Kumbaya? Or abject public sycophancy?

SNL: Two of our largest developers have offered to write their own piece of the 2050 Comprehensive Plan (Sarasota News Leader story) to accommodate their unslakable desire to build every available open area of Sarasota County. 

Rex Jensen: Lakewood Ranch has about 2,000 home sales a year. 

    “We’re the second-fastest selling community in the United bloody States,” he added. 

[Commissioner Mike] Moran: “You’re such a visionary.” 

Jensen: “We haven’t developed much in Sarasota, though that will change.” 

    Note: Rex Jensen's Waterside at Lakewood Ranch is a 5,144-home, 5,500-acre development in Sarasota County set around a series of seven large borrow pits left over from mining operations. It stretches from I-75 to Lorraine Road:

Moran noted of Waterside Place, “That project is fabulous.” 

Jensen: “We’re going to be out of land shortly, and we have about 4,000 acres” that Shroeder-Manatee Ranch would like to develop.

“What really grates on us,” Jensen said during his presentation, “is the numerous prescriptive requirements [of 2050] — “the ‘Thou shalt’s’ and the ‘Thou shalt not’s.’”

So, Jensen and Pat Neal offered to write their own Shalts and Shalt Nots:

  Comprehensive Planning -- The Developer Version

“What’s wrong with what you see at Lakewood Ranch?” Neal asked. Jensen is just seeking “to dispense with the prescriptive requirements that you have in the 2050 [Plan].”

 “I think this is a great process,” Chair Alan Maio said

Commissioner Christian Ziegler concurred on the latter point.

And so, as the Sarasota News Leader reports, ". . . the County Commission has given Rex Jensen, the developer of Lakewood Ranch, the go-ahead to work with county staff on a new residential density category within the county’s 2050 Plan, which has guidelines for communities created east of Interstate 75."

 

"Sprawl at its worst" - Lobeck on Hi Hat

 

Hi-Hat Villages: Sprawl at its Worst

Attend the Public Hearing 

Wednesday, Sept. 8  1:30 pm

Sarasota County Admin. Bldg., 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota

Email the County Commissioners

The Hi-Hat Villages Master Development Plan and Comprehensive Plan amendment return for a final public hearing and vote of the Sarasota County Commission this Wednesday,  September 8 at 1:30 pm at the County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd. in downtown Sarasota.  This extreme urban sprawl, with no plan to handle the massive traffic pouring west from the development, deserves an outpouring of opposition from the community.

On June 9, the Sarasota County Commission voted unanimously -- with no discussion of the issues -- to give initial approval to the massive Hi-Hat Villages development far east of I-75, on the vast lands between Fruitville and Clark Roads.  That followed 20 speakers against it, expressing often detailed objections, and no speakers in favor other than the developer representatives, and County staff.

County Planner Todd Dary even opened his presentation to the Commission and the public with an outright lie -- it can't fairly be called anything else -- about who will pay for the millions of dollars in needed road improvements to handle the traffic from the development.  Referring to the proposed Master Development Plan, Dary stated, "It makes clear that roadway costs will be the responsibility of the Master Developer, not the County." 

To the contrary, the Plan makes the developer responsible for just a portion of the massive road improvement costs. The Plan even then goes on to excuse the developer from its share of the costs if it instead commits to “other traffic mitigating measures” such as "the promotion of telecommuting, ride sharing or transit” acceptable to Sarasota County and “that are intended to eliminate the impact from Hi Hat Ranch development on the deficiently operating facility(ies).”  (Paragraph 11.A.6.b -- See more below on that). 

Unlike the strong and specific objections stated by scores of speakers, Mr. Dary stated, "Staff has no outstanding issues of concerns."

After a cursory state review, the Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Master Development Plan now returns for a final adoption public hearing on Wednesday, September 8.

