Based on discussions among residents of Shoreview at Waterside of Lakewood Ranch on November 1 and November 17, 2022 – and on discussions with representatives of the developer, Pulte Homes, Inc., during a walking-tour along the waterways and conservation areas of Shoreview on November 17th – nine residents who represent the concerns of 252 community homeowners and petition-signers make the following recommendations to Pulte Homes and its environmental consultant, Eco-Logic Services, LLC. Our recommendations and suggestions are keyed to specific areas of Shoreview, identified by number in the list below and on the accompanying maps. We start at the intersection of Deer Drive and Grande Shores Creek. From there, the recommendations are sequenced eastward along the concrete pathway that parallels the Creek. The recommendations end at the eastern edge of Shoreview where the Creek pathway intersects with Seascape Place.

No. 1 – Approximately 150 yards eastward along the concrete pathway from the intersection of Grande Shores Creek and Deer Drive, at the point where the Creek makes a right turn…

At this point, the vegetation on the south-side bank area of Grande Shores Creek is badly degraded … so much so that it is revealing trash in the conservation area. See the images below. Aesthetic enhancements are urgently needed to restore this area. To improve the aesthetics of the bank area, which now appears desiccated, significant planting and clean-up are requested by the community.

During the walking tour at this point, Chris Pereira, Pulte Homes Land Manager, indicated that Anne Ross, P.E., the Director of the Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District, is developing plans to plant bushes in the areas in, around and beyond the creek bed. We strongly support this. To assist, the homeowners will reach out to Anne Ross to determine the Stewardship District’s plans. But we also ask Pulte Homes and Eco-Logic Services to encourage Ms. Ross to disclose these plans and the timeline for installation.

James Southerland (henceforth, “Jimbo”) of Eco-Logic Services LLC suggested that “Wild Coffee” might be an appropriate planting to cover the signs of deforestation along the south side of the creek bed and the banks. We are open to such a suggestion. In fact, the homeowners are open to any and all ideas that are environmentally appropriate, improve the general appearance of the pathway and vegetation at this point, and help us reach our goals of maintaining a green community.

No. 1 (Continued)

Map Showing Areas No. 1 and No. 2

No. 2 – East towards Sailview Place on the south-side bank of Grande Shores Creek…

Along the southern banks of Grande Shores Creek and into the Phase 5 conservation area, significant understory has been removed. Where the conservation area was once dense and impossible to see through, it now has numerous gaps. We understand that invasive species have been removed. However, the extent of the removal – shown on the pictures below – is shocking to residents. We request aesthetic enhancements to the understory of the southern banks of Grande Shores Creek and the conservation area. Jimbo, of Eco-Logic Services, suggested that it would be difficult to plant Fakahatchee Grass or Wax Myrtle – plants used in other areas of Shoreview – on the south-side bank of the Grande Shore Creek bed because the area is too dry. Instead, he recommended that “Fire Bush” or “Beauty Berries” be considered as plants that could fill in the understory, and make it more difficult to see the new apartment buildings and new homes that are being constructed in Waterside. We are open to Jimbo’s advice, if it can help fill in the wooded areas. We regard this as a high priority.

No. 2 (Continued)




No. 2 (Continued)

No. 3 – Past Waterways 1 and 2, along the pathway that leads south to Phase 5 and Kingfisher Lake (Lake C), looking east toward the Waterway 3 retention pond and the small concrete weir…

Shown in the picture below, this area has been cleared and mowed to create a park-like view in what was once a dense, native-growth understory. Residents request curtailing of some mowing in order to allow some areas to recover to natural systems. Areas of mowing should be delimited by planting Fakahatchee Grass in a way that would leave an unobstructed view of the Waterway 3 pond from the pathway leading to Kingfisher Lake. The area to the south of Waterway 3 should be allowed to recover to native habitat. Fakahatchee Grass should be planted in such a way as to end mowing along the south side of the pond (adjacent to a LakeHouse Cove wetlands). This would create a large natural area to the south of Waterway 3.

Map Showing Areas 3, 4, 5 & 6

No. 4 – Along the pathway eastward through the wooded area, on the south side…

Shown in image below, this area has been cleared and mowed to remove much of the understory and create a park-like view. We recommend restoring some of the native habitat. To do that, we suggest the planting of Fakahatchee Grass (or another appropriate border-defining plant for an understory semi-shaded area) to denote the end of the mowed areas south of the pathway and the beginning of the natural un-mowed areas. The grass should be mowed in an area that conforms to the contour of the pathway (i.e., not a straight line), extending about 45 feet southward from the path into the wooded area. Natural systems should be allowed to recover in un-mowed areas. This will require periodic inspection and removal of invasive species.

No. 5. – South of the intersection of the three pathways, at the eastern entrance to the forested area just west of Lake 3...

In this area, blue stakes denote formerly mowed areas that are now being allowed to recover to native habitat. We strongly support this. Chris Pereira, Pulte Homes Land Manager, indicated that approximately 60 Wax Myrtles will soon be planted in the open wooded area identified on the map as No. 5. We strongly support this as well.

Additionally, the homeowners would like to plant a row of Fakahatchee Grass that would serve as a demarcation line between areas that will be mowed and areas that will be allowed to return to native habitat. That is, the existing blue stakes should be replaced by a row of Fakahatchee Grass. The goal of residents, particularly those with homes on Lake 3, is to make it more difficult to look through the wooded area and see the new apartment buildings of Waterside Place or the homes being constructed on Kingfisher Lake (Lake C). We welcome the news that Wax Myrtles will be planted in this area, and we’d like to know the timeline for plantings to begin and reach completion.

No. 5 (Continued)

No. 6 – Approximately 110 yards along the concrete pathway from the wooded area and the blue stakes to Seascape Place.

In verbal discussion, the homeowners group had initially proposed planting Fakahatchee Grass along the northern bank of Grande Shores Creek. See the pictures below. However, after discussion among the walking-tour group, it was agreed that there is not a need for this area to be altered.

We hope these recommendations are clear. Independent of what the Stewardship District may do on the banks of Grande Shores Creek, we urge Pulte Homes, Inc. to begin developing its own plans for restoring the green aesthetics of Shoreview’s open and conservation areas. We were encouraged by the responsiveness of Pulte representatives and agents on the walking tour.

We request an immediate response to the recommendations outlined in this document. We hope to meet again by the middle of December 2022 to look at plans to make aesthetic enhancements in the areas mentioned above. Please let us know when we might convene next. In turn, we will keep Rose Wallace, Pulte Homes and HOA President, updated on our efforts to clarify the plans of the Stewardship District.

Thank you.