MINUTES OF THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL
BURNT STORE ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY COMMITTEE MEETING
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2011
CONFERENCE ROOM 220A 10:00 A.M.
Chair McGrail called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.
Roll Call: Bliss, McGrail, O’Donnell, Scariot, and Triscari were present.
Alternates: Schwing and Wolfe were present. King arrived at 10:01 a.m.
Also Present: Sarah Clarke, Project Manager, Lee County Department of Transportation
Persides Zambrano, Acting Transportation Manager/Principal Planner
John Manning, Lee County Commissioner District #1
Jim Molnar, T-Y Lin International
Kaye Molnar, Cella, Molnar & Associates, Inc.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes from the meeting on September 23, 2010, were presented for approval.
Committee Member Bliss moved, seconded by Assistant City Manager Schwing, to approve the minutes as presented. Voice poll: All “ayes.” Motion carried.
Public Input
No speakers.
Status of Right-of-Way Acquisition
Chair McGrail stated this meeting would focus on the section of Burnt Store Road between Pine Island Road and Tropicana Parkway.
Lee County DOT Project Manager Clarke provided information on the widening parcel status. She explained the spreadsheet she distributed showed the status of the parcels that had been acquired.
Committee Member Bliss questioned where the parcels 100-222, 223-261, and 262-316 were located.
Ms. Clarke stated Parcels 100-222 were from Pine Island Road to Van Buren Parkway which was the segment currently being designed. She stated the other two segments were north of Van Buren.
Committee Member Bliss asked if approximately 50% had been acquired.
Ms. Clarke replied in the affirmative.
Vice Chair McGrail asked if the area listed as 262-316 went to the County line.
Ms. Clarke replied in the affirmative. She displayed the document entitled “Burnt Store Widening Project #4088” and left it with the Committee for their review.
Committee Member Bliss asked if a certain amount of design needed to be completed before they could initiate condemnation.
Ms. Clarke explained the action that would need to be taken by the BOCC (Board of County Commissioners) to identify public purpose. She added that there was a state statute that referred to the FDOT’s requirement to have 60 percent design before they could begin condemnation.
Hal Arkin, resident, asked if they were still at the 60 percent level of design at the current time.
Ms. Clarke stated they were past the 60 percent stage; 90 percent plans had not been submitted.
Design Plans Update
Ms. Clarke displayed slides on the design plans:
1) Two phases from Pine Island Road to Van Buren Parkway
Ø Existing Burnt Store Road becomes the new southbound lanes
Ø Two new northbound lanes constructed to the east of the existing lanes
Ø Median = 174 feet wide
Ø Six lanes and a two-lane frontage road
Design Concept
Ø Allows traffic to move continuously reducing through travel time
Ø Eliminates delay created by left-turn movement
Ø Reduces frequency and severity of crashes by eliminating conflict points
Ms. Clarke added she would provide an article concerning how crashes were greatly reduced using the Super Street concept.
Four Lane Design Plans
Ø Design speed = 55 miles per hour
Funded for Construction
Ø Pine Island Road to Tropicana Parkway only is currently funded in late 2014
She reviewed the changes made to the plan since the last public meeting:
Ø Added U-turns to shorten the travel distance between U-turns
Ø Embers Parkway and Tropicana Parkway remain full intersections
Ø Added on-road bicycle lanes
Ø Widened pedestrian paths on bridges
Ø Added lighting to pedestrian crossings underpasses at bridges
Ultimate Design Plans
Ø One additional northbound lane added
Ø Three new southbound lanes added
Ø Two southbound lanes (now existing lanes) of Burnt Store Road would become frontage road
She continued with the Ultimate Design Plans:
Ø Design speed = 55 miles per hour
She explained the changes to the Ultimate Design Plans:
Ø Widened U-turn lanes to accommodate larger turning radius (i.e. emergency vehicles)
Ø Added U-turns to shorten the travel distance between U-turns
Ø Embers Parkway and Tropicana Parkway change to directional intersections (left only from Burnt Store Road)
Ø Widened pedestrian path on bridges
Ø Added lighting to pedestrian underpasses at bridges
Mr. Molnar displayed aerials. He showed the median openings for the shopping centers at Publix and Ceitus Parkway.
Committee Member Bliss asked if that was a Michigan turn into Publix.
Mr. Molnar replied in the affirmative.
Ms. Molnar noted that the paths under the bridges would be lighted now.
Discussion held regarding the locations of the bike lanes.
Discussion held concerning projection of traffic to get to Old Burnt Store Road from Embers Parkway.
Discussion held regarding Florida law requiring vehicles to stop for pedestrians.
Discussion held concerning how many U-turns were added.
Committee Member O’Donnell asked if there would be any adequate patrol on the overpasses.
Chair McGrail stated that was an issue for the Police Department to present at the next meeting.
Ms. Clarke noted the Police were invited to the Workshop.
Commissioner Manning stated he requested that the LCSO (Lee County Sheriff’s Office) be notified for joint patrols.
Mr. Arkin questioned if homes would still be built on the west side.
Committee Member Bliss stated there were significant land use changes last year. He stated the intention five to six years ago was to create the wider right-of-way to have the additional width to replicate Veterans Parkway.
