News

The proposed County budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, which begins on October 1, 2008, includes a Capital Improvement Program project for pedestrian and bicycle improvements on CR 210 from the Intracoastal Waterway bridge through the Mickler roundabout and along Mickler to SR A1A.  The design phase of this project is recommended for funding in FY 2009.  No date has been established for construction.  The County budget is still tentative at this time, and modification is possible until the budget becomes final, usually in late September.  While I do not anticipate changes in this project, you should be aware of the possibility.

Because there are a number of alternative ways of providing bicycle and pedestrian facilities on this road (sidewalks on both sides with bicycle lanes, sidewalk on one side with bicycle lanes, Multi-purpose path for both bicycles and pedestrians on one side or the other, etc.) and a number of other complicating factors (elevation differs between the road and adjacent natural grade, some adjacent land is wet, available right-of-way is limited, residences are near the road on one side and the Guana owns the land on the other, etc.) this will be a relatively complex project.  During the design process these alternatives will be developed and shared with the public so that the most appropriate and desirable improvements are selected for construction.  I anticipate that design process will require most or all of FY 2009...and it could even take longer.  The construction phase could be scheduled as early as FY 2010, depending on project progress and the availability of resources.

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From: Angela Valu [mailto:lucysmail@earthlink.net]
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2008 5:22 PM
To: Joe Stephenson
Cc: Commissioner Cyndi Stevenson; Diane Gorski; Darrell Locklear; Tom Murta; Rick Cantwell; Hal Hitch; Kim Allerton; Rawle Family; Marcy Silkebaken; James Murray
Subject: Re: CR 210 Improvements
Mr. Stephenson....Thank you for your response.  I'm disheartened to hear that this project will take so long to get off the ground.  I'm concerned that the $5.5 million dollars from Nocatee will "vanish" into the general budget when it was designated for road improvements along CR210 between Mickler and the bridge.  My understanding was that we were waiting for this money from Nocatee (at the end of their phase 2) so that we could get started with these road improvements.  Has that money been received yet and if so, can't we use that to get the design phase started sooner?  I realize that October is not too far away but we would like to do whatever we can to ensure these improvements happen sooner rather than later (or never).  I'm please to see the capital project, as you describe it, has sidewalks going all the way to A1A.  That would indeed make a huge difference to the entire community.  If there is anything I can do to help expedite this project please advise.  Best regards, Angela DiazSawmill Lakes

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From: Joe Stephenson
To: lucysmail@earthlink.net
Cc: Commissioner Cyndi Stevenson ; Diane Gorski ; Darrell Locklear ; Lindsay Haga
Sent: Sunday, Autust 17, 2008 11:31 AM
Subject: CR 210 Improvements

Ms. Diaz; 

I apologize for the delay in my response: The research necessary for a clear answer to the question “when is the $5.5 million from Nocatee due to the County?”  took some time, and I only received the answer from the Planning Department late last week.

Under the original Nocatee Development Order Phase Tow was scheduled to begin in October, 2008.  The 2007 Florida Legislature granted all Developments of Regional Impact an automatic three year extension of development order conditions due to the slow real estate market.  Therefore, the payment is currently anticipated to be due in October, 2011.   Further changes are possible, particularly if the current slow real estate market continues.  If the Nocatee funds become available in October, 2011 they will arrive at the beginning of the County’s 2012 fiscal year.

The process of preparing engineering plans for pedestrian improvements would not be quick or simple if we already knew exactly what we were building and where we were building it.  The process of considering alternatives and reaching a public consensus on which is the right one seems likely to require a significant investment of time and effort.  Only after that process (planning and preliminary engineering) is complete can the final engineering design work begin.  Considering the complications of limited right-of-way, drainage, wetlands and elevation, I would expect this final design work to require at least a full year and quite possibly longer.  I know this sounds like a long, drawn out process…and it is.  In my experience it is also unavoidable: We try to design and build each project in the minimum time that is practical.  The planning and preliminary engineering process is funded to begin with the County’s 2009 fiscal year in October, 2008.  Therefore, it appears that the process of planning and preliminary engineering, final engineering design, land acquisition (if required) and permitting is likely to be accomplished before the Nocatee funds are available.  When the plans and permits are near completion we can work on the most expeditious and appropriate way to fund construction.

Please let me know if further information will be helpful.
 Thanks!
Joe Stephenson

email: smlboard@smlinfo.org
10036 Sawgrass Drive, Suite 1 * Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 * (904) 273-9832