Your request has been received and forwarded to our Code Enforcement department. Tracking number 20 136850 11 has been created for investigation. Please call the Contact Center at (941) 861-5000 for more information. You can also follow the issue at https://building.scgov.net/PublicPortal/Sarasota/SearchPermits.jsp.

Your inquiry has been investigated and your case has been closed as no violation of County Code has been found or the issue has been resolved. Please contact us at 861-5000 with any questions or would like additional information. Thank you for using SeeClickFix.

I have the reviewed the dedications of units 2 & 3 from the plat map book located at the county records.

On the MVR unit 2 p1 map in the upper right hand corner in small print it dedicates the platted easements to Sarasota County. I know the print is small so this is what it says.
__________________
EASEMENT NOTE :
There are expressly reserved for the County of Sarasota easements of 8' along the rear of all lot lines for underground and overhead utilities, surface drainage and underground drainage and easements of 5' on each side of lot lines for the same purposes. Where more than one lot is intended as a building site, the outside boundaries of said building site shall carry said easement. Road and drainage easements are also reserved for use as saddle trails, with that usage being secondary consideration.

_________________

When I read that, it seems that Sarasota county has the authority and obligation to keep all the drainage, road & saddle trail easements open and functioning as intended. Allowing someone to fence off that easement, even if they give access to the county, impedes its use as a saddle trail.

We also won a case from another neighbor indicating that it is illegal to block an easement. I can submit copies of all the records and maps if necessary. We are also going to forward this violation to Commissioner Al Mayo.

Your request has been received and forwarded to our Right of Way permitting department. Tracking number 20 139689 11 has been created for investigation. Please call the Contact Center at (941) 861-5000 for more information. You can also follow the issue at https://building.scgov.net/PublicPortal/Sarasota/SearchPermits.jsp.

There are TWO gates on this property that need to be removed as they are violated county rules.

As a resident, these gates are not an issue for 95% of the community. and after walking these overgrown areas past the homeowner the drainage easement is not fit for a saddle trail as the ditch is a huge droop off and the pass through to Vanderipe is washed out. These gates are only protecting the residents from the bad areas and if the county needs to access this area they can get through as they are open. Also if I understand correctly the only reason the owner had an issue with county going on the drainage easments is because they CLEARED the beautiful trees that kept this homeowner from seeing his neighbors... As I don't blame him I wouldn't want to see a smurf blue house either... The trees that were cleared were not in the way of powerlines nor fence lines and had no obstruction in the ditch to allow water to flow.

The homeowner is not allowed to make these decisions. The gates are a violation and need to be removed. The trail is fine and currently walkers and horses are going AROUND the gates which is NOT safe. The rules apply to all.

Let's all enjoy some factual truths !
The complaintant is a disgruntled board member of an EXTENGUISHED HOA . She is also a committee member of Sarasota County. The lawsuit she claims to have won ,and offers as proof , was completely and totally reversed by the Second District Court of Appeals #17-1726 LYDAY vs MYAKKA VALLEY RANCHES IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION , INC. . Of more importance is the holding that this complainant is ignoring , by continuing to pretend to assert some sort of lawful dominion over owners who have an EXTINGUISHED ASSOCIATION !
HER threat to take the matter to commissioner Al Mayo would certainly be interesting to say the least , from her position as a County Committee member.
As for her allegations regarding previous code enforcement at this location , one needs to look no further than the official records of the county to conclude that the shear volumn of UNFOUNDED complaints to code enforcement indicate vindetta of harassment. ( A very common retaliation by the board ...openly suggested in their meetings.) .

95 percent of owners in Myakka Valley ,moved here to be left alone and would prefer that board and their EXTINGUISHED ASSOCIATION just go away....like Frank and Danyel and Charlie and David and Vivian and Trudy, and just leave us to peacefully enjoy our private property !

95 % of the neighbors do want access to the trails & easements. Every realtor promotes this. One bitter old man who doesn’t want people enjoying the neighborhood is not right. The HOA is NOT Extinguished! That ruling applies to the Lyday’s only...another bitter family that would rather spend $$$$ & waste years to fight with their neighbors rather than pay....$ 600 PER YEAR in dues !
This easement is no different than beach access & sarasota county has an obligation to keep this open. The only reason they gave to these jerks is because the squeaky wheel gets the grease ... well Squeek Squeek buddy.

