The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

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...

One of Sarasota County's project managers for the Bee Ridge Road widening provided some updates on that project at Friday's meeting of the Bee Ridge Neighborhood Committee. State to put in Sidewalk  In a surprise move, the state plans to build a sidewalk on the South side of Bee Ridge from Cattlemen to where the state's portion of Bee Ridge ends -- near the exit ramp from I-75. This project was moved up -- originally it was not expected to happen before 2018, but with this funding, it might be completed before the end of this year. This is great news for those who have had to walk along the roadway, or in the weeds, to get to businesses West of the highway. State's portion of Bee Ridge begins at the dark area marked with the yellow pointer. When the County completes its widening of Bee Ridge, a sidewalk will run along the south side, connecting with the state's sidewalk and providing a continuous walkway from Cattlemen out to the Bee Ridge extension. Ther...

Several Lake Sarasota residents met with county road managers and zoning and real estate specialists Tuesday to discuss the design, placement, costs, and maintenance of new Mauna Loa entrance signs. The meeting was preliminary. In outline, Lake Sarasota folks indicated that the community would be agreeable to the removal of old walls and signage at Westminster and possibly at Wake (the wall there is apparently on a private easement), if some signage can be placed either at the Aberdeen Roundabout, or at the eastern end of Lake Sarasota to inform drivers coming from the East that they within the precincts of the Lake Sarasota community. Those present from the County agreed in principal to pay for a monument-style sign at Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge Road, so long as Lake Sarasota assumes responsibility for maintenance of it, and to explore what kind of signage might be suitable, and where, for those approaching from the East. Details all remain to be worked out as the planning for the ...