Lakewood Ranch CDD 6 raises questions over gates

Lakewood Ranch Ranch chairman seeks attorneys' opinion on whether the community can restrict access on Country Club roadways.

By Pam Eubanks
| 6:00 a.m. September 16, 2015

Entrance through the Balmoral Woods Boulevard gate to the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club has been an item of concern for CDD 6 residents.

East County
News

LAKEWOOD RANCH — As chairmen of the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club’s community development districts discuss sharing the costs of maintaining the community’s roadways, CDD 6 Chairman Jim Rogoze is working to resolve an issue closer to his constituents: Can the CDD restrict access on Balmoral Woods Boulevard?

In other business

Supervisors in districts 2, 5 and 6 in October will discuss a potential resolution to allow the towing of vehicles who consistently park overnight on district sidewalks, a violation of homeowner restrictions within the Lakewood Ranch Country Club. Attorney Andy Cohen said the resolution will include a clear process for staff to notify violators of potential towing before towing occurs.
CDD 5 supervisors approved an agreement, subject to staff and attorney approval, with Stage Door II for Phase VI storm drain inlet repairs for an estimated $107,000. The contract sets a per unit price for materials. Engineers still must conduct a video exploration to determine total repairs needed and to finalize costs. Supervisors agreed to spend about $4,000 to have performance and work bonds because they have not before worked with Stage Door.
CDD 4 supervisors approved a fundraising boot camp program at Greenbrook Adventure Park’s pavilion from 9 to 10 a.m. Oct. 10 to raise funds for Cintia Manasseh-Caputo. Shape Up Sarasota Boot Camp will lead the event.
Lakewood Ranch’s Community Garage Sale is set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 17. The sale will occur in the Summerfield/Riverwalk and Greenbrook communities.

Rogoze has asked two attorneys — Patricia Petroff and Mark Hawk — to give their opinions on the question.

Both attorneys agreed that because the CDD's roadways are funded with tax-exempt bonds, they are public and must be available for public use without obstruction. But Hawk said the CDD may have some options for restricting certain types of traffic if it can prove there is an associated safety issue.

Rogoze and the chairmen from CDDs 2 and 5, Pete Bokach and Marty Cohn, respectively, have been meeting over the last several months to discuss a possible scenario in which the districts would share costs of maintaining roads within their districts, which comprise the Lakewood Ranch Country Club, rather than having each district pay entirely for its own roadways. Rogoze said those discussions also have included concerns over road safety and gate access through the community. The districts have a cost-sharing agreement in place for the gated-entrances into the Country Club. The agreement is due for renewal in November.

“It’s a broad discussion,” he said, declining further comment.

In the past, District 6 supervisors have expressed concerns that their entrance off Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, Balmoral Woods Way, is heavily used by visitors and residents of the other districts, and also have pushed heavily toward restricting access through that entrance to CDD 6 residents only.

At the meeting, Rogoze said he, Bokach and Cohn hope to bring the fruits of their discussions forward to their respective boards in the next month or two for consideration and discussion. CDD 6 then would hold a special meeting in November to give its residents an opportunity to provide feedback on whatever proposal comes forward.

“When people work together, anything is possible,” he said. “Our residents should know their supervisors have their long-term interest at heart.”

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].