In addition to the traffic and other issues detailed below, a major objection is the change of 1,200 acres -- shown in lavender within the oval in the graphic below -- from a "Hamlet" designation of one unit per acre to "Village" at 5 to 6 units per acre, the same as the rest of the development, shown as blue in the graphic. [emphasis added]

 

Although the developer says that it is just expanding the area in which it will spread its densities, at no total increase, nothing would prevent a future application to increase it further once that capacity is added.  And in any event, the change would include moving the Countryside Line further east, increasing urban densities and traffic that are disruptive to the rural lifestyle now enjoyed by residents in that area.

Alarmingly, the developer bases its request for that density increase on a desire for "flexibility to respond to market demands."  If that's all it takes for a developer to justify urban sprawl, then there is effectively no limit to developers getting whatever they want, despite the impacts on the rest of us.

A longtime defender of rural living, Becky Ayech of the Miakka Community Club, has organized a campaign to urge residents throughout the County to email Commissioners objecting to this pernicious plan.  More information about that effort is at Becky's Campaign Against Sprawl.

After reading the additional information below, please attend the Wednesday hearing, speak if you can and in any event please consider adding your voice to this effort by emailing the Commissioners with your concerns at the email addresses in the link above or at:  Sarasota County Commissioners

******

• Sarasota County is barreling towards rampant, uncontrolled urban sprawl east of I-75.

• Traffic congestion, tax hikes and other ills are inevitable unless there is a pause for better planning.

• The latest threat is the proposed Hi Hat Ranch Villages development east of the Bee Ridge Extension all the way between Fruitville and Clark Roads.   This massive urbanization of urban lands is for 13,511 houses, 450,000 square feet of commercial and office development, school facilities and a regional sports complex.

• There are several issues with the proposed Master Development Order and Comprehensive Plan Amendment, which include moving the "Countryside Line" further east to allow more density on 1,200 acres south of Fruitville Road, and impacts on area wells.

• But perhaps most alarming is the County's total lack of planning for the road impacts of this and other huge developments being allowed, all at the same time, east of I-75, under the Sarasota 2050 Plan.

• Proposed Transportation Condition 11.B.7 in the Hi Hat Master Development Order provides that each rezoning in the development shall evaluate the need for widening or building only four road segments.  They are two segments of Bee Ridge Road, a new North/South Roadway B on the east side of the development, and Fruitville Road between that roadway and Lorraine Road. 

• That is despite the fact that the Traffic Study has identified sixteen road segments which will need improvements to handle the traffic from the Hi-Hat Ranch development, including the need to widen Clark Road.  

• Further, Transportation Condition 11.A.6 of the proposed Hi Hat Master Development Order provides that no Development Orders throughout the development shall be approved if certain biennial monitoring of traffic impacts shows a roadway becoming congested below the adopted level of service unless one of two alternatives conditions are met. 

• The first alternative is that “funding commitments” are made sufficient to resolve the deficiency (with the developer paying its proportional share for the new capacity and the taxpayers paying the rest).

• The second alternative -- now get ready for this, because it is actually in there -- is that the Development Order gets approved if it includes “other traffic mitigating measures” including “the promotion of telecommuting, ride sharing or transit” acceptable to Sarasota County and “that are intended to eliminate the impact from Hi Hat Ranch development on the deficiently operating facility(ies).”

• That loophole is astonishing.  If the developer commits to promote ridesharing and telecommuting (perhaps with flyers given to purchasers), and “intends” -- intends -- that to be enough to take care of the traffic, and if County staff signs off on that, the developer is good to go gridlocking County roads in reality.   (“Whoops, sorry about that, but we really, really intended our promotion of ridesharing to keep the roads drivable.”)

• Policy VOS 2.9 of the Sarasota County Comprehensive Plan (in the Sarasota 2050 provisions) requires that each Village development “shall provide adequate infrastructure that meets or exceeds the level of service standard adopted by the County and be Fiscally Neutral or Fiscally Beneficial.”

