Item O9
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
ADD ON
Meeting Date:
May 17, 2000
Division: County Attorney
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
A public hearing on the issue of widening County Road 905 in Key Largo.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
Approval to advertise at the April 19, 2000 meeting.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approval.
TOTAL COST:
BUDGETED: Yes
No
Cost to County:
APPROVED BY:
County Attorney X
OMS/Purchasing
Risk Management
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVA~
DOCUMENTATION: Included --1L- ~o FOI~~_
Not required
AGENDA ITEM #
o.q
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on
Wednesday, May 17, 2000, at 3:00 PM at the Key Largo Library, Tradewinds
Shopping Center, Key Largo, Monroe County, Florida, the Board of County
Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, intends to hold a public hearing to
consider the following:
THE WIDENING OF COUNTY ROAD 905, IN KEY LARGO, FLORIDA
Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, notice is given that if a person
decided to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter
considered at such hearings or meetings, he will need a record of the
proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he may need to ensure that a verbatim
record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and
evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
Dated at Key West, Florida, this 24th day of April, 2000
(SEAL)
DANNY L. KOLHAGE, Clerk of the Circuit Court
and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County
Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida
ReQuested publication dates
Reporter
Citizen
Keynoter
4/27-5/4/00
4/28-5/5/00
4/29-5/6/00
-- .-......- ......-.......-.........-- ---...... ,..,..... -.. ."-~ ...,._-_..-.._~&~
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY ATTORNEY AGENDA ITEM
The issue of widening County Road 905 in Key Largo was
advertised as a public hearing and, although not included
on printed agenda, will be heard at 3:00 PM on May 17,
2000.
d
:r~"'~ 0 .. fJ
(I.,t>. flo s
5/16100
Monroe County Board of Comtnissioners
Re: Plans for "Bike path/widening of SR 905"
Bicycles and high speed tmffic don't mix. Placing a strip of tar contiguous with the existing roadway will
create a dangerous hazard by luring bicyclists and pedestrians to the edge of a 55 mph speed zone with
actual speeds generally higher. Where this was done in Islamorada, the speed limit is only 25.
A real bikepath or foot trail, unconnected to the highway, could be a great addition to this scenic highway
and a recreational asset to the upper keys. This could be accomplished by creating a meandering trail
along or within the treeline, with native landscaping, occasional water fountains, and benches at a safe
distance from the road. If done in connection with agencies now controlling the land on either side, it
could help educate people about the stretch of woodlands and allow taxpayers a small degree of return on
their moneys used to appropriate the area.
If this is really to be a bike path, it should be safe for those who would use it.
:rrM~ 1IE 0 - <}
('.~. .. 9D S
Jill rattenon
p .0. Bo~ 1189
Key Lal1o, Florida 33017
(30!) 367-)118
May 14,2000
Monroe County Board of County Commissioners
Mayor Shirley Freeman
Mayor Pro T em George Neugent
Commissioner Wilhelmina Harvey
C:ommissioner Mary Kay Reich
Commissioner Nor. Williams
Re: The Widening ofSR905
North Key Largo. Florida
"''"be . misinformation' traif'
Dear Commissioners:
Thank you for holding this tong overdue public hearing
ill December of t 998 after receiving misinformation that the existing SR90S road
surface would be resurfaced at no expense to the taxpayers of Monroe County, this
Board ofC'ounty Commissioner:. indicated support of the road widening/paved
shoulder project We have ,idee learnt that tbe project does ..It include murfacinR
of the rllilrin~ paved .urratt. t
We have been told that the road widening/paved shoulder p,oject is a "des.ignated
bicycle lane" and a "recreational trail" but, FDOT b.ve said tbe ....d
wid~..i"aJpaved .holllder project does ..ot meet ,II. .t.netards for. "deaiJnated
bike IanC'~" FOOT h.vI also said the paved ,boul<<hn will not be Itriped.
dialllondtd. .ig..ed or desiloated as I bicycle lane.
We have been told that a lack of support by Monroe County BOCC for the SR905
North Key Largo project may jeopardize the approximately $ J 3 M FOOT commitment
funding tor the Heritage rail project, but the SR90S proJed ha. only recently been
liRked to the Heritap Tnil funding, The Heritage Trail is officially designated
frOIn MM 00 to MM l06S Additionally, FOOT have "expressed that
pro,leet!. . . r can) be reprioritized or redesigned at the request of the Monroe County
{'ommission" FOOT has also expressed a willingness to respond to the need!' and
desires (If the county." 3 It is mitleadina to tlaim that th~ SR9O!l projeft it cru('ial
to the Hfritale Trail ProIram f'undin..
.-....--. -.... ..~._~_.._-
I Iglc513l1. I)olmcl Lcner to Jin ?lItte1'SOll, 21 Jun. 2()OO.
: StraHon. 1'mh. Memcnndum to Kim Open. "Nov. 1999
\ SI"ltlnn. 'rn~h. Momot'lUtdum to Ki'" ~ I Nov. 1 m
,"-::J...
If ahere is broad public lapport lor a bicycle and/or pedatrian path aloft,
SR905. this roacl _'iclfttj~paved sboulchr project will not serve that p.rpose.
Early documentation on this project indicates a Monroe County request, to FOOT.
for a separate recreational trail. However, the current project is road widening/paved
shoulders. There are new claims that the project is a safety enhancement. It has even
been suggested that the Ocean Reef Club requested the road widening project, but
according to 8 news article written by Ann Henson, the road widening project is not
an istoue with Ocean ReefClub.4 A request for doc:umflltation showing the
oriain.1 request, . findi.. or necessity and the thanges revealed tltat DO
docu meatalion e:l.ilts.
The information being used in suppon ofthis project is a concern It does not
benefit the public when enoneous and misleading statements are made regarding the
scope of the project.
It is misleading to advmise this road widening project as a "trail" 0.. "path", TheSt:
terms generate very different images than ''paved shoulders" or "road widening>', It is
also irresponsible to encourage the public to utilize: "paved shoulders" as a
recreational path. According to a recent news article, Capt Jenny Bell Thompson of
the Monroe County Sberiff's Office stated that "we [currently] have arn existing) bike
path fluac:hed to the old hjghway and that's dangerous f(\r bikers at 30 mphH , In
addition to t"~ salety eoncem, we deed to l"tCog.ize the liability e~polllre to fhe
tallpayen of MOdrw County.
FOOT has indicated a willingness to repriorjtizo or redesign projoots that address
the nc-eds and desires of our County, The residents or Monroe County would be
blUer served by a parCuenbip wi" Dade Ceonty to improve and enbute thr
safety fondition. of Carel Sound Road. I sugest the SJ.4M proj<<t e.la.neemeRt
eelt be either anorated fer the Dade County portion or elJ'Cl S..md Road. or for
eonriluou$ paved ,houlders Od US ,Hip.I)' I through tile developed portion of
thl' Is"nd of K"" La~o; either project would .fnre . tar greater need to the
resident. of Monroe County.
Sin.C~.I!. /J /
\." tt( /t.ltaf~.--.>
Jill Patterson
~jp
,1 HonllCln. Ann "Bike porh caslocl iI 'smokaaeen' for "idmmg." I!!st.B~.!1" 16 Mar 2001')
, Hcnsnn. Ann "Rikc puh <:aIled a 'smokescreen' for widening," Thc;.P~ 16 Mar 2000
/