How the County Process Works
The speed cushion proposal is a Sarasota County decision — not a SEPOA Board decision. Here’s how the process actually works, and how we can oppose it effectively.
Important: The Sarasota East Property Owners Association Board cannot install speed cushions on their own. County-maintained roads are governed by the Sarasota County Residential Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (RNTMP) Part II under Sec. 98-14 and Ordinance 2023-071.
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The County Only Approves 4 Devices
Sarasota County’s RNTMP Part II allows residents to petition for one of four approved traffic calming devices:
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Driver Feedback Signs
Electronic speed displays. Proven effective. No emergency delays.
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Raised Crosswalks
Only at pedestrian crossing points. Limited use case.
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Speed Cushions
This is what the Board is pushing. Delays emergency vehicles. Damages cars. See the Facts.
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Mini Roundabouts
Modular design. Expensive but effective for intersections.
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The Numbers That Matter
10
Signatures required to file a County petition
2/3
Abutting owners who must say YES for approval
1/3 + 1
Abutting owners opposed is enough to defeat it
This is the most important number on this page: if more than one-third of abutting parcel owners submit letters of opposition, the petition fails. We don’t need a majority. We need 34% + 1.
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The 6-Step County Process
Step 1: Petition Submission
An owner of a parcel abutting and accessing the subject street files the petition with Sarasota County. The petition must include a minimum of 10 signatures from owners of parcels with residential structures abutting and accessing that street.
Individual parcel owners file the petition — not the HOA Board as a collective.
Step 2: Completeness Review
The County reviews the petition for completeness. If it does not meet the 10-signature requirement or specify the subject street(s), it is rejected.
Step 3: Traffic Criteria Study
The County performs a traffic criteria study under Sec. 98-14 and Ordinance 2023-071. The study evaluates:
- Road classification (local residential)
- Posted speed limit
- Average daily traffic (ADT) volume
- 85th percentile speed vs. posted limit
- Emergency response route considerations
If the street doesn’t meet the criteria, the petition is denied here.
Step 4: Stakeholder Workshop
The County holds a workshop with stakeholders to discuss the proposal. This is mandatory for speed cushions — the workshop may only be waived for Driver Feedback Signs.
This is where community opposition is formally presented. Research, fire department concerns, and resident testimony all go on the record here.
Step 5: Survey / Letters of Support
The County conducts a survey during and after the workshop. A minimum of two-thirds (66.67%) of parcel owners abutting and accessing the subject street must submit a letter of support.
Anything less = the request is denied.
Step 6: Installation (If Approved)
If 2/3 support is achieved, the County installs the devices. Cost is borne by the petitioners and abutting residents — not by the County, not by the HOA general fund.
The County handles installation, maintenance, and any future removal.
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This Is the Actual Petition Form
Below is the official Sarasota County form the petitioners must submit. We’re showing it so every resident understands what’s being filed on our behalf — and what’s being asked for.
What the form requires
- Petitioner (Point of Contact) name, address, phone, email
- Request Type — petitioner chooses from: speed cushions, elevated crosswalks, driver feedback signs, modular mini roundabouts
- Description — written justification for why they want this change
- At least 10 signatures from owners of parcels with residential structures abutting and accessing the subject street
- Each signer provides: name, street address, phone number, signature
The rules printed on page 2
- Minimum 10 owner signatures from parcels abutting and accessing the subject street
- If less than 2/3 of abutting parcel owners support the request, it is denied.
- Roadway must be a Local Street, Significant Local Street, or Minor Collector in a residential neighborhood
- Applicants pay all material costs directly.
- County handles installation, maintenance, and removal
💾 Download the actual petition form (PDF)
Want to see exactly what the County requires? Review the official form.
↓ Download the Sarasota County Traffic Calming Request Form →
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Where the Petition Goes
Every petition under this program is reviewed by the same County staff contact. If you want to submit comments, concerns, or a letter of opposition, this is who you contact:
Wafa Mahmoud
Sarasota County Traffic Engineering & Operations
1001 Sarasota Center Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34240
✉️ Email: wmahmoud@scgov.net
☎️ County Contact Center: 311 or 941-861-5000
If you oppose speed cushions on your street, email Wafa directly. Reference “Sorrento East Traffic Calming Request” in your subject line. State your name, your Sorrento East parcel address, and that you oppose the installation. Every letter of opposition counts toward the 1/3 threshold that defeats the petition.
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How We Stop Speed Cushions
The County’s own process gives us four distinct opportunities to stop the petition. We don’t need to win them all — we just need to win one.
1. Fail the Criteria Study
If Sorrento East streets don’t meet the County’s speed/volume thresholds, the petition dies before it ever reaches a vote. We should request traffic data and a copy of the criteria study.
2. Win the 2/3 Survey
If 34% + 1 of abutting owners say NO, the petition fails. Email your letter of opposition directly to wmahmoud@scgov.net. Include your name and Sorrento East parcel address. Every letter counts.
3. Dominate the Workshop
The County MUST hold a stakeholder workshop for speed cushions. We bring the 35+ research sources, a formal fire department letter, and organized community opposition on the record.
4. Propose Feedback Signs Instead
Driver Feedback Signs are one of the four approved devices. They reduce speeds 10-15%, cost less, and cause zero emergency delays. If the concern is genuinely speeding, this is the right answer.
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Common Questions
Who counts as an ‘abutting and accessing’ parcel owner?
An owner of a parcel whose property physically borders the subject street AND uses that street to access their home. The County uses this definition to determine who gets a vote in the 2/3 survey. If your home is on the affected street, you count. If your home is on a different street, you typically do not count for that segment.
Does the HOA Board have authority to do this without a vote?
No. The HOA Board cannot install speed cushions on county-maintained right-of-way. The petition must come from individual parcel owners. If the Board is ‘organizing’ the petition, each signing Board member does so as a private parcel owner, not as Board authority. Our Bylaws (Article VI, Section 2) also allow 10 members to demand a Special Meeting to vote on this.
What if the Board has already filed the petition with the County?
We can still stop it. File a public records request with Sarasota County Public Works for the petition, the petitioners, the specific streets listed, and any traffic criteria study. Then target the 1/3 + 1 opposition threshold in the abutting-owner survey. The petition is not a final decision — it triggers the County process, and the 2/3 survey is the actual vote.
Who pays for speed cushions if they’re installed?
Under the County program, the petitioners and abutting residents pay the full cost. This is not a general HOA expense. Typical cost is $4,000–$15,000 per location depending on material. With multiple proposed locations, total cost could exceed $50,000 — all paid by the homeowners on the affected streets.
How do I submit a letter of opposition to the County?
Letters can be submitted by email or mail to the County staff member assigned to the project. Watch the SorrentoEastNews.com site for updates — we’ll publish the specific contact and deadline as soon as the County posts its public notice. In the meantime, email Sarasota County Public Works Traffic Engineering at 311 or 941-861-5000 and reference the Sorrento East traffic calming request.
What are Driver Feedback Signs and why should we prefer them?
Electronic signs that display the driver’s current speed as they approach. Studies show they reduce speeds 10–15%. They cost $3,000–$5,000 per unit (cheaper than speed cushions), require no road modifications, cause zero emergency response delays, and don’t damage vehicles or reduce property values. They’re the right answer if the genuine concern is speeding.
Sign the Petition. Submit Your Letter.
Every signature on our community petition and every letter of opposition submitted directly to the County adds up. If 34%+1 of abutting owners say NO, speed cushions don’t happen.