• Instead, the Conditions proposed for approval on Tuesday are woefully inadequate to comply with that requirement. 

• And the County has not even done a study showing who is going to pay for all the road improvements that will be needed and are in part planned east of I-75 that the County Commission is in the course of approving.

• Recently, the County Commission even approved an amendment to the Future Thoroughfare Plan requested by developer Pat Neal to increase east County road expenses by rerouting a planned southerly extension of Lorraine Road from hugging the Interstate south of Clark Road to instead swing out to the east, through two nature preserves, for what staff acknowledged was to "open up more land for development."

• Ben Franklin and others said that a failure to plan is a plan to fail.

• More planning is needed in and for the Hi Hat Master Development Order, for the protection of the people both east of I-75 and all motorists and taxpayers, before it deserves any chance to be approved.

• Please attend the final public hearing on Wednesday September 8 and tell the Commissioners to put the interests of drivers and taxpayers ahead of just the interests of the big developers.

• And whether or not you can attend, please email the Commissioners to ask them to vote "No" on this bad move, at:

• Email the County Commissioners

Thank you,

Dan Lobeck
For Control Growth Now

Here Is the Control Growth Now Website

Candidates for county commission invited to CONA forums

All candidates who qualified to run for county commission have been invited by CONA to participate in a candidate forum scheduled for their race. The forums are free and open to the public.

• The forum for district two candidates for county commission will be held by CONA on July 9, 2018. 

• The forum for district four candidates for county commission will be held by CONA on August 13, 2018.

The location for both forums is the Sarasota Garden Club at 1131 Boulevard of the Arts in Sarasota, which is at the intersection of Tamiami Trail, south of the Municipal Auditorium. Parking and the entrance are reached from Van Wezel Way. A social at 6:30 p.m. precedes the forum that begins at 7:00 p.m. 

Our forums are open to the public and free. Details and more information are posted to the web site,www.conasarasota.org and will be distributed in regularly scheduled meeting announcements. 

Qualified candidates for any scheduled local race and those proposing ballot initiatives are welcome to attend the social before each of the forums in order to make contact with voters and to distribute literature and yard signs -- even if not scheduled as a member of the panel for that forum. 

Kafi Benz, president

Candidate statement: Lourdes Ramirez

Lourdes Ramirez

My name is Lourdes Ramirez and I'm running for Sarasota County Commission because I believe Sarasota can grow responsibly.

There are three costs of growth: financial, human and brand costs. The financial cost is the cost of government services and infrastructure growth requires. As a candidate for County Commissioner, I believe new development should pay its own way and not burden the existing Sarasota taxpayers.

The human cost is the quality of life we enjoy. I believe we should focus on addressing traffic issues and ensuring we don't cut government services for our current citizens. Until those concerns are addressed, proposals for increased density of new developments shouldn’t be approved.

Growth has an impact on Sarasota’s brand. Our community had a reputation for a high quality of life, but now we face constant traffic congestion, incompatible developments, and reduced green space. As a County Commissioner, I will protect neighborhoods, parks and green space. In contrast, my opponent voted to support the developer that proposed an industrial recycling dump next to the Celery Fields which would have destroyed our important tourist destination, hurt wildlife and damaged our brand. As a county commissioner, I will vote against any proposed industrial dump next to the Celery Fields.

The citizens should trust the elected County Commission to look out for them. That is why I'm running for Sarasota County Commission. I will be the voice of the citizens of Sarasota County. 

Let's get the message out to voters. If you can volunteer your time or donate to my campaign, I would greatly appreciate it. Contact me at:

vote4LourdesRamirez@outlook.com 

or mail your check to

Lourdes Ramirez Campaign

PO Box 35231

Sarasota, FL 34242

www.ElectLourdesRamirez.com

Note: Citizens for Sarasota County offers all candidates for County Commission space for a statement. Provision of editorial space is not an endorsement of candidate or party.

