Events

New filing 3_29_23

Benderson has refiled their plan.  They had purchased 2 single family homes on Glencoe and asked for a rezone for these parcels to match the balance of their site.  In doing so, it afforded them the opportunity to open up the entire site to changes.  It is almost like starting over again with hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners. 

The condo/apt buildings at 40[‘ in height are all on Glencoe now.  They have relocated the landscape buffer with sidewalk and placed it more towards their buildings, with PARALLEL PARKING now along our neighborhood streets of Glencoe and Crestwood.  The parallel parking is being suggested by Benderson as “traffic calming” when, in fact, it will direct MORE traffic into the neighborhood, and eventual use of the Beechwood light to exit northward.  This verbiage of parallel parking being a traffic calming element is from a conversation I had with their rep from Kimley Horn.  

This so called traffic calming element was NEVER an option given to the neighborhood during the 2 ballot voting processes when neighbors were contacted to give input on what traffic calming would be applied.  We voted and got approval from SRQ Transportation for:

1) a raised crosswalk on Crestwood by the Pine Shores Presbyterian Church

2) 3 speed feedback electronic signs – on Hollywood, Beechwood and Glencoe

3) an all-way stop at Glencoe and Crestwood

4) one speed cushion on Beechwood

5) a form of intersection control (either stop or mini roundabout at Hazelwood/Birchwood and Glencoe

If the parallel parking is approved the addition of cut through walkways from the parallel parking spots to the residential buildings would be added, thus negating the intention of the buffer; plus the need for lighting- Benderson will want to have walkways that are lit, and/or lighting by the parking spots. Again, this destroys the intent of the buffer. These two details will likely come up during site and development at a time when it is too late for public input. 

NOTE; Crestwood and Glencoe are currently 20′ wide, the acceptable width of 2 way streets.  I am waiting for confirmation from SRQ Transportation regarding item #16 of the stipulations, that in no event will any land be used to widen Crestwood or Glencoe Ave from the existing neighborhood side of the streets.

Bottom line, we were promised a landscaped buffer, for neighborhood protection- codified in the approval of the Board of County Commissioners, Ordinance 2018-057, and now what we have in front of us is a major encroachment into our neighborhood.

There will be a Neighborhood Workshop on 5/1 AT 6PM, VIRTUALLY ONLY.  I asked for an in-person workshop from the Benderson team, but it was denied.  I will forward the log-on info when I receive it, just in case you are left off of the list.  The BCC will be changing the rules for workshops to be in person with a zoom option, but the change is not in place yet.  i will also be updating on Facebook the Stickney Point Concerned Citizens group as well as the Siesta Promenade: Too high and Too dense page. 

Subsequent to this workshop, there will be a Planning Commission meeting at the SRQ County Admin building (where it was before) which will likely take place on Thursday 6/15 at 5pm.  There may, or may not be an additional Neighborhood Workshop after that- depending on whether we can convince the Planning Commission of the importance of an in person workshop, or if the site plan changes again. A Board of County Commissioners meeting will probably be on Wed 8/30/23, 9am.

Even if you don’t live on Glencoe or Crestwood, this added intrusion into the neighborhood is something we need say “on the record”  is something that we do not want. 

Please mark your calendars.  

The County Commission hearing date is on 12/12/18 at 9am and will be held at 1660 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34236

For the County Commissioners, click the link or copy and paste into “to:” of your own email account. They may be emailed as a group at:   commissioners@scgov.net

The County Planning Commission hearing date is Thursday 11/15 at 5pm and will be held at 1660 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34236

A demonstration against the proposed Siesta Promenade project will be on Sunday 11/11 at 4pm