Committee Member O’Donnell mentioned that comment forms were given out at the last workshop in December 2006 at the German American Social Club. He noted that out of 112 given out, 30 were negative; the biggest complaint was noise. He noted the County did not support berms. He stated he had a copy of the Lee County Buffer Policy for Residential Properties Adjacent to Roadways which dealt with new roads that begin design/construction after October 1, 2005. This policy mentions berms, walls, and vertical screening. He asked if this applied to Burnt Store Road at the present time.
Ms. Clarke stated that policy did not apply to Burnt Store Road and was only for new roadway alignments.
Discussion held regarding the right-of-way and the future utility expansion project and easements.
Mr. Arkin questioned when utilities would be installed along that corridor.
Chair McGrail stated that topic came up with the North Spreader. If the boat lift stayed out, they had planned on moving sewer and water in Area 58, south of the Bonefish Canal and west of Burnt Store Road to the Spreader Canal. That would be the first area to have sewers installed which would be part of SW 6/7, approximately a five to ten-year time frame.
Commissioner Manning asked when a new consulting engineer was coming on board to give a fresh perspective on the utility expansion.
Chair McGrail stated the Committee of the Whole met twice a month. He explained what they have dealt with so far in trying to keep the rates down.
Discussion held regarding MWH’s contract running out in June 2011 and when an RFP could be issued.
Discussion about the Public Meeting in February
Committee Member O’Donnell stated the NWNA (Northwest Neighborhood Association) was having an informational meeting on Thursday, February 17, at the Christa McAuliffe Charter Elementary School from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. He stated the public was not well informed at the last workshop and needed more information. He explained the commercial corridor and suggested some type of pedestrian/bicycle flyovers.
Discussion held regarding the workshop being held on Thursday, February 24, at 5:00 p.m. at the German American Social Club sponsored by Lee County.
Commissioner Manning asked for a copy of the City’s commercial node program in that corridor.
Assistant City Manager Schwing stated he would provide that.
Committee Member O’Donnell asked if the ultimate superstreet was currently planned along with the interim section.
Mr. Molnar stated they laid out the geometry for the superstreet to identify the right-of-way requirements. They proceeded in acquiring lots. At that point they were directed to back off and design a four lane road to have in the near future where the pavement would not be wasted if they went to the ultimate six lanes with frontage road.
Discussion held regarding the topics of the County’s Workshop.
Committee Member Bliss explained why the NWNA meeting was being held a week before the County’s meeting. He stated feedback from previous meetings showed that the public needed prior knowledge so that they would ask better questions.
Ms. Clarke mentioned to contact her with any questions ahead of the meeting.
Ms. Molnar stated the County could do a pre-meeting on the 17th before the NWNA’s meeting at Christa McAuliffe School.
Chair McGrail stated engineering may have to be looked at neighborhoods locked in due to configuration.
Sherry Ciccone, resident, commented about lighted yield to pedestrian signs on Marco Island.
Ms. Clarke stated the Lee County DOT was trying a few tests on Fort Myers Beach.
Discussion held regarding how cars don’t stop for pedestrians even in crosswalks.
Committee Member Triscari questioned how will cars going at 55 mph stop for pedestrians on Burnt Store Road.
Ms. Clarke explained the new roadway was being constructed for pedestrian underpasses.
Discussion held regarding the 55 mph speed based on a 20-year projection.
Discussion held concerning coordination of projects between utilities and the transportation division.
Discussion held regarding the width of the Michigan U-turns.
Mr. Molnar stated they were made wider since the original presentation.
Discussion held regarding why acceleration lanes were changed from the Michigan turns.
Committee Member Bliss reviewed the history of past meetings.
Ms. Molnar stated they could do a list on what roads would be closed off and which would retain access to Burnt Store Road; however, that may be modified.
Discussion held regarding problems with acceleration lanes.
Discussion held pertaining to the concern from Ceitus Parkway residents.
Discussion held concerning who would attend the meeting on February 17th.
Discussion held regarding the visual presentation at the two meetings.
Chair McGrail stated he would bring land use maps to the meeting.
Ms. Molnar stated she would send an email regarding the meeting to be forwarded to interested parties.
Chair McGrail stated there would be an opportunity to address the Police Chief at this meeting and get his feedback regarding the overpasses for pedestrians. He stated he would try to get some input concerning utilities for the location of proposed future piping to service the area west of Burnt Store Road.
Discussion held concerning the animation was based on the previous plan and there was no plan to have it redone.
Chair McGrail asked if there would be a visual for the pedestrian underpass.
Ms. Molnar stated they would bring some type of representation for it.
Ms. Clarke commented how the pedestrian overpasses and underpasses had to meet the ADA requirements with an elevator or ramp.
Stella Peters, resident, asked if a video was available on the website.
Ms. Molnar stated they were working on it for the meeting.
Discussion held regarding a newsletter going out with all the information to all interested parties.
Ms. Clarke noted they would provide comment forms at the meeting.
Chair McGrail again announced the dates for the meetings:
Thursday, February 17, 7:00 p.m. at the Christa McAuliffe Charter Elementary School sponsored by the NWNA
Thursday, February 24, 5:00 p.m. at the German American Social Club sponsored by the Lee County DOT.
Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, April 21, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. in Conference Room 220A.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:34 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Kerr
Recording Secretary