7/11/1984 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

JUL 111984 BOOK DISCUSSION RE WINTER BEACH ROAD ON BARRIER ISLAND 5.7 Fk„t 8 Ruth Stanbridge, Chairman of the Scenic Roads and Trails Committee, came before the Board and reviewed her letter, as follows: Mr. Don C. Scurlock, Jr. Chairman Indian River County Board of County Commissioners 1840 25th Street Vero Beach, Florida 32960 Re: Old Winter Beach Road Dear Chairman Scurlock: 4835 66th Avenue Vero Beach, Florida 32960 July 2, 1984 The Scenic Roads Committee met on June 21 to discuss the status of the Winter Beach Road on the barrier island. This old road is designated on the Comphensive Land Use Plan as one of Indian River County's historic and/or scenic roads. This road with its 70 foot right-of-way and the approximately 120 feet of bridgehead property on the river is scheduled to play an important part in our Committee's recommendations for Jungle Trail. This roadway by itself has great significance not only from the standpoint of its historical past but as a highly potential land resource for the future. Unfortunately, the control and maintenance of this road was conveyed to the Town of Indian River Shores by Resolution in 1962. On June 6 of this year, the Town offered it back to the county after 22 years. This offer, however, was withdrawn from the consent agenda the morning of the meeting. The next day on June 7, the maintenance and resurfacing of this road was transferred from the Town to private developers in a special -called meeting of the Town Council. With this background fresh in our minds, our committee discussed with the county staff on May 21 the status of the Winter Beach Road. The fact that the Town could convey the resufacing and maintenance of a county road to a third party without benefit of coordination with the owner (the County) was alarming. It was the understanding from the County Attorney that the control of the road and the possibility that the Town has the legal means with the Resolution of 1962 of closing the road does, indeed, exist. Therefore, the Scenic Roads and Historical Trails Committee recommends that the County take the steps necessary to protect against this possibility and to assure that the Winter Beach Road, its right-of-way, and the bridgehead property will not be closed to the people of Indian River County. Our committee feels that because of the existing resolution and the agreement between the private developers and the Town on the resurfacing and maintenance of this road that the County must retain control of this property. Again, our committee takes very seriously the responsibilities assigned to them by this Commission and if we may be of further assistance, please call on us. Sincerely, Mrs. Ruth Stanbridge Chairman, Scenic Roads