From The Sarasota Herald Tribune

Sunday, July 23rd

The Sarasota County Commissioners don’t protect our smaller communities, and they don’t listen to us.

Residents representing Sarasota East-Enders for Responsible Development (SEERD) protested the special exemption given to the Classical Academy to build a K-12 private school with up to 1,300 students on the Grace Church Property, 8000 Bee Ridge Road.

The planning commissioners and county commissioners listened to arguments against rezoning this area for a school including increased traffic and noise, inadequate lighting and trespassing, as well as Emergency Services issues and wildlife habitat.

I was very disappointed that not one of these commissioners asked any questions or addressed any of the issues brought up by the residents in the area, except for who would pay for a roundabout when student numbers reached 301!

The county commissioners rubber-stamped the recommendation approved by the Planning Commission.

It’s hard to accept that in a democratic system a small group of determined people who are trying to impose themselves on a neighborhood should prevail.

This special exemption threatens to undermine the institutions that have served the county well. The applicant has failed to meet the burden set in our County Unified Development Code.

Joan Castine, Sarasota