Sample letter that you can copy and send to the planning department planner@scgov.net and Charles Hines, county commissioner for our district at chines@scgov.net Click here
Update: January 9th, 2017
I’m happy to report that we’ve had many Park Trace residents express their concern and write a letter about the proposed Bay St. Overpass. But there are still some folks (hey, you know who you are!) —either because of apathy or pessimism—who’ve yet to submit a letter. So, for those of you who haven’t submitted a letter, let’s go for it! You’ll join the close to 150 letter-writers from Park Trace and surrounding communities who have already done so. Your only investment is a few minutes of your time.
This meeting has now been postponed, new date to be announced. And as a reminder: On Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at 1:30 p.m., the Sarasota County Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the Bay St. amendment to the Sarasota Comprehensive Plan submitted to the County by Palmer Ranch Holdings LTD. As we know, Palmer Ranch Holdings wishes to build an overpass over I-75 to serve their future, multiple community developments planned for east of I-75, and use Bay St. as a connecting conduit to State Road 41.
HERE ARE TWO IMPORTANT FACTS, NO INNUENDO:
(1) THIS AMENDMENT, IF PASSED BY THE COMMISSION, WILL CREATE EVEN MORE TRAFFIC MOTORING BY AND THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY—BEYOND WHAT IS ALREADY PROJECTED FOR THE CURRENT BAY ST. EXTENSION.
(2) THIS IS NOT A COUNTY PLAN. IN FACT, THE SARASOTA PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT FILED AN OBJECTION TO THIS AMENDMENT ON OCTOBER 31, 2017.
YOUR VOICE MATTERS! PLEASE ATTEND THIS HEARING AND VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION.
If you can’t attend the hearing, let your opposition be known TWO WAYS:
(1) Send an opposition letter to planner@scgov.net and reference amendment number (CPA) No. 2017-A. The planner will distribute your comments to ALL County Commissioners the day of the hearing. A sample opposition letter is found here.
(2) Send an opposition letter specifically to Charles Hines, the County Commissioner who represents Park Trace. His email is chines@scgov.net. His mailing address is Charles Hines, Commissioner, District 5, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34236.
Please know that writing letters helps the cause, but the more effective opposition is to also attend the public hearing and voice your opposition!
Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Time scheduled: 1:30 or shortly thereafter.
Location: Sarasota County Administration Center, County Commission Chamber, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
If you have any questions, etc., you can reach me at the contact information below. Thank you!
Ralph Monti, Park Trace County Liaison
646-705-4148
Update: November 14, 2017
Bay Street Extension
- We have signed the contract with the county for the buffer fence, so it is now in the extension plan.
- The contractor is nine days behind schedule and has completed 25%% of the work.
- The box culvert was completed last week, and the finishing work will be completed this week.
- The contractor will then move to finish the piping work which will rectify the drainage issues along the Legacy Trail.
- Concern about the drainage issues of Bay St. ditch. PR is advising this is not part of the project’s plan
- Will be contacting county engineering to do an on-site inspection.
Bay St. Overpass
- This project is a huge threat to our community—proposed traffic count of 26,000 cars using the overpass is projected in the plan. Many will use Bay S t. to retail shops on 41.
- Need a sample opposition letter.
- Will send out notices as the hearing gets close.
- The County is against this amendment.
- The County has filed a denial recommendation. I have a copy here.
- We are coordinating with many other HOAs to oppose this project. John Fitzgibbon a board director from Rivendell has reached out. I met with him las week. He is coordinating opposition efforts with Rivendell.
- Pine Ranch East is exploring the idea of gating their private road.
The Sarasota county planners recommend the rejection of the Bay Street Overpass in this document titled “Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2017-A, Addition to the Future Thoroughfare Plan” PDF file
Public hearing announcement.
Note: This meeting was postponed till January 17th, 2018.
Palmer Ranch -Stantec Amendment Proposal.
Public hearing regarding Bay Street Extension changes. We urge you to attend this public hearing. New Date : Wednesday January 17th 2018. Location: Sarasota County Administration Center, County Commission Chamber, 1660 Ringling Blvd. SarasotaTime: 1:30 PM or as soon thereafter as possible.
On January 17th, 2018, the Sarasota County Commission will hold a public hearing to consider a proposed amendment to the Sarasota Comprehensive Plan drafted by and submitted to the County by Palmer Ranch Holdings LTD.
THIS AMENDMENT, IF PASSED BY THE COMMISSION, WILL CREATE EVEN MORE TRAFFIC PASSING BY OUR COMMUNITY—BEYOND WHAT IS ALREADY PROJECTED FOR THE CURRENT BAY ST. EXTENSION TO HONORE AVE.
Palmer Ranch Holdings’ amendment calls for a proposed additional extension of Bay Street eastward from Honore Avenue, across I-75 that will connect to a north-south proposed roadway. Essentially, Palmer Ranch Holdings is wishing to build an overpass over I-75 to serve future, multiple community developments they are planning east of I-75, and use Bay St. as a connecting conduit to State Road 41.
Please know that this amendment is a developer-driven amendment, and not a County plan. The County has other plans to serve future community development east of I-75. Nevertheless, Palmer Ranch has already moved this amendment forward. It passed the County Planning Board by a 3-2 vote that took place on May 17, 2017, and Palmer Ranch Holdings is now seeking approval by the County Commission. So this is not a done deal!
It’s important that as a concerned Park Trace Resident you attend this hearing and make your opposition to this amendment be known. YOUR VOICE MATTERS! The larger our contingent is the more impact we will make on the Commission. The Commission will hear and vote on the amendment at this public hearing.
For those of you who will be out of town, etc., you can let your opposition be known through written comments BEFORE this public hearing.
Send your comments to planner@scgov.net and reference amendment number (CPA) No. 2017-A. If you have friends in neighboring communities like Rivendell, Pine Ranch, Pine Ranch East, Bay Street Village, The Oaks, Willow Bend, etc., please let them know of Palmer Ranch’s plans—and urge them to attend this critical hearing too.
We will be sending more details of this plan as we continue to gather more information. For now, please review below the County hearing announcement that was received this week.
If you have any additional questions, etc., or wish to help us organize our opposition, you can reach me at the contact information below.
Thank you.
Ralph Monti
Park Trace County Liaison Officer