Nokomis Area Civic Association has Questions about Venice Crossing

 

Record Attendance!! On November 11, 2025, NACA hosted one of the largest community meetings in its history. We extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who attended and contributed to a highly informative discussion regarding the proposed Venice Crossings development on Laurel Road. As promised, we have prepared the following summary to help keep residents fully informed and to ensure that the community’s concerns are clearly reflected in the public record. This summary is also being formally provided to elected officials at both Sarasota County and the City of Venice for their review and consideration. Summary of the details to date of the proposed Venice Crossing Commercial Center presented at the Nokomis Area Civic Association Meeting held on November 11, 2025.     NACA Members & Community:   Listed below is a summary of the details presented, and questions asked at the November 11, 2025, NACA meeting regarding the development of the Venice Crossing Commercial Center located on Laurel Road, across from the Laurel-Nokomis School and The Reserve at Venice apartment complex.   The proposed Venice Crossing Commercial Center is being built on an 83-acre property.  This property is within the City of Venice and is therefore permitted through the City’s Planning and Development and Engineering Departments.  Sarasota County owns and maintains Laurel Road so any road improvements will be permitted through the County’s Planning and Development and Engineering Departments.   At this time, the property has been divided into 17 separate parcels.  To date, there are three (3) applications submitted to the City of Venice from businesses requesting to build in the commercial center.  They are a Panda Express Restaurant, a Car Wash and a Home Depot.  Although no application is yet submitted, Walmart has purchased 22 acres within the commercial center area.   There will be two entrances into the commercial center.  One will be at the intersection of Laurel Road and Laurel-Nokomis School. The other entrance will be across from The Reserve at Venice apartment complex. Other than road improvements related to the two entrances, there are no other improvements planned to Laurel Road or surrounding roads or intersections.   Approximately 150 residents attended the November 11th meeting, demonstrating the community’s deep interest in the proposed commercial development. While a wide range of questions and comments were raised, one message was unmistakably clear: residents are profoundly concerned that the project, if not carefully evaluated and planned, could jeopardize the exceptional quality of life that defines this area. Attendees emphasized that the development’s impacts must be assessed comprehensively—not only on the immediate neighborhood but across the broader Laurel Road corridor—to ensure that growth is responsible, sustainable, and compatible with existing community character. A particularly urgent concern involved the safety of schoolchildren, as the projected increase in traffic introduces risks that warrant meticulous review. Given the significance of these issues, residents strongly urge elected officials and planning authorities to conduct thorough due diligence, listening to community input before any approvals are granted. The community’s expectation is clear: development should enhance, not endanger, the wellbeing and safety of those who call this area home.     Specific questions from audience members include:   How can the area residents be assured storm water flooding will not be an issue from the Venice Crossings development?    Will storm water be regulated by Sarasota County or Venice?    Does Sarasota County require deeper water retention ponds than the City of Venice?   How are storm water flooding issues mitigated if a “Sarasota County” property is harmed from an adjoining “Venice Annexed” property?   Why wasn’t the Venice Crossing’s  83 acres tied to the next-door development at Twin Laurel in a formal  Master Plan?  The development all seems to be “Piece-Meal”.   How can Venice Crossing development guarantee not to cause harm and become an over-burden on the community’s infrastructure?   Will overnight parking be allowed in the development’s parking lots?   How can “night-time” noise pollution be minimalized?   With the large number of Tractor Trailers needed to stock & resupply Walmart, Home Depot, & the other 15 businesses considered as part of the overall Traffic Analysis?   How can this be done in a safe manner in a residential area right across the street from a County school?   With traffic backups regularly at Laurel Rd. & US 41, how will additional traffic caused by Venice Crossing not compound the issue?   Has there been a study done to determine the types of animals that lived on the Venice Crossings property prior to development?   Did the traffic study consider the number of vehicles in the area during student drop-off and pick-up times at school?     These questions will be submitted to the City of Venice and Sarasota County officials.  Their responses will be compiled and shared with the Nokomis Area Civic Association membership.  Please feel free to contact Steve Carr at 315-679-0177 or presidentwindwood@gmail.com if there are any questions.    Thank you for interest and support of the Nokomis Area Civic Association (NACA).