The Lake Sarasota Community Blog

The bulk of the activity is now to the East of Lake Sarasota - towards Bent Tree and Iona Blvd, where a crew will be working June 11 to create the roundabout:

A detailed update on the Bee Ridge Rd. project came from the Bee Ridge Neighborhoods Committee, a volunteer group representing some 14 communities impacted by the Bee Ridge Rd. improvements. The information was shared at the Dec. 10th Lake Sarasota Community Group meeting , and is in addition to the latest official report  from Sarasota County: The new completion date for the project as a whole is now June 2016 (original date was April), mainly because of unusual amounts of rain. The traffic signals at Mauna Loa are currently under control of the contractor, and they are being monitored to cope with changes in traffic levels due to returning snowbirds and seasonal fluctuation. The Mauna Loa intersection is considered "very difficult" and will require ramping. The south lanes need to be resurfaced and elevated to match the northern lanes of Bee Ridge. Asphalt plants go offline this time of year, however, so the timing of the southern lane elevation has been moved to b...

Sarasota County approved a construction contract for Bee Ridge Road on Tuesday May 20th. Work should begin between 45 and 60 days from that date. It's not yet determined where on Bee Ridge the work will start. Here's the latest we have on the plans. ADOPTED/APPROVED      57. PUBLIC WORKS A. Public hearing to consider a proposed Resolution, Budget Amendment No. B2014-037, amending the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget to appropriate funding to Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project No. 75830 - Bee Ridge Road East, for the improvements associated with Bee Ridge Road from Mauna Loa Boulevard to Iona Road, in the amount of $375,333.00; B. (Not a public hearing.) The Board considered a proposed Contract with Westra Construction Corporation, for construction of the Bee Ridge Road Improvements (from Mauna Loa Boulevard to Iona Road), in the amount of $22,019,093.83; C. (Not a public hearing.) The Board considered a proposed Contract with CDM S...

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...

The Lake Sarasota Community Group - a volunteer group for the neighborhood - plans to meet on Thursday, Dec. 13th at 7 pm at Sarasota Alliance Church - the meeting rooms are in the building behind the church, which is at 7221 Bee Ridge Road , across from Chaucer. Three items up for discussion address potentially significant changes to the area east of  I-75: 1. New Look for Front Entrance The existing entrance to Lake Sarasota at Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge Rd. will be removed when Bee Ridge is widened, beginning a year from now. County planners working on the project wish to meet with representatives from Lake Sarasota to get a sense of what our community would like to see at that entrance after the project is complete. Walls? Fencing with landscaping? Signage?   We welcome ideas and want to know your thoughts. If you can't make the meeting, please share your input with us at lakesarasota@gmail.com. 2. New Commerce Several proposals for a new RaceTrac gas station ...

In addition to the super-sized RaceTrac that is proposed at Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge Road, there are plans to build 100,000 square feet of retail space, and a drug store, and a restaurant. Here's an image filed with the county that marks out the area for these proposals. All are directly north of the front entrance to Lake Sarasota at Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge: A drugstore, restaurant, RaceTrac and retail shops planned

On Wednesday, November 7 several members of the Lake Sarasota Community Group and the Bee Ridge Neighborhoods Committee met with Tom Hardy, project manager of RaceTrac gas stations for Southwest Florida. Mr. Hardy confirmed that the privately-owned RaceTrac Corp. , which is based in Atlanta, is “rolling out aggressively” in Florida. Over the next few months the company plans to open 30 new gas stations around the state. While most Floridians are familiar with the current RaceTrac format, these 30 stores will use a new design sporting a substantially larger footprint. An example of the current design is found on Fruitville Rd., just west of I-75. That station has a 5,000-square-foot footprint for its store. The new models will have a 6,000-square-foot floor plan . New, Larger Format The new stations will have 24 pumps, open 24 hours a day. The larger structure will enable RaceTrac to offer a broader variety of foods, including hot dogs, sodas, burritos, chicken parmesan, quesad...

A brief summary of the September LSCG meeting: 1. Donald Hadsell spoke about zero-interest rehab loans available from the county. No monthly payments, and they don't need to be repaid until you sell your property. Contact the Office of Housing and Community Development , 941 951-3640. 2. A new gym is opening in the Burlington Coat Factory shopping center - where the Sweetbay had been, there's now an LA Fitness  with a 25-meter pool, jacuzzi, weights, cardio, and a staff to help you get started. Opening tomorrow 10 am with special offers for Lake Sarasota Residents. Contact Tanya: 941 330-6316. Ask about group memberships, classes, personal training, kids club, and more. 3. Those present were asked how they'd feel about having an expanded SCAT bus route through Lake Sarasota. The response was uniformly positive, and the county planners will be made aware of the community's interest. 4. It was made clear that the signature walls at Westminster  (with the Lake ...

The 9.6.12 community review of the Bee Ridge Road widening was very well attended. Questions were asked and answered, comments and feedback were offered. Large images of the project showed the road as it is now planned, at 60% of planning now completed. While still open to revision or modification, the current plans can be summarized as follows: Impacts upon Lake Sarasota include five roads that will either be closed off or be given culs de sac at Bee Ridge: Maui, Allan, Eton, Coleridge and Chaucer. In addition to four roundabouts at Tora/Golf Course Blvd., Aberdeen, Bent Tree and Iona, there will be u-turn options for those heading East at Hidden Glen and Royal Hammock Blvd. The question has come up whether SCAT public bus system could be routed to go throuth Lake Sarasota -- if there's sufficient interest in the community to have this. Is there? Come to our meeting on 9.13 to discuss. Eton along with Coleridge and Chaucer will be closed at Bee Ridge. Vege...

