I have been asked to provide the following information to SIA members. The SIA Board of Directors has not discussed or taken a position in this discussion noted below. This is being posted as information to members who might wish to participate in this discussion.
The North Beach Civic Association, Indian River County (NBCA-IRC) has raised concerns regarding proposed SR A1A Widening & Bicycle Lane Expansion between CR510 and the Sebastian Inlet. These concerns are noted in the text of two letters included below.
If you would like to share in the discussion of the issues noted below, you are invited to attend the next meeting of the NNCA-IRC.
When: Wed. June 14, 2023, 10:00 AM
Where: Conference Room B1-501
County Admin Bldg B,
1800 27th Street,
Vero Beach, FL 32960
Topic:
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO);
Share Your Concerns Regarding Proposed
SR A1A Widening & Bicycle Lane Expansion
For more information, contact:
North Beach Civic Association, IRC
C/O William B. [Tuck] Ferrell
10890 Highway A1A, Vero Beach, Fl. 32963
321-543-0928 Cell
772-589-1552
or visit their website
https://northbeachcivicassociation.weebly.com/
To: FDOT District 4 June 2, 2023
Comments on Protecting the scenic A1A byway: Repaving Corridor Widening Proposed for Bicycles A1A Sebastian Inlet to SR 510; Infrastructure Design Proposals on our FDOT designated a National Scenic Byway. This designation protects its pristine scenic importance.
Concerns:
Saving the pristine scenic environment and preventing roadway runoff is a better option than adding more bicycle infrastructure! Due to the very tight scenic coastal strand and environmental issues this proposal may endanger the very things that make it a pristine national scenic byway.
Property Owners and Environmental Concerns on this tight coastal strand: We are getting a bunch of calls about survey work and proposed pavement widening for larger bicycle lanes by approximately 2 feet on both sides of A1A! No Room Issue: Many owners are concerned about our already tight coastal strand and National Scenic Byway Corridor Impacts to The Indian River Lagoon. The proposed expansion seems slight, but there are important environmental and Site-specific Impacts. The project does not appear to fit areas in our tight coastal strand. Many houses are situated on very narrow ocean to river sites! There is little room to maneuver now!
Swale Riverine Impact: Years ago, our community asked FDOT for swales between the Indian River Lagoon and A1A rather than a slope draining directly into the river. Direct discharge of road runoff is prohibited. As a result, FDOT graded the slopes into swales which hold and percolate runoff. We have pictures of the swales holding runoff after rain events!
The home sites and driveways in most of the subject area are tight due to the narrow strand and FEMA Coastal Control Line setbacks. There are existing bike lanes on both sides of A1A. Bike use is rather limited in the area! Most bikers use the sidewalk on the west side of A1A fronting the Indian river, because of the view amenity! A bicycle expansion on the east and west side of A1A could be problematic for the environment and property owners.
Public Access and Fishing: Bike Lane expansion could impact parking and prevent historic public access to the Indian River Lagoon and beaches in some areas. Furthermore, there appear to be consequential property, drainage, and environmental impacts. Will this proposal require property takings in the tight narrow corridor?
Unintended Consequences Problem: Please protect our narrow natural coastal strand! Our residential community groups need much time to review any plans and surveys!
Setting a Local Precedent for Natural Beauties sake: The county Town of Indian River Shores and their population soundly rejected over improving the associated infrastructure in their A1A corridor. Indian River Shores, Johns Island, Orchid, Windsor, and North Beach Civic Association attended the Indian River Shores FDOT meeting to protect the scenic coastal strand neighborhoods from over development of associated bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
At that time, our North Beach Civic Association expressed concerns about the Indian River Shores neighborhood, and we asked DOT not to propose infrastructure expansion development in our pristine narrow coastal strand area to the north.
Bicycle Proposal SR 510 bridge and View: The high chain link bridge bicycle railing on 510 was an upset to the champions of our natural environment and the project was stopped. It is being replaced with an appropriate railing redesign! We are a nationally designated scenic byway, and further development as a complete street or other designation is not appropriate or feasible.
