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M� {I DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS On August 1, 1995, staff recommended and the Board approved a 58th Avenue right-of-way agreement with the Indian River Farms Water Control District. The agreement contained seven conditions pertaining to the County's request to continue occupying the west 55' of the District's Lateral "B" canal right-of-way for road purposes. The County is acquiring an additional 56' wide right-of-way west of Lateral "B" canal right-of-way to widen Kings Highway. Condition number three of the Agreement (see Attorney Michael O'Haire's July 7, 1995 -letter attached) requires the County to hold a public meeting with property owners adjacent to the District right-of-way where clearing is performed. This meeting is "an opportunity for the public to be heard and answered." On August 20, 1996. beginning at 7:00 PM, staff, the design consultants Kimley- Horn & Assoc., and representatives from the Indian River Farms Water Control District met with adjacent property owners to explain the proposed clearing of primarily Brazilian peppers located in the east 35' of the District's Lateral "B" canal right-of-way. This vegetation is located west of a City of Vero Beach overhead electric line. The vast majority of the approximate 50 persons there were property owners in the Kingswood Estates Subdivision. ALTERNATIVES AND ANALYSIS Many property owners adjacent to Lateral "B" canal right-of-way who attended the meeting have expressed their concerns in a letter _dated August 20, 1996 to Commissioner Bird. The main concerns are: 1) Safety of the neighborhoods - The existing vegetation in the canal right-of- way provides a visual barrier between Kings Highway and the Subdivision. The motorists traveling on Kings Highway cannot see Kingswood Estates Subdivision. Staff concurs with the desirability of a vegetative buffer along the -east side of Lateral "B" Canal right-of-way. The original developer included a 10' wide buffer along the west side of Kingswood Estates, but they did not plant the buffer strip. Eventually, the City of Vero Beach will need to clear the Brazilian peppers to access the electric power line, located east of the canal. The physical canal is 60' wide. Therefore, motorists along Kings Highway will not be able to access the subdivision from the west. The community also has a security gate at the 16th Street entrance. 2) Children's Safety - The vegetation provides a deterrent because children cannot see or access the canal. A buffer is desirable for this purpose. however, the City of Vero Beach Power line will have to be accessed at some time. The clearing is inevitable, and a better location for the buffer is farther east in the 10' wide. buffer strip originally platted. In this buffer strip. the property owners of Kingswood estates can control the density of vegetation and permanence. 3) Sound Barrier - The vegetation provides a sound barrier to mitigate impacts of increased traffic. The existing Kings Highway pavement is approximately 150' from existing homes in Kingswood Estates and adjacent areas. Traffic will increase along the roadway. A new vegetative buffer in the platted 10' buffer strip east of the Lateral "B" Canal right-of-way will reduce noise is desired. September 10, 1996 40 M M