Letter to Sarasota County Commissioners

February 23, 2023

Dear Commissioners Moran, Detert, Smith, Neuder, Cutsinger,

The Bee Ridge Neighborhood Committee (BRNC), wishes to register its STRONG OPPOSITION to the preliminary plans put forth by The Classical Academy (TCA) to establish a private educational organization consisting of three schools - Kindergarten/Elementary, Middle and High School - in the current location of Grace Church, at 8000 Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota County.

The BRNC is a leadership committee composed of members from 11 community Home Owners Associations (HOAs) that represent 3208 homes in the nearby Bee Ridge neighborhood areas. This Committee also serves the interests of 11 additional HOA neighborhoods with over 1300 homes. Within a 2-mile radius of the Grace Church property, there are more than 17 additional non-HOA neighborhoods with over 600 homes whose interests we also serve. See Attachments 1-4 to view the overall impacted geographical area, neighborhoods and homes.

This property consisting of 41.2 acres, with some existing structures, is located on Bee Ridge Road between the two-lane roundabout at the entrance to the Laurel Oak and Bent Tree communities on the west and further east the single-lane roundabout at Lorraine and Bee Ridge Roads next to the neighborhood Publix. The affected area is comprised of well-established. planned residential communities and already known additional development to the north, east and south are rapidly occurring. Bee Ridge Road is only 2-lanes between these two roundabouts and is connected on the east side, running north-south, by a 2-lane Lorraine Road which is becoming a congested, well-travelled thoroughfare by both automobiles and more recently heavy commercial vehicles.

We ask you to deny the Special Exemption application that TCA and its developer Genesis, are in the process of filing, or at the very least, revisit the statutory review process until an inclusive and more detailed neighborhood workshop and other requirements necessary to understand and mitigate the likely impact of this development are presented, discussed, and met with effective remedial solutions.

The first workshop on February 6th was problematic as a starting point for community involvement because access was denied to hundreds of residents who will be affected. For those who managed to log on, much of the information provided was incomplete, vague, and inaccurate.

1. The virtual ZOOM format which may be widely accepted did not work for many people. Some connected by telephone, so had no ability to see any visuals provided by the developer; not everyone who wanted to speak was allowed.

2. Inadequate number of invitations were sent out. Notice was sent to people within 750 feet – yet traffic, noise, light and other impacts will certainly extend well beyond that. Studies show, for example. that amplified sound can extend to about 2 miles.

4. Inadequate notice for those that were notified. People have reported receipt of the notice around Jan 31, yet 10 days is required per County Ordinance. In Laurel Oak, the HOA as the statutory representative did not even get sent the required postcard.

5. Poor preparedness of the presenting team. Many answers to questions about their site development intentions and stated plans for use of the facilities were vague and incomplete. Their lack of attention and interest when it came to potentially crippling traffic implications were noteworthy.

Major negatives and concerns already raised by residents, of allowing this Special Exemption, include traffic, noise, special outdoor lighting at the athletic field, and for those living closest to the site, a total loss of our serene residential lifestyle. These are serious and meaningful issues to our residents.

The increased traffic is really dangerous, not just an inconvenience. At this time there is no traffic study information and no stated plan for providing safety in the form of crosswalks, traffic light, or sufficient widening of the entrance and exit areas from the property, in order to ensure safety and control of traffic. TCA is expecting to have over 900 students in 3 schools and about 150 staff by the fall of 2023 when they hope to open. They expect to reach enrollment of up to 1300 students over time and expand the facility from temporary structures at the outset and build permanent structures on a yet to be determined construction schedule depending on the availability of funds. They have an athletic program, including an athletic field with bleachers, lighting and loudspeakers. They will be utilizing the campus weekends and evenings in addition to regular school days for their program. These factors need careful consideration with effective and enforceable solutions beyond promises on the part of the applicant to be a good neighbor.

To do this we must have a more inclusive and informative meeting, open to all affected residents with appropriate notice and complete information. We request that appropriate county personnel with requisite technical expertise consult in advance with the applicant as is required under County Ordinance and are also present at the meeting. If available, the Grace Church, as it turns out, is a perfect place for this meeting. We need to get meaningful discussion on this request between our residents and TCA and Genesis with the benefit of the best technical advice and judgement of County professional staff.

The procedures for initiating this Special Exemption application must be adhered to and done right! This proposal brings changes involving opportunities and risks, that will impact the lives of thousands of affected citizens. We need to include all stakeholders in the affected area, in an open setting and provide complete information so that we can explore effective mitigation of the risks and dangers to our community.

BRNC expects that this Special Exemption will not be granted without all of the above.

Thank you for your attention to this very important and impactful matter.

Marguerite G. Malone, Ed.D.

Chairman, Bee Ridge Neighborhood Committee (BRNC)

3795 Eagle Hammock Drive

Sarasota, FL. 34240

Cell: 941-320-7297

margueritemalone@aol.com

Members of the BRNC:

Barbara Smith, Laurel Oak

Julie Williams, The Hammocks

Heidi Leach, Bent Tree I-V

Larry Krause, Heritage Oaks

PV Archer, Laurel Lakes,

Miles Toder, Misty Creek

Lee and Mary Hasselbring, Aberdeen Pines