The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

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

A few sample entrance signs found via a Google search: A - Overlook B - Covered Bridge C - Fields D - Highgate E - Brownsboro There's no assurance any of these will be affordable, feasible, or what we want. But if you did want to express a preference, the poll to the upper right will afford that opportunity for a few days.  

The Lake Sarasota Community Group meeting at 7 pm on March 8 will be a general community meeting with four items: 1. This will give Lake Sarasota residents a chance to learn in detail about the Bee Ridge Rd. widening project scheduled to begin, as of now, in 2013. A large detailed image map of the project will be on hand for examination. Come find out how more about the project and get your questions answered. 2. A discussion of a grant from the county to improve the entrance medians to Lake Sarasota. 3. Hina Pocket Park maintenance and graffiti issues. 4. The Board will discuss the Lake Sarasota Community Group's future direction, possibly including the election of officers. The meeting begins at 7 pm in the meeting rooms in the back building behind Sarasota Alliance Church, 7221 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, 34241.   View Larger Map

Highlights of tonight's meeting: Treasury [Updated after meeting]: LSCG has $321.09 in its budget, unchanged from last quarter, according to Ellie, who adds, "I believe all required reports have been filed for the year as well." Bee Ridge Rd Update Joe O'Hara of the Bee Ridge Neighborhoods Committee provided an informative overview of the history of the Bee Ridge Road Widening from inception to the present. He offered excellent explanations of the key planning and financing hurdles, the timetable going forward, and the things for all residents to watch for. The current concept is a Low Impact Plan that saves trees, provides ample buffers and water retention, and makes for a safe and attractive gateway. The main upcoming event will be a Community Review of the initial plans for the road. These are currently underway. A meeting with the Community will be held when they are approximately 30% complete -- Mr. O'Hara said this could take place in December. Keep an ey...

Much of the May 13th meeting at Sarasota Alliance Church was devoted to hearing developer Richard Fischer's idea for turning a 23-acre parcel of land at the west end of lake Sarasota -- between the edge of the development and I-75 -- into a nature sanctuary, park, or other amenity. Such a plan might tie in with the upgrading of Bee Ridge Road - even be a natural "front end" to a widened Bee Ridge corridor that would contain buffered borders including trees, bicycle lanes, meandering sidewalks and retention ponds. To fund the purchase of the land, Lake Sarasota could petition to create a special taxing district. Before this could go forward, 67% of Lake Sarasota's property owners would have to agree. More details to come. Treasurer Ellie said sales of the local LSCG business directory have brought our funds to $1,482.74. Those present approved a $40 payment to renew the Group's post box for another year. We still have $1,200 in county grant monies , said Deb...

Our new plants at the entrances are in need of water. If you have a few minutes and a bucket, stop by and them drink. Thanks for keeping our neighborhood beautiful!

Volunteers to help clean and mulch the Mauna Loa entrance and median are asked to meet  at the intersection of Mauna Loa and Tarawa at 9 a.m. this Saturday, April 17. Bring hat, gloves, shovels, rakes, clippers, etc. Any questions, contact Ray at raycons1@comcast.net or at 371-1180.

Highlights of the April 8, 2010 meeting are below: - The treasury is now at $342.72 after renewal of the articles of incorporation for the Lake Sarasota Community Group ($61.25), new Yard of the Month signs ($75 - kindly desist from stealing them), and reimbursal to Sandy Allen for printing and misc. expenses of the Yard sale ($102). A $500 charitable contribution at Christmas was the major other expense. - Three new homes were chosen for Yard of the Month . (By the way, we do not publish names or addresses of those homes because we have not received permission to use them, and do not wish to violate privacy. If you would like your home or name listed, just get in touch or leave a note in the comments thread below.) - Beautification : Ray and Connie are taking names to volunteer to help mulch and improve the Mauna Loa Entrance and median on Saturday, April 17th, from 9 to noon. If you can lend a hand, please let them know -  their email. - Ray also noted that there's a ...

The Lake Sarasota Community Group, a not-for-profit, voluntary organization, holds its April meeting on Thursday, April 8th at Sarasota Alliance Church, 7221 Bee Ridge Rd . Meetings start at 7 p.m. and run until 8:30 p.m. The agenda will include, among other items: - Plans for upkeep for front entrance, medians and Hina Park. - Update on County Grant funds. - Yard of the Month - Report on Yard Sale and Business Directory - Ideas for events, fundraisers. - Security - Citizens Patrol, recent activity, Sheriff's reports. - Treasurer's Report. - Update from Sandy: [Developer]  Richard Fischer will be coming to our meeting and will be able to talk about the land between lake sarasota and I75 and the land on mauna loa extension.  There have been some new developments..a possible bond.