Fresh Start: A Community Initiative for our Celery Fields

This letter signed by neighborhoods near the Celery Fields went to the Sarasota County Commission on Oct. 12, 2017.

To the Board of Sarasota County Commissioners

RE: Celery Fields District

Dear Commissioners:

On August 23, 2017, you listened to hundreds of residents and visitors who deeply care about the Celery Fields. Some call this area the Siesta Beach of East Sarasota County. Viewed in its larger context, the Celery Fields offers the prospect of becoming a unique gateway to Sarasota. Thanks to the Commission for protecting this potential --  we now want to work with you to actualize it.

Fresh Start is a group of  HOAs, businesses, and citizens who believe a shared approach can create an original opportunity for Sarasota County.

The quad parcels are situated at a key intersection that connects five distinct but related communities:

• The Palmer Blvd. neighborhoods and schools
• The Industrial Parks
• The Packinghouse District
• The Celery Fields Preserve and Sarasota Audubon
• The Fruitville Initiative

Our residents deserve a voice in shaping the future of these public lands. To that end, we invite the County to develop with us a community-based consensus for the district. We propose an open workshop that would allow ideas and goals to be shared, analyzed, and refined. Together, we can:

• Enhance the great ecological and recreational value already latent in this area.
• Serve the needs of residents, schoolchildren, local businesses.
• Allow to evolve a useful, attractive, intelligent, multi-faceted hub.

Working in concert, we can make something good here. To begin, we ask that the County:

1. Remove the Quad Parcels from the Surplus Lands list for the present;
2. Hold a community-based workshop to develop a consensus vision plan.

We’ll soon be scheduling meetings with each of you to discuss this initiative.

Respectfully,

Fresh Start

(Signers listed below)

The East Sarasota Celery Fields Area

=====

Signatories for Fresh Start

Palmer East Group

Enclaves, Carlos Correa, President

Laurel Oak, Charles Young

Meadow Walk, Gary Walsh, President, David G. Johnson

Eagle Trace

Palmer Lake

Regent Lake

Palmer Glen

Palmer Reserve

Sarasota Golf Club Colony

Palmer East Working Group: Glenna Blomquist, Paula Berkowitz, Carlos Correa, Peter Gemma, Jonny Howell, David G. Johnson, Wendy Loomis, Matt Moffitt, Robert Rovnak, Gary Walsh, Charles Young.

Fruitville 210 - Gary Heffner, Chairman

Cedar Hammock    

Cedar Hollow    

Chatwick Court

Coffman Manor   

Deer Hollow

East Richardson  

Eastpointe    

Forest Creek

Fox Creek

Fox Creek Acres 2

Georgetowne

Goodwill    

Greystone

The Groves  

The Meadows

Newburn Village

Palm Oaks

Peaceful Vista Homes

Pine Valley Ranches

Pleasant Acres

Racimo Ranches

San Palermo

Southpointe Meadows

Swartz Subdivision

Vereda Verde

The Woods

Wyndham

Save Richardson Road East (Sarren)

Scott Featherman, MD
Joey Anderson (also on the Board of Fruitville 210)
Jane Archer
Margaret Lewis
Judith K. Earl

Aberdeen Pines, Mary and Lee Hasselbring

Bent Tree, Bob Zack

Gator Creek, Bob O’Neil, Treasurer

Lake Sarasota Community Group

Keith Russo, Chairman

Ellie Himes, Treasurer

Joy M. Mayer, Secretary

Joanna Kilmer

Jami Caseber

The Hammocks, Julie Williams, President; Marguerite Malone.

​Sarasota Audubon, Rob Wright, Conservation Chair

NCCA, Steve Baran, President, 640 Apex Rd.

CeleryFields.org, David G. Johnson

​Citizens for Sarasota County, Adrien Lucas, Cathy Antunes, Tom Matrullo

LINK: Add your name to the Fresh Start Petition

. . . for the future of the Celery Fields

More Photos