Community Updates

What's important to your community...and why it matters.

Proposed D.R. Horton Development

Dear Sarasota County Commissioners,

My name is Dee Cristea, and I have been a proud resident of the Enclaves community for the past seven years. I am a local nurse practitioner, and along with my husband Adrian, we are raising our two wonderful sons here—our younger son attends Tatum Ridge Elementary just minutes away, and our older son is enrolled in the AICE program at Sarasota High School.

First, I want to thank you for your continued commitment to the well-being of Sarasota County residents. I appreciate the time, energy, and thoughtfulness you dedicate to making decisions that impact the future of our community.

I’m writing today to express serious concerns regarding the proposed DR Horton development off Raymond Road. This area is already heavily burdened with traffic and infrastructure limitations. Our Enclaves community is surrounded by nearly ten other neighborhoods, all feeding into narrow two-lane roads—some of which can barely accommodate two vehicles side by side. East Road and Palmer Boulevard are prime examples of these capacity issues.

With the ongoing construction of Bayside Church directly across from the Enclaves, the existing traffic from Tatum Ridge Elementary, and the general congestion during peak hours (often requiring several minutes just to turn from East Road onto Palmer), it is clear that our infrastructure is already under significant strain. Adding another large-scale residential development without first addressing these concerns would be, in my opinion, shortsighted and irresponsible.

Furthermore, continued overdevelopment negatively impacts quality of life, road conditions, and flooding in our area—issues we are already facing. On top of that, our local schools are under pressure. Budget cuts and staff shortages have left teachers overextended. What kind of burden will another community place on an already stressed school system?

Approving yet another neighborhood sends a message that developers can continue to build without limits or regard for existing community needs. It is my sincere hope that you will uphold the thoughtful decision you made earlier this year and reject this new proposal.

Please consider the voices of families like mine who are living with the real consequences of overdevelopment. Our roads, our schools, and our neighborhoods cannot support more unchecked growth.

Thank you again for your service and your attention to this critical issue.

Sincerely,

Dee Cristea
Resident, The Enclaves
Sarasota County

There was a recent sighting of an alligator
in one of the Pinyon Pine ponds.

As part of our community’s natural environment, our ponds and lakes may be home to Florida wildlife, including alligators. While sightings are not always common, it’s important for everyone to follow safety guidelines and understand how alligator concerns are handled.

Key Safety Guidelines:

Never swim in or enter the retention ponds.
Do not allow pets or children to play near pond edges.
Never feed or approach an alligator—this is illegal and dangerous.
Avoid fishing in community ponds, as bait and food can attract alligators.

Reporting an Alligator:

If you see an alligator that is 4 feet or longer and you believe it poses a threat to people, pets, or property, please contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286.
The HOA is not permitted to capture, relocate, or remove alligators. Only licensed trappers working with the FWC can do so.

Our HOA’s Role:

We will remind residents seasonally about wildlife safety.
Reports of nuisance alligators will be directed to the FWC hotline above.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping keep our community safe while respecting Florida’s natural wildlife.

Reprinted Facebook post from the Sarasota County (FL) Sheriff's Office

August 12 at 9:23 AM

#TrafficTipTuesday - It's Back-to-School time, and time for us to remind you about when you need to STOP for the school bus.🚌

There are different laws for different types of roads, so take a look and get familiar. Most importantly, proceed with caution because kids are everywhere, and we want to keep them safe.

#MySCSO #BackToSchool #school #schoolbussafety #schoolbus #safetyfirst #safety

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