The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

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 ...

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...

The next regular meeting of the Lake Sarasota Community Group is Thursday, March 14th, 7 pm, Sarasota Alliance Church offices (behind the church). It has been suggested that we in Lake Sarasota identify what we consider as "acceptable kinds of businesses" for the TerraCap development. Why? Because if TerraCap's petition to rezone to CN is approved, a lot of what is now supposed to be medical use can become any of a wide variety of other uses, in some cases needing no approval from the county or the neighboring communities. TerraCap at Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge Rd. Sandy has compiled a very good comparison of potential uses in PCD zoning (the current designation), and those in CN (the designation TerraCap is seeking). (More  here. ) In general, PCD is much broader - e.g., light industrial uses are permitted, so are loud activities such as shooting ranges -- which are not allowed under CN. CN also requires more buffering and landscaping. Gluttons for punishment...

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)...

Virtual Neighborhood Workshop Notice: PLEASE NOTE: The previous Zoom Meeting for July 15, 2020 is Cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience. The New Date is Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 6 pm. This Rezoning/Special Exception will allow for the creation of a mixed-use development consisting of a maximum of 270 multifamily units and 8.87 Acres +/- of PCD commercial uses on four parcels fronting along Bee Ridge Road. The entire project is contained within two PID Nos. 0240100030 and 0240140010. Please visit the following scheduled Zoom Meeting: Topic: Proposed Small Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment; Rezone Petition/Special Exception for the Enclave at BRPOC, Sarasota, Florida 34231 Time: 6:00 PM (Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting :  [Click link above or type the entire link into your browser] https://zoom.us/j/9336201982?pwd=VHA0dFZ3dVRmNS91UUJQeU1qemdLUT09 Meeting ID: 933 620 1982 Password: 123456 Call-In Number: 1 646 876 9923 T...

The Lake Sarasota Community Group will hold its quarterly meeting on Thursday Sept. 13, at 7 pm at Sarasota Alliance Church, on the north side of Bee Ridge Rd. across from Chaucer. The meeting rooms are to the rear of the church. The agenda will include: A representative of TerraCap, the Canadian owner of the land north of Bee Ridge at Mauna Loa, will attend. TerraCap has been approached by a number of businesses seeking sites on its property, and one or more of them could present a potential conflict with the  Declaration of Covenant signed by TerraCap in 2014 . That document lists a variety of kinds of businesses that might create a nuisance for residents of Lake Sarasota, especially those who live near Bee Ridge Road. The group might be asked to discuss and offer input on these potential neighbors. There will also be an update on the existing developments now on the site. HealthSouth, for example, could be expanding, and Ridgelake, a new apartment complex with something l...

Letter to the Planning Commission June 11, 2021: Andrew.Stultz@ sarasotaadvisory.net , Colin.Pember@sarasotaadvisory. net , Kevin.Cooper@sarasotaadvisory. net , Laura.Benson@sarasotaadvisory. net , Teresa.Mast@sarasotaadvisory. net , Neil.Rainford@ sarasotaadvisory.net , Drew.Peters@sarasotaadvisory. net , Justin.Taylor@ sarasotaadvisory.net , Frank.Strelec@ sarasotaadvisory.net , The community of Lake Sarasota consists of more than 1,600 homes along and to the south of Bee Ridge Road immediately east of I-75. The Lake Sarasota Community Group has had constructive communications with TerraCap, the developer of the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce (BRPOC), since 2013. The developer voluntarily signed a 2014 Covenant by which it committed to certain constraints upon uses to avoid nuisance issues. The original of that Covenant and a newly revised version of it are in your packets for this public review, and a document with both the original Covenant and the developer's proposed revised vers...

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...

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...