Two meetings relating to Lake Sarasota are coming this month: Sept. 6: 4:30 - 6:30 pm - The second and final community review of plans for the widening and improvement of Bee Ridge Road. Plans will be about 60% complete by this time, and there are some changes from the first meeting (the 30% meeting) last December. A chance to see visuals of how the main thoroughfare will look, and to offer your thoughts to planners and county staff. At Colonial Baptist Church, corner of Bee Ridge and Golf Course. (See fact sheet below.) ==== Sept. 13: 7 - 8:30 pm : Regular quarterly meeting of the Lake Sarasota Community Group at Alliance Church, on Bee Ridge opposite Chaucer. Meeting rooms in back. The LSCG is a purely voluntary organization that cares about the neighborhood. No dues, ever. Send items for agenda to lakesarasota@gmail.com Click to enlarge:

Welcome to the new Sarasota County Community Connections. We've changed our look to make things easier for you to find. Please take a look around, then share this with your family, friends and neighbors. Contact us if you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback on the system, or just let us know how you like the new look, at  communityconnections@scgov.net   Sarasota County government offices close for Labor Day holiday Sarasota County government offices, including libraries, recreation centers and the History Center will be closed Monday, Sept. 3, for the Labor Day holiday.   Run with the Mad Hatters Sept. 3 Sarasota County Parks and Recreation will host the Pioneer Days Mad Hatter Kids' Fun Run at 8:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 3 (Labor Day), on Dearborn Street in Englewood. The event for children age 17 and under will precede the 56th Annual Labor Day parade. County mowing schedule for Aug. 27 to Sept. 7 Here is the schedule for Sarasota Co...

A good turnout at the quarterly meeting of the Lake Sarasota Community this evening. Here are the highlights: Median Beautification A question arose as to when dead trees in the medians would be replaced. Our Beautification Chair will be contacting the county, which had indicated this would be going forward once the rainy season was underway. Community Safety Ted reports that there were an unusual number of incidents in April-May, but things have quieted since then, perhaps because a perpetrator was arrested. Ted also described a "block-watch" approach to neighborhood security - more on this if and when it develops. Meanwhile, Citizens Patrol is still active, and folks are advised to lock cars in driveways, and use alarms. Bee Ridge Improvement on Track The Bee Ridge Widening has been funded by the County , and construction should begin in Oct. 2013. An important meeting with the Community will take place later this summer - possibly in August - offering resident...

Greetings! Welcome to Sarasota County Community Connections. Please share this with family, friends and neighbors. Contact us if you have questions, ideas for articles, or feedback on the system, at  communityconnections@scgov.net Memorial for firefighter   FRIDAY:  A memorial service will be held Friday, May 11,  for Firefighter and Paramedic Deborah Schuster,  who served as a member of the Sarasota County Fire Department for 10 years. Got overdue books?   Relax. Sarasota County libraries forgives you. From May 14-19, patrons with overdue items may  return them without penalty  to any Sarasota County library. Items must be returned in person. Fines will not be waived for items returned in book drops or by mail. County awards contracts Sarasota County has awarded  contracts totaling nearly $1.8 million  for construction of the Bee Ridge Road Force Main Replacement Project and  the P...

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 quick summary of the March 8, 2012 meeting of the Lake Sarasota Community Group (LSCG): 1. A large image-map of the Bee Ridge Road Widening and some other literature was available for viewing and discussion. The history of the project, its rationale and the general conceptual outline was presented by Joe O'Hara, founder of the Bee Ridge Neighborhoods Committee, which has been in dialogue with Sarasota County about this road widening project since 2003. A summary of the impacts on Lake Sarasota can be read here.  An overview of the project as a whole is here.   The general sense was that the project should raise property values and accommodate growth with added values of safety for pedestrians and motorists, and desirable amenities including meandering sidewalks and bio-swales. There is still some fiscal uncertainty about whether the project will begin as planned in 2013.  A second open community meeting organized by the county at the point when plans are 60%...

The Bee Ridge Neighborhoods Committee -- a volunteer group representing home owners along Bee Ridge Rd. east of I-75 -- met with county officers Friday to review plans for Bee Ridge Rd. Here's a summary of the most prominent features of the widened road plan: Four streets in Lake Sarasota will be end-stopped in order to improve traffic flow along the four-laned corridor: Maui Allan PL Chaucer Coleridge Three street openings on the south side of Bee Ridge are being slightly turned so that they are directly aligned with roads north of Bee Ridge: Tora - opposite Sarasota Golf Club Blvd. Berkshire (next to Coleridge) - will be opposite Aberdeen Wake - will line up with Wake north of Bee Ridge. The signalized intersection at Mauna Loa and Bee Ridge will remain signalized, but will be reconfigured to serve the four-lane road. The signals at Bent Tree/Laurel Oaks and at Tora/Sarasota Golf Club Blvd. will be replaced by roundabouts. A total of 4 roundabouts are plan...