A scenic area should be clear of unnecessary signage. Fewer signs and less bright cycling signage, especially on the bridges and causeways would be better. Please no more extensive green street markings and bright signage clutter in our scenic strand!
A National Scenic Byway, Historic Environmental Impacts, and the Potential Corridor Expansion Fit are issues: Natural Beauty: We ask you not to over improve our tight pristine NATIONAL SCENIC strand corridor and allow the natural beauty to remain. Drainage Impact Function: Removal of all or most of the narrow several foot swale area will cause increased drainage sheet flow into the Indian River! Historic Ponds: We have historic ponds along much of A1A which may be impacted by lane expansion. These freshwater ponds saved the survivors of the 1715 Spanish Treasure Coast Fleet. We are named the Treasure Coast! The historic ponds serve as habitat and support a flyway for many species of birds. Please carefully site check this issue with the Pelican Island Audubon Society, and others.
Roadway infrastructure expansion improvements could ruin the natural beauty and ambiance everyone is trying to protect including north island bikers. This is the home of Pelican Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Sebastian Island State Park, Jungle Trail, Archie Carr Preserve, and other natural pristine areas. It is not a place for infrastructure expansion. Again, it appears there will be many stressful impacts, environmental concerns, and a possible taking of lands. It might be wise to provide more information directly to property owners or their representatives before decisions are made. There are many local concerns!
Again, most of the area is a very tight coastal strand pristine scenic environment!
Residents do appreciate FDOT and your work in our community. We ask you to study our special tight corridor issues with residents and others before you move forward on the bicycle proposal.
Respectfully,
William B (Tuck). Ferrell, Jr., President North Beach Civic Association.
CC: IRC MPO
Scenic Byway A1A Widening Event Attraction and Concerns Letter Two
North Beach Civic Association
Big Concerns and on heavy use and event potential which happened a few years ago north of the inlet We are aware of the problems in the Town of Melbourne Beach and the south beaches north of the Sebastian Inlet. Public Record of Bicycle Events Banned: It was covered in Florida Today and news outlets. The Town of Melbourne Beach was overrun as an Organized Bike Destination and Racing Area. The residents were able to get out of their driveways due to racers from around the country. Roads and lanes were closed due to the club pressure. We are concerned about high use and event pressure. This was a huge problem in District 5 north of Sebastian Inlet. Melbourne Beach had to stop the national bicycle events that attracted overpowering state and national bicycle clubs.
Troubling Zoom Call Regarding the new A1A bridge and environs raised a red flag. We listened to an advertised official Zoom call regarding the Sebastian A1A Bridge development that strangely included bicycle clubs in Ft Lauderdale and South Florida! They talked about the potential of traveling to Indian River County and the Sebastian Inlet for recreational events, rides, and races. There was a discussion about inlet facilities! One of the club members said he would like to invest in bars or restaurants at the inlet. This call was an official part of the bridge Zoom calls during Covid time, and it may have been recorded. We could listen to the call, but we were unable to comment due to phone muting problems. Respecting the natural environment, state parks, and residents should be considered before adding an unnecessary attraction.
The potential of large bike events and heavy usage is real due to new infrastructure development attractions! We do not want our neighborhood disrupted by heavy usage due to its intrinsic natural beauty! Loving the environment to death. The light came on: Sebastian Inlet Bridge is designed for heavy pedestrian and bicycle use supposedly for the state parks north and south of the inlet! This is troubling because we do not want to attract more heavy Indialantic type use, especially constant bike events in our narrow pristine coastal strand. It was a big problem in the areas north of the inlet. Now, there is a move to restrict development by legislators in the Brevard South Beaches north of the inlet!
William B. [Tuck] Ferrell
10890 Highway A1A, Vero Beach, Fl. 32963
321-543-0928 Cell
772-589-1552
Posted by John Lehnhardt, SIA President