The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

The Sarasota 2050 plan offers generous development options in exchange for taxpayer and community protections. But what began as a compromise and is being finagled into a free ride. More here. What one community leader is saying: The deal struck with Sarasota 2050 is this: If you want to develop rural land at high density before we need to move the USB, then you pay for the infrastructure and develop in an efficient, environmentally friendly way that creates enough tax revenue to pay for the services the development requires. Now 6 firms want to keep increased density and welch on the rest. This isn't about the free market, this is about a free ride. - Cathy Antunes, vp Sarasota CONA Find out for yourself: Sarasota County Public Information Meetings about 2050:      June 18, 2014   Robert L. Anderson Administration Center,  Commission Chamber, 4000 S.Tamiami Tr., Venice, FL  June 26, 2014  County Administration Center, Co...

This recent letter to the editor of the local paper is circulating widely. It states a position with regard to development East of I-75 clearly. Not all might agree with Mr. Kaercher (not a person known to us by any personal or other relation), but his words at least serve as a starting point for a serious discussion of the 2050 plan. The plan is complex and not easily decidable in any absolute way. It raises a host of issues. What do you think? Growth mismanagement After three years as a permanent Venice resident I finally get it. I was naive enough to believe I'd actually found a small-town, old-Florida, relatively crime-free place to live out my golden years. I've come to understand that I was horribly wrong.It is now obvious to me that the "movers and shakers" (politicians and those who pay for their elections) who control Sarasota County and, to a degree, Venice, equate more houses, more strip malls, more traffic congestion, and more people with "progre...

Does anyone remember the 2050 plan? The idea was to respect and preserve the rural character of Sarasota County east of I-75. There was general agreement in favor of a concept -- that landowners could create master-planned communities east of I-75, in exchange for meeting higher standards of development and enhancing environmental protection. And, by supporting this alternative, environmentalists and others would accept development that protects and connects valuable natural assets.  Those were the goals then. How can they be remembered and embraced again? Source; Sarasota Herald Tribune 2.17.13 How's that working for us, facing the prospect of Racetrac 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?

The long-planned improvements to Bee Ridge Road Road east of I-75 have been given the go-ahead. Here is a statement from the Bee Ridge Neighborhoods Committee, with a project timeline: At their regularly scheduled meeting of April 24, the Sarasota County Commissioners voted (5-0) to have staff proceed with the necessary bonding requirements to insure all funding is in place for the Bee Ridge Improvement project when the next County Construction Improvement Program is published. There was approximately a $10 million gap between available funding and anticipated requirements. The gap has now been closed via bonding. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the original schedule will be followed: 60% Low Impact Design Plans available for Public review -- approximately June 2012 Design, Engineering and Permitting completed -- approximately April 2013 Right of way purchases -- ongoing Bids for Construction and selection of Contractor -- approximately 2nd Quarter 2013 ...

A note from SCOPE Lake Sarasota residents are invited to attend a focus group on April 9 th  to share how they use Bee Ridge Road.  The Transit Oriented Design committee, a grassroots citizen group that arose out of SCOPE's  Summit for Environmental Action , is hosting the focus group.    The committee wants to start a community conversation on transit-oriented development and smart growth through a case study of the Bee Ridge Road corridor.  Community input will help create a “roadmap” for elected officials, the business community and citizens to move into the future.   A grassroots citizen group needs your vision and input at a Focus Group on transforming Bee Ridge Road to better serve the businesses, adjoining neighborhoods and beyond. Focus Groups are being held with neighborhood associations, businesses and places of worship along the Bee Ridge corridor.     The committee believes this is a unique and important moment to get involved because:   ·          2008 Urban Service Bo...

From the Herald-Trib: Compromise may kill growth item on ballot Pact allows urban-rural line to change with 5-0 County Commission vote By Roger Drouin and Doug Sword SARASOTA — A battle over growth east of the interstate that was headed for a contentious ballot measure in May has apparently been averted after business groups and slow-growth advocates said they reached a compromise over the issue. Slow-growth advocate Bill Earl, who heads the group Citizens for Sensible Growth, and developer Henry Rodriguez, representing Citizens for Quality Living, unveiled the agreement to the County Commission on Tuesday. The compromise keeps the power to change the county's line between urban and rural development within the scope of the County Commission -- instead of requiring an election referendum each time the commission wants to change the boundary. More...