All neighbors have squabbles but this seems like Sarasota county issue.

It is heartbreaking for Myakka Valley Ranches to have one particular resident closing bridle trails and drainage easements. This particular area is passable and one of the trails in the heart of our trail and drainage system. Drainage easements and saddle trails are deeded for equestrian use and hiking. In response to the 9/26/2920 response, this resident sadly doesn’t realize the all members noted are either relocating or are not alive. Those mentioned tirelessly devoted their energy and love to this community to preserve what our original developer had intended for Myakka Valley Ranches. This community has been victimized by residents who have no sense of community. We are fortunate to live on 5 acres or more. Some residents want to take over the easements for more privacy or out of pure possessiveness. This form of entitlement does not belong in an equestrian community.

Contrary to the homeowner’s statement, the only thing that makes this easement “dangerous” is having to go around the gates to make passage. This drainage ditch was not subject to regular maintenance by the county for years resulting in backup of rain/flood waters and washout of the culvert In the main ditch. The county allowed this to happen by not enforcing its obligation to clean the ditches.

Our neighborhood has been from it's inception a community catering to horse owners. A trail system was implemented in concert with drainage systems. This is no secret. It was written in the deeds when properties here are purchased. The Florida Sunshine Law protects property owners from equine liabilities, if a sign is posted. So if a trail is dangerous, it is a worry to the user of the trail not the property owner. We all own private properties, but we agreed at purchase of the property to areas of access for specific purposes. In this case, this fencing functions as a roadblock on county and community property. This community helps it's neighbors Riding Trails have been cleared after storms by neighbors at no charge to the property owners to keep the trail system open. Trail have been maintained in good order by the neighborhood to keep them safe and managed for the county to access for routine drainage maintenance.

1st- This is not a neighborhood blog. 2nd- for those not familiar with inception of the neighborhood should not be commenting bc you are going off facts from what you have been told and not actual facts and again its not a blog. 3rd- everyone can agree we all love our neighborhood and wants what is best for it.

Seems like a serious safety/liability issue. There are a lot of children out here who use these trails for walking/biking/horseback riding. A passable gate will not protect them from danger. If there is a hazard it needs to be fixed. Homeowners should not have to put up gates across county easement.

Most of the county drainage easements reserved for use as saddle trails run along drainage ditches with steep declines. Walking or riding on a flat, mowed, solid 8 foot grass easement is not dangerous or challenging. Going around illegally placed obstacles and gates forcing someone to walk on the decline is. This has nothing to do with safety, and all to do with spite - as the homeowner has confessed.

If there is a washout, that is a safety issue and should be repaired asap. The saddle trails add value to our properties and must remain open.We paid a premium for these trails and if someone blocks them we should be able to collect damages.Everyone knew of the existence of these easements when they bought here.

Maybe a class action suit is the way to go?

Your inquiry has been investigated and your case has been closed as no violation of County Code has been found or the issue has been resolved. Please contact us at 861-5000 with any questions or would like additional information. Thank you for using SeeClickFix.

I disagree with the closing of this case. Nobody has contacted me to review the legal documentation I have proving that this is a county responsibility to remove the gates blocking the drainage easement.

I have the reviewed the dedications of units 2 & 3 from the plat map book located at the county records.

On the MVR unit 2 p1 map in the upper right hand corner in small print it dedicates the platted easements to Sarasota County. I know the print is small so this is what it says.
__________________
EASEMENT NOTE :
There are expressly reserved for the County of Sarasota easements of 8' along the rear of all lot lines for underground and overhead utilities, surface drainage and underground drainage and easements of 5' on each side of lot lines for the same purposes. Where more than one lot is intended as a building site, the outside boundaries of said building site shall carry said easement. Road and drainage easements are also reserved for use as saddle trails, with that usage being secondary consideration.

I believe this is addressed with case: 20139689

Your request has been received and forwarded to our Right of Way permitting department. Tracking number 20 139689 11 has been created for investigation. Please call the Contact Center at (941) 861-5000 for more information. You can also follow the issue at https://building.scgov.net/PublicPortal/Sarasota/SearchPermits.jsp.