The proposed Enclave project comes before the Planning Commission June 17. It could add as many as 270 apartments, more than 700 parking spaces, and several thousand square feet of commercial or office space on North Mauna Loa Blvd. on Bee Ridge Road  The developer is Terracap, based in Toronto. Background: Bee Ridge Park of Commerce (BRPOC) Enclave application This link goes to several maps, images and data points . A 2014 covenant  committed Terracap to willingly refrain from certain uses such as a car wash, package store, or outdoor entertainment that could produce noise or light disturbing to nearby homes. TerraCap has submitted a  revised covenant. This link goes to a document containing the original 2014 Covenant of 2014 followed by a clean copy of the proposed update.  To gauge community response,  please complete this quick survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/ r/LHZGHHC

UPDATE: The rep for TerraCap, the Dailey Design Group , has postponed the Neighborhood Workshop on rezoning the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce .  They expect to announce a new date soon - the earliest date would be Wed. Feb. 20th. The date for the "Neighborhood Workshop" for the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce Rezoning has just been announced. It will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13th, at the Disabled American Veterans Hall, 7177 Bee Ridge Rd., which is a small building east of Aberdeen, on the north side of Bee Ridge opposite Middlesex. This meeting is the one point in the development process where the neighborhood has the chance to listen to and speak to the developer, TerraCap , a Canadian investment firm . The developer will present his plan, which was outlined for the County in December. It involves a rezoning that would allow larger and more intense development of the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce, a 54-acre site at Mauna Loa Blvd. and Bee Ridge Rd. that up to now h...

TerraCap, the Canadian owner of the property opposite the Mauna Loa entrance to Lake Sarasota on Bee Ridge Rd.,  voluntarily signed a Covenant in 2014  to work with our community with regard to certain business uses it might wish to include on its 7-acre  property. The land lies behind, as well as both west and east of Racetrac. TerraCap recently asked whether the community would accept an automated car wash east of Ractrac on Bee Ridge, and multi-family housing behind the service station - both uses are restricted by the Covenant. The Covenant document is here . Next Thursday, Dec. 6, the community will meet to assess these proposals. A planner working with TerraCap will be present to discuss. Neighbors who live near Bee Ridge might be especially interested in seeing plans and discussing. Where: Meeting rooms behind Sarasota Alliance Church When: Thursday, Dec. 6, 7 pm If you cannot make the meeting but have concerns, share with Keith Russo, LSCG president, at ...

A summary of the Lake Sarasota Community Group meeting of Sept. 11, 2014. Treasurer’s report - the group has $297 and no debts. It voted unanimously to renew membership in CONA Sarasota . Update on Bee Ridge roadwork : Speed limit remains 35 mph throughout the duration of the project. Police are actively enforcing the limit. Racetrac  has begun work on its gas station at Mauna Loa Blvd. and Bee Ridge Rd. opposite the entrance to Lake Sarasota. The station will have 20 bays and a large store footprint. Racetrac construction TerraCap and the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce : TerraCap requested and received a postponement of its petitioned rezoning for the 50-acre plot at the north side Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge Rd. to allow time to meet with neighborhood representatives who are seeking a legally binding covenant to limit impacts on traffic and nuisance issues (bright lights, noise at night, etc). The rezoning will be heard at the County on Nov. 4. Representatives of resident...

The topic did not come up at the Neighborhood Workshop, but aside from the 90,000 square feet that TerraCap is seeking to rezone to CN for retail, offices and restaurants, there are other parcels totaling another 85,000 square feet which are already approved for a bank, drugstore, etc. Yet another parcel of unspecified size is approved and designated for a hotel. Here's the letter from Peter Dailey stating all this - click to enlarge:

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,...

At a Planning Commission hearing on April 3, the agents for TerraCap, the owner of the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce, were directed by the Commissioners to work with nearby residents to establish an understanding of what the neighborhoods would consider friendly and welcome uses for the commercial spaces. On May 21, the County Commission will be asked to approve the rezoning of the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce. About 7 acres of the 40-acre site will be converted from  PCD to CN zoning . The rest remains PCD. As the above link shows, PCD allows a very wide range of uses, from clubs to liquor stores to gun and archery ranges. Even under the narrower CN zoning, the range includes several uses that Lake Sarasota and other area residents cited as objectionable. These included: Stormwater facility in different zoning district than principal use Clubs & lodges Day Care Bars Boarding House Entertainment Outdoors Animal Hospital On April 3, TerraCap agents Richar...

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...

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...