Officials target U.S. 41 flooding issues

When rain from Tropical Storm Emily hit Sarasota on Monday morning, the intersection of U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue flooded.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise. It doesn’t take a named storm to flood the intersection, just east of the bay, a traffic hub  connecting downtown and the barrier islands.

Even after a typical 30-minute rainstorm, standing water can make streets in the area unnavigable, residents say.

A block closer to the Ringling Causeway, at Gulfstream Avenue and Sunset Drive, similar problems exist.

Eileen Normile, a member of the city Planning Board and a former city commissioner, lives at the Tower Residences at the Ritz-Carlton off of Gulfstream. She can see the Sunset Drive intersection from her window, and she’s witnessed cars stalling in flood waters.

“You basically can’t do the intersection without an SUV,” Normile said.

To some degree, flooding is a natural byproduct of living so close to the bay. When it rains at high tide, there’s often no place for the water to drain. But Normile says people in her building agree the problem has gotten worse over the past few years.

The most noticeable change in the area during that time is the construction of Vue Sarasota Bay, an 18-story development with 255 hotel rooms and 140 condo units. That project, at the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue, came with a plan to ensure it would not negatively affect drainage in the area. The city must inspect and approve the drainage system before residents can move in.

Still, Normile — a founding member of STOP, the citizen group lobbying for more stringent regulations on developments — questioned whether the construction was exacerbating the street flooding.

“My concern — and I’m not an engineer — is that as we cover over the last green spaces, what effect is that having on drainage and flooding?” Normile asked.

Assistant City Engineer Dan Ohrenstein said there’s no reason to believe the Vue’s stormwater management plan is insufficient. However, the project has affected drainage in one way: A recent inspection, triggered by a citizen complaint, discovered that dirt had run off the construction site and into the street and drains nearby.

City engineering staff issued Vue contractor Kast Construction the maximum allowable fine for the violation — $300, Ohrenstein said, plus an additional $100 for the expense of a follow-up inspection.

The city required Kast to ensure the dirt wouldn’t run off in the future, and worked with the Florida Department of Transportation to clean the drains and inlets around the site. Ohrenstein said the city tries to inspect construction sites monthly, though he was not certain when the Vue property was last inspected.

FDOT is doing additional work to clean out pipes in the area, Ohrenstein said. Although city staff believes that will help improve drainage along Gulfstream, Ohrenstein said it’s unlikely any significant changes will take place prior to the construction of a roundabout at U.S. 41 and Gulfstream. As FDOT plans for that roundabout, Ohrenstein said engineers are looking at ways to improve drainage, as well.

In a July 26 email to Normile, City Manager Tom Barwin was optimistic the planned clearing of a drainage ditch along the former Quay property on the bayfront would help mitigate the flooding on Gulfstream Avenue. Ohrenstein said the improvements to the ditch would likely help streets drain better, but the areas that will benefit largely lie north of the street.

Although Ohrenstein suggested a quick fix is not in store for the flooding problems around U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue, he said the city would continue to look for ways to marginally enhance the conditions in the area.

“I think there will always be challenges, since we’re right next to the bay,” Ohrenstein said. “But we’re going to try to keep improving the best we can.”

Update: This article has been edited to correct the name of Eileen Normile’s residence.