Sandhill Preserve residents take stand against new gas station

Residents of Sandhill Preserve and neighboring communities gathered last week to discuss their discontent toward a Circle K gas station planned for the northeast corner of Honore Avenue and Central Sarasota Parkway.

The proposed gas station, planned to be accompanied by a Publix grocery store in The Shoppes at Palmer Ranch, is within the boundaries of allowed spacing between commercial operations and the nearest residential building, but many residents said that the code should be extended to 500 feet, citing potential traffic, health and wildlife concerns.

The project has been submitted to the Sarasota County planning department by an Illinois developer. A prepared statement from the developer, WMG Development, said the company listened to residents' concerns. 

“There’s little we can do to change this unless county commissioners take action,” said Mark Steiner, a resident at Sandhill Preserve. “There’s plenty of gas stations around here. The community doesn’t want it, and it’s potentially harmful to everything we know.”

Without including the new, 12-pump Circle K gas station in question, there are six gas stations within 4 miles of Sandhill Preserve. In a chart provided by Steiner, gasoline-delivery trucks are expected to use the same stretch of road as the entrance to Sandhill Preserve.

Steiner also presented data from Sarasota County Crash Summary Report, which rated the roundabout at Honore Avenue and Central Sarasota Parkway as the second worst in the county. According to the developer of The Shoppes at Palmer Ranch, traffic is expected to increase by more than double in the area.

“There are two entrances (into the proposed shopping center), both of which are fairly close to the traffic circle,” Steiner said. “Without a turn lane it will create havoc. When it comes to the Publix load, their trucks have to go in the traffic circle.”

In addition to the possible traffic problems, the proposed gas station could cause health issues for the residents of Sandhill Preserve, according to resident Debbie Everling. In response to the gas station, Everling created a group she has called the Sandhill Preserve Healthy Neighborhood Alliance.

“There is no amount of benzene exposure that’s considered safe,” Everling said. “We’re an over-55 community, we have young children, and we have pregnant women here. And the bus stop for the children in our community is right next to the entrance of where this gas station would be.”

Everling quoted The Shoppes at Palmer Ranch developer’s website, which published a study confirming the demographics of the area. The study found that more than 50 percent of the area is over 65 years old while 12 percent are under the age of 19.

The Sandhill Preserve Healthy Neighborhoods Alliance created a webpage through Community & Environmental Defense Services, an organization that has assisted in similar situations throughout the country. CEDS has recommended a community be at least 500 feet away from a gas station or 1,000 feet for maximum safety.

“It’s important to know that local laws and Florida laws do not protect us from this risk,” Everling said. “The gas stations will suggest measure they take such as stage two vapor recovery and refueling vapor recovery. None of these measures resolve the health risks.”

General safety was also a concern that was brought up in the meeting. Everling quoted 2020 FBI statistics that showed convenience stores and gas stations were some of the leading areas of where violent crimes occur.

Violent crime was not the only safety concern, though. With the additional businesses coming to the area, residents worried about noise pollution and the amount of light coming from the shopping center.

“FBI statistics from 2020 showed that convenience stores ranked number seven in violent crime and gas stations were ranked fourth. So we’re adding two from that list,” Everling said. “There’s no need for a gas station in the middle of a residential area.”

The final concern explained by the Sandhill Preserve Healthy Neighborhoods Alliance was the impact the shopping center could have on wildlife and the environment. Security camera footage of sandhill cranes and bald eagles within the complex were shown during the meeting.

Everling urged all in attendance to sign an online petition that will be presented to county commissioners. The petition has requested that a safety zone, which would create 500 feet of separation between a gas station and residential area in Sarasota County.

“Our best hope of stopping this is the approach we are taking,” Everling said. “Which is to get the county commissioners to recognize that there’s a large number of voters that are not happy about this, and that are concerned about their health and well-being.”