SEERD June Update and Report

This month we are going to start using a new format by featuring our monthly update in an outline format below with just the highlights. For those looking for a more traditional read, please click on the full text of our report at the end of the outline. Please let us know if this format is easier to digest since most of our neighbors did not spend years in graduate school mastering the art/science of urban planning and development and have more enjoyable things to do with their free time.

1. Compliance with County Order – The Classical Academy (TCA)

Background

• The Classical Academy was ordered to remove 30 modular classrooms by June 13th.

• As of the end of June, no meaningful action has been taken toward compliance.

• SEERD (a local advocacy group) has consistently questioned the compatibility of such intense land use on the 8000 Bee Ridge Road site, surrounded by medium-density residential and recreational land uses.

Concerns

• Public Safety & Nuisance: Residents continue to cite:

  • Noise

  • Aesthetic disruption

  • Traffic congestion (expected to worsen when school resumes in August)

• Zoning Compliance: SEERD emphasizes that TCA should:

  • Respect its special exception permit conditions

  • Comply with county, state, and federal regulations

• Ongoing Monitoring: SEERD remains committed to enforcement efforts to prevent future violations and protect neighborhood's quality of life.

2. Clark Road (SR72) Widening – FDOT Project

Scope & Purpose

• Managed by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)

• Preliminary design: $120 million for widening Clark Road due to:

  • Skye Ranch development

  • A new magnet school

  • Mixed-use developments: Hi Hat Ranch and 3H Ranch

Project Expansion

• Original: I-75 to Palmer Road roundabout

• Revised: I-75 to Loraine Road

Timeline

• Public input session held: June 26th

• Design phase: Starts 2026

• Funding: None secured yet for construction or land acquisition

Resources

• Website: SWFL FDOT Project 444634-1

• In-person info at:

  • Gulf Gate Public Library

  • UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

3. Sarasota County Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) – June 2025 Update

Funded Projects

• Right of way for Lorraine Road extension (Palmer → Fruitville)

• Construction of one-lane traffic circles:

  • Lorraine & Palmer

  • Palmer & Apex (underway)

Pending/Unfunded

• Widening of Bee Ridge Road (Laurel Oak → Publix circle):

  • Under negotiation with Hi Hat Ranch developers

• No funding yet for:

  • Lorraine Road (Palmer → Bee Ridge & Bee Ridge → Clark)

  • Palmer Road (Lorraine → Apex)

Implications

• Urgency around road infrastructure is high due to pending developments.

• Delays in road widening could result in gridlock across rural corridors if not addressed proactively.

4. Florida Senate Bill 180 – “Emergencies”

Purpose

• Designed to help areas rebuild after recent extreme storms.

• Pauses local governments from updating land use and building policies for three years.

Concerns

• Storm resiliency efforts stalled:

  • Local officials and citizens had pushed for stricter stormwater and design standards

  • State law now preempts those updates

• Local response hampered in the face of:

  • Less wetland area

  • More intense rainfall

  • Increased flooding risks

5. Stormwater Management Overhaul

Development

• After nearly a year of storm cleanup, Sarasota County is:

  • Creating a dedicated department for stormwater management

Goal

• Improve flood prevention and protect coastal waters

• Indicates long-overdue administrative reform to handle ongoing environmental challenges

6. FLUEDRA and Land Use Appeals

FLUEDRA Overview

• A Florida mechanism for property owners to appeal land use denials

• Provides a hearing before a special magistrate

Case in Point

• Take Five Oil Change in Nokomis:

  • Denied twice due to opposition from residents and proximity to Oscar Sherer State Park

  • Magistrate overruled denial, sending it back to the Commission

Community Concern

• While protecting property rights is essential, there are fears of abuse:

  • Well-funded applicants can pursue endless appeals

  • Public interest and community sentiment may be overridden repeatedly

Summary

This document highlights the interplay between development pressures, infrastructure challenges, and regulatory hurdles across Sarasota County. While efforts are ongoing in areas like road expansion and stormwater management, delays in enforcement, state-level preemption, and underfunded projects pose serious risks to neighborhood quality of life and environmental resilience. Click here to read our in-depth report of the information outlined above:

Read full June SEERD Report

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Thanks for your continuing interest and support to protect our neighborhood.