What did the lake turn blue...and why does it smell bad sometimes?
We are fortunate that our lake is now very healthy due in part to our aeration system; but one of the downsides is that with very clear water, the algae on bottom grows faster with the increased sunlight that reaches it. To override this, our lake maintenance company adds a harmless coloring to filter the sunlight. The algae then dyes and floats to the top, which can cause an odor until it dries out and finally sinks.

Are there alligators in the lake?
Probably. We have seen small ones from time to time, and have had one larger one removed by a trapper in the past. We do not advise swimming in the lake, and recommend exercising care when near the edge, especially with regard to small pets.

Why aren't there more plants as part of the Entrance Upgrades?
We have now finished both phases of our entrance upgrades, assisted by county grants. The first phase was mostly about getting the mechanical and infrastructure parts up to snuff. The second phase was about the pretty, large, showy plantings. This project reminds us of kids asking “are we there yet?” on long rides. The answer in our case is NO, we are not there yet, but we are on the journey. The ground cover with slowly take over the weeds, and now we can add our own annuals for some color, however, we need your assistance to do this by way of nursing them along with daily watering that our timed irrigation may not take care of.

What is the bubbling we see out in the lake? Can we fish in the lake?
It is not the Loc Ness Monster! That is our aeration system at work. This was installed in 2007 with the assistance of the Sarasota County Grant Program. The systems run from 8:00am to 5:00pm daily. Why do we need aeration? Click here to find out! Now that it is in place, we plan to re-stock the lake with sterilized carp, which are recommended by our Lake Management vendor and available only with a State permit. The carp help by eating much of the harmful vegetation. The goal of all this is to have a healthy, algae free lake with a minimum of chemical controls. The one drawback to this is the need to restrict fishing. Since these fish are sterile, they cannot replenish themselves and of course they must be purchased. Consequently, to deal with this and help solve the problem of outsider fishing, we will be posting a number of “No fishing permitted” signs around the lake. You are allowed to fish, but only on your own property. Walking the perimeter of the lake and fishing from neighbors' backyards is considered trespassing unless you have their permission.

We want to paint our house - Does this need  to be approved by the Board?
Oh, Yes!   Approval for this project is not difficult, unless you intend on doing an "Andy Warhol" and making your house look like a Campbell's soup can. First, decide on the color, and include a paint chip along with the Architectural Review form. Next, fill out the Architectural Review Form and turn it in to one of members of  the Architectural Committee. Formal approval is usually easy and takes no longer than two weeks.

We need to re-roof our house. What procedures should we follow?
You will need a licensed  roofing company, as a permit is required; submit a sample of the shingles to us with the Architectural Review Form.

We want to enclose our lanai; is this allowed?
A permit is required for this also, along with the Architectural Form to the Committee.

What about playhouses and yard sheds?
No outbuildings are allowed; swing sets are allowed, but subject to approval. (See Covenants and Restrictions, Page 8, Section 12- Go to Forms & Documents webpage for download)

Can we park in the street or on our grass?
We understand that you may have gatherings at your home and guests may need to park in the street temporarily, however, overnight parking in the street is not is not allowed, nor is parking on the grass. (See Covenants and Restrictions, Page 7, Section 11 - Go to Forms & Documents webpage for download)