. 4. Security - Citizens Patrol, Sheriff's Report - (Ted) 5. Activities (Sandy) 6. Current State of the Real Estate market (Sandy)

Quick notes from the March 14, 2013 LSCG meeting: 16 attending. 1. Treasury currently has $439.20. Minor expenses approved for copying documents, and for renewing the 501(c)4, and for joining CONA ($35). 2. A slate of officers was nominated to be the board for the new year beginning at the time the corporate status is renewed, in May. 3. We continue to work with the County on a style of sign and placement for Lake Sarasota after Bee Ridge is widened. Several styles are being considered by the County, which can be seen here.  Those in attendance expressed a preference for the "Silver Lake" sign. 4. The group voted unanimously to join CONA Sarasota . 5. A meeting with the County is being scheduled to discuss the traffic impacts of a planned Racetrac. Racetrac says it is considering pausing its construction due to the Bee Ridge road widening. 6. A meeting with Zoning will be considered to express our community's wishes regarding CN zoning stipulations on the T...

UPDATE: Late this afternoon, the attorney for TerraCap confirmed that the firm, which owns the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce, has asked the County to postpone a rezoning hearing previously set for Sept. 10th. The reason is to allow time to work on a mutually beneficial agreement between TerraCap and the Lake Sarasota. See below for details of the neighborhood's reasons for seeking such an agreement. === At a meeting yesterday with TerraCap and a land-use attorney it has retained, representatives from Lake Sarasota and the Bee Ridge Neighborhood Committee laid out neighborhood concerns related to the prospective development of the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce (BRPOC). The meeting was the first with corporate officers for TerraCap , which owns the land. Earlier discussions with its local agents had stalled . Key points of our presentation: - The 50-acre plot of land lies directly opposite the front entrance to Lake Sarasota, at an already difficult intersection that sees frequ...

A developer is going to build up to 90,000 square feet of retail on 8 acres across the road from Lake Sarasota's entrance. They've applied to the County for rezoning in order to break ground. What will it look like?  How will it affect traffic at our entrance? What sorts of businesses will it attract other than Racetrac? How will it affect the character of Bee Ridge east of I-75? If you're wondering about these and other questions, you're not alone. The Feb. 20th public meeting is our one chance to listen, ask, and comment. Racetrac won't be there -- they plan to build under the existing zoning, but we hope to meet with them separately. The meeting with the developer is: Wednesday Feb. 20th, 6 pm , at the Disabled Vets Hall on Bee Ridge Rd., opposite Middlesex. Bring copies of your written questions. Hand them in to the County and to the developer.

The upcoming Lake Sarasota neighborhood meeting this Thursday, Dec. 13, is set to discuss these items: The style of entrance we'd like after Bee Ridge Road is widened. A possible expansion of SCAT routes through the neighorhood A recent proposal to make the real estate development directly opposite our entrance on Bee Ridge Road larger and more intense. On this last item, I attended the development review meeting this past Thursday about enlarging the commercial development. Here's a very brief recap: TERRACAP’s Proposed Rezoning A private group of Canadian investors (Terracap, a Canadian group that bought the land from Horton in 2011 ) is now asking the county to expand their original agreement, which was made in 1997, and which allowed for four (4) acres of commercial space on the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce (zoned PCD), opposite the front entrance to Lake Sarasota at Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge.They wish to rezone it to Commercial Neighborhood (CN)...