Taking The Gloves Off

As we near the time that the Honorable Steven W. Walker will begin to review our appeal (the 12th Judicial Circuit Court has re-assigned the case after Judge Carrol recused himself), we feel it necessary to start calling thing things by their proper names. TCA made much in public meetings about "being a good neighbor", but we find that towing tens of modular classrooms onto the property in blatant disregard of code restrictions, threatening curious residents with being arrested for trespassing after taking a look at said classrooms, and setting them up over known nesting places of endangered Gopher Tortoises anything but "neighborly".

We, the residents in the East End, have been maligned by members of the Planning Commission as simply being "old people who want peace and quiet", who stand in the way of progress and education. Enough is enough.

Our peace and quiet is important to us, as is protecting the endangered wildlife in our community. We are also monitoring the modular classroom situation, and have inquired about the consequences of further non-compliance after the 9th of October, when these eyesores must be removed: Code Enforcement Officers will be out on October 10th or 11th investigating, and if they are still there, a Special Magistrate Hearing will be called on either November 17th or December 8th.

From: Jane Graham <jane@sunshinecitylaw.com> Subject: urgent action needed to investigate impacts at 8000 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota Date: October 2, 2023 at 2:01:10 PM EDT To: "Andrew.Polaszek@myfwc.com" <Andrew.Polaszek@myfwc.com>, "marty.brown@myfwc.com" <marty.brown@myfwc.com> Cc: "michaeltbarbour@yahoo.com" <michaeltbarbour@yahoo.com>, Roger Zacks <president@seerd.org>, Brenda Stocks <brendastk@yahoo.com>, Miles Toder <milestoder@hotmail.com> Dear Officer Polaszek and Mr. Brown, I am writing to request FWC takes urgent action to investigate possible impacts to gopher tortoise burrows on the property located at 8000 Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota County. I am an attorney representing the Sarasota Eastenders for Responsible Development, a non-profit dedicated to the preservation of their community. I understand that you had been contacted by Dr. Michael Barbour earlier this year regarding reports of possible impacts to gopher tortoises on site. I am writing to provide an update to let you know I understand that there are now upwards of 40 unpermitted modular classrooms on the site which were not included in the approved site plan or permit. Sarasota County issued a notice of violation on September 11 and has requested the modular classrooms are removed by October 9. It appears they are still there. Based on previous reviews of gopher tortoise burrows on site, we suspect that the portables are on gopher tortoise burrows and should immediately investigated and if it violates state rules, enforcement action should be immediately commenced. The portables cover a large swath of the property. This is way beyond the “mowing” which was investigated earlier this year. Any risk of movement or digging for cables or electricity may place the burrows at risk of destruction. As mentioned, these modular classrooms were brought on site without a permit and the County cited the property owner. Please let us know what steps FWC will take to ensure that gopher tortoises are protected on this site. Based on my client’s observations, they fear the worst. If you would prefer to discuss on the phone or by zoom, I would be happy to set up a call. Thank you for your public service. Sincerely, Jane Graham, Esq. Florida Bar Board Certified Attorney in City, County, and Local Government Law Attorney and Founder Sunshine City Law 737 Main Street, Suite 100 Safety Harbor, FL 34695 (727) 291-9526 jane@sunshinecitylaw.com www.sunshinecitylaw.com

Once again, I have to make it clear that this costs money. In order to share the financial burden, I have written e-mails to all who have signed our original petition but have yet to donate. Make no mistake -the response was greatly appreciated, but it was modest. I must write to you all again, asking all those who have not yet donated, and all of you that have already done so - some multiple times - we need to raise another $10,000.00 in the next few months to perform the necessary tasks to fight the blatant disregard shown to all of us in the East End by TCA, the Sarasota County Planning Commission, and the County's Board of Commissioners.

It's very simple, but that doesn't mean that it's easy. We need your help. Donate. You already have? Donate again.

This is your community.

Fight for it.