4/27/1993 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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r APR 27 199' BOOK 89 FAGF 4067 Public Works Director Jim Davis related the history of the roadway improvements for Willow Street. Two years ago the citizens of both the incorporated and unincorporated areas along Willow Street, also known as 130th Avenue, indicated an interest to have that road improved. With the aid of an enlarged aerial photograph of the area, Director Davis showed the 2-1/4 mile length of roadway and advised that it is divided into three, sections of multi - jurisdictional maintenance for grading. The north one mile is and has been maintained by the City of Fellsmere; the middle 3/4 of a mile is maintained by the County; and the very southern portion south of 81st Street has been graded over the years by Berry Groves. Director Davis reported that the southeast portion of the area depicted on the aerial consisting of 5 -acre tracts has been developing and residents have expressed the need for better grading of the road and the need to improve that roadway. County staff found that we have only a 30 -foot right-of-way from CR512 south and the road itself consumes most of that right-of-way, making it very difficult for the County to put any drainage alongside the road. We do not own the real estate or right-of-way to construct proper swales to get the water off the roads which is paramount in providing a good roadway. Letters were sent to all the property owners along the 2-1/4 mile section of Willow Street asking if they would be willing to donate right-of-way to the County. The owners either did not respond or they wrote back saying they are not willing to donate the right-of-way. Director Davis recounted that staff conducted workshops, held a meeting with the citizens in the Grange Hall and attended a meeting before the City of Fellsmere City Council, and subsequently proposed a special assessment paving program to purchase the right-of-way as well as to pave the roadway. The people in the area expressed the concern that Berry Groves uses the road not only for employees but heavy trucks also use the road to transport the citrus out of the grove area. County staff spent time counting the traffic on that road and found that in peak citrus season as many as 15 trucks come out of the grove at night time after they closed the gate to the west of the grove. Staff estimated that 10 percent of the total traffic on Willow Street is from Berry Groves with about 3 to 15 trucks per night, and that was confirmed with Berry Groves' management. Director Davis stated that 100 to 200 cars per day is a comfortable volume for an unpaved road. He estimated that as many as 600 to 650 cars per day use Willow Street which is significant volume and makes it very difficult to keep the road graded. On the enlarged aerial photo Director Davis pointed out the area which staff feels should be included in the assessment project as the benefitted area. That 2