The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

The Sarasota County Traffic Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on Monday, Nov. 13, at 1:15 p.m. The meeting will address proposed traffic controls for certain intersections on Mauna Loa Blvd. -- specifically, stop signs. The meeting will be in the Board Chambers of the Sarasota County Administration Building, 1616 Ringling Blvd. More info: 861-5000.

The county workshop on the plan to connect Clark Road to the Landfill south of it was over-attended by a large number of interested persons Monday evening. So much so that at least one quarter of the crowd was asked to leave to avoid breaking fire regulations before the workshop got underway. Why was it so well attended? One man standing in line to get in nailed it when he said, "Anytime something threatens to lower my property value by double digits, I'm there." Another workshop will be announced, a mailing will go out, and those who were unable to get in tonight will have a chance to hear and to comment. No action will be taken by the county before that third workshop will be held (there was one last week in South County). One odd note: This is purely speculative, and might never happen. But....according to some of the people at the workshop, the maps indicated that the Bee Ridge Extension would form part of a linkage extending from Bee Ridge to Clark to the Landfill. ...

A neighborhood workshop will be held this evening (Monday, Oct. 30th) to discuss a proposed plan to allow access to the county landfill from Clark Road, which is north of the Landfill. You can read more about the proposal and how some in the community feel about it by going to SaveClarkRoad.com . Tonight's meeting is from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at Twin Lakes Park. (Next week, on Tuesday, November 7, there will be a workshop to discuss the proposed Apartment Complex for 330 apartments on a tract of land opposite the main entrance to Lake Sarasota. That meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Hampton Inn , Roosevelt Room.)

Sarasota County east of I-75 is ripe for development, which will mean changes in roads, density, commercial space, housing and population that could affect property values and the quality of life for all those living along or between Bee Ridge and Clark Roads. Here a just two of several projects and proposals for the area: 1. From Joe O'Hara, chairman of the Bee Ridge Neighborhoods Committee: In Saturday's mail I received a notice of a Neighborhood Workshop that I am not sure all of you may have gotten. It is a meeting to discuss a re-zoning petition within or behind the Bee Ridge Park of Commerce. The entry to the project appears to be from Mauna Loa Blvd--although I can not tell from the plans attached. The meeting will be to discuss the application which will seek to change 36 acres within the Park or immediately adjacent-- from OUE to RMF-2. The application proposes to build 330 apartments on the 36 acres. The location of the Workshop is Hampton Inn, 5995 Cattleman Rd.at 6...

The Lake Sarasota Community Group met Tuesday evening. Here are some highlights: The Beautification Committee plans to attach letters to the Westminster Wall on Saturday morning, around 7:30 a.m. This entrance will be basically finished except for some landscaping. A new sign for the Mauna Loa entrance was on display, featuring the name of the subdivision, a palm tree and a lake. Here's the idea: Thanks to Debbie Marks, the County has agreed to pay for the sign. A grant is "all but assured" to fund a Yard-of-the-Month program. Any home that's improved its appearance can be nominated, and winners will be plucked from a hat. The program should begin in November - more on this to come. Traffic Calming: A county traffic advisory board meets Nov. 13th -- Debbie Marks will let us know if proposed stop signs for Mauna Loa and Jarvis will be on the agenda of that meeting. Diane McDonald is happy to receive baked goods or small plants, etc., to go into the Welcome Wagon pac...

Come see the proposed design for the new Mauna Loa entrance sign for Lake Sarasota at the next General Meeting of Lake Sarasota's Community Group: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 6:30 p.m. at Sarasota Baptist Church , 7091 Proctor Road. In addition to updates on traffic calming efforts, beautification, and other ongoing concerns, a representative of the County's Code Enforcement operation will be on hand to review code issues.