City Council Discussions, 14 June, 2019
City Manager Morgan stated the stormwater and traffic studies for the proposed extension of Doherty Drive/Heritage Oaks Boulevard were included with the agenda. He reminded Council that the City had
been planning for the roadway extension for several years. The roadway was dedicated in 2005 and was included in the City’s comprehensive plan. The roadway was also shown on the plats as a future roadway. Council was being asked to approve the task order for the engineering design for construction. He added that the stormwater study provided data that the project would not increase the flood risk. City Manager Morgan stated that staff was recommending this be approved as it would benefit residents,
provide a second means of access, and reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled for the neighborhood.
David Wilkison, DRMP, reviewed the permitting of the Heritage Oaks development,which was where this roadway was included. He stated that based on a pre-application meeting with the St. Johns Water Management District, they were told that it would be
permitted to discharge into the canal along Doherty Drive. He provided a cross section of the area showing the changes that would occur with the construction of the road. He believed this would improve the drainage for the properties along the Doherty Drive extension.
Council Member Young asked where the water would flow from the Doherty canal. City Manager Morgan stated that it flows behind Hollywood Estates to Crane Creek.
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Mayor Rose asked if there would be any construction or widening of the canal. Mr. Wilkison stated it would not be part of this project.
Deputy Mayor Bentley asked if residents along the Doherty Drive extension were dependent on the berm for drainage. Mr. Wilkison stated the design of the subdivision required that drainage occur from back to the front and then into the street which feed to the ponds belonging to the subdivision. City Manager Morgan noted that the road was originally designed to flow into the homeowner association ponds and will now not do so; this would reduce the flood risk for that development.
Chris Walsh, Traffic Engineering Data Solutions, Inc., Debary, Florida, stated his firm was retained to look at the effect on traffic for the extension. He explained there were three areas of focus: trips to and from the existing Heritage Oaks development, trips to and from future development along Minton Road and Heritage Oaks Boulevard, and trips to and from Minton Road south of Heritage Oaks Boulevard. He explained that
most of the Heritage Oaks traffic traveling from the east was reassigned to the extension. He commented that the actual travel time would not be significantly different. He recommended the Doherty Drive/Henry Avenue intersection would work well with a 4-way stop control. He did not believe the warrants would be met for a signal at this intersection. Mr. Walsh also recommended that Heritage Oaks approaching Minton Road include extended turning lanes to assist in the traffic movements.
Mayor Rose asked about the Heritage Boulevard/Doherty Drive intersection. Mr. Walsh
indicated there could be a stop sign in both directions. Council Member Dittmore asked about street lights and City Manager Morgan stated that a streetlight at that intersection could be added to the plan.
Mike Diaz, 2075 Botanica Circle, stated that the cost was proposed to be $1.2 million, which he believed was high. The safety issues on Doherty Drive and Henry Avenue had not been addressed. He stated there was no logic to the proposal. Mr. Diaz also
stated that he was in Houston and New Orleans when hurricanes hit and did not believe that this secondary egress would provide an appropriate emergency exit for residents.
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Kate Philpot, 2102 Lune Court, thanked Council for working with the community. She stated that many of her questions about the road extension had been answered, but had concerns about the wildlife that would be disturbed and the mitigation. She said the
larger trees are good for water absorption and, if disturbed, there could be unforeseen runoff issues. In addition, there was not enough room to make the turn at the proposed Heritage Oaks/Doherty Drive intersection for large vehicles.
Scott Smith, West Melbourne, appreciated the reports but believed the traffic study was confusing. He stated the real problem is that a right-turn lane is needed from Minton Road to Henry Avenue. He believed the intersection at Doherty and Henry would be too busy to alleviate any traffic. Henry Avenue needed to be wider. He also spoke on the wildlife in the right-of-way. He felt that this would put a burden on the Heritage Oaks residents.
Philip Livengood, 2174 Botanica Circle, stated he had been a resident for seven years and was one of the residents with the most to gain and the most to lose. He stated that the road construction would affect the property values. He knew of one potential buyer
who had decided not to make an offer based on the possibility that the road would be constructed. He stated that had he heard about the possibility of a road being constructed, he may not have bought the home. He stated that the beauty of theneighborhood would be lost. The reason for the road was no longer needed and any benefit to the greater community is negligible. His preference was to keep the trees andthe quiet neighborhood. He believed frustrated drivers on Minton Road and Henry Avenue would end up using this road.
Justin Lauer, 2205 Botanica Circle, appreciated Council taking the time to conduct the studies. He did not believe that the roadway would solve a problem as there was no problem defined. He stated that traffic on Minton Road could be solved by six-laning
the roadway. He reminded Council that a number of people had spoken in opposition to the road. Residents had suggested the money be used for an alternate walking or bike path. He was concerned that the Council was not providing any other options. He
believed Council should proceed with a proposal that would benefit most residents. In addition, he questioned if there was a conflict of interest by certain Council Members that reside in Heritage Oaks because they would personally save on mileage because of the construction of the road.
Mayor Rose asked about the issue of property values declining and any conflict of interest by Council. City Attorney Richardson stated he would caution on addressing speculative property values; he noted that property owners were noticed on the construction of the roadway when their homes were purchased. He also stated that a conflict of interest would occur if Council would benefit because they were in a special
class. With this impacting 700 homes in the development, this would not meet the criteria for a conflict of interest.
Council Member Gaffney expressed concern with several items discussed that could affect the overall budget of the project. City Manager Morgan stated the engineer’s estimate would provide unit costs based on current rates. If there is a budget shortfall, it would have to come before Council to ask for additional dollars.
Council Member Gaffney asked if a vote could be delayed until information provided from Mr. Hines could be reviewed. Mayor Rose noted that the information placed on the dais prior to the meeting had also been sent to members several days ago.
Mayor Rose asked about cut-through traffic. City Attorney Richardson stated the traffic would not be classified as cut-through because this would be a collector road and there are no homes that front on the extension. The extension would accommodate re-routed trips.
Council Member Dittmore recommended that a traffic signal be placed at Doherty Drive and Henry Avenue. He did not believe it would be less expensive in the future. He noted that it could be placed on flash mode until warrants are met.
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Council Member Batcheldor addressed several comments made by citizens.
Council Member Dittmore moved to authorize the City Manager to execute a professional engineering task order with DRMP, Inc., for the Doherty Drive/Heritage
Oaks Boulevard Extension Project in the not-to-exceed amount of $122,535.
Council Member Young seconded the motion.
Ed Hines stated he had provided Council with a combination of materials that included presentations made to Council over the last year. Most of the information pertains to traffic measurements and addresses that Minton Road was at 86 percent of capacity in 2017 with a capacity that grows by 2 percent per year. He stated that the flooding
concerns appeared to have been addressed, but was concerned with what would have happened if the road had been in place for the last hurricane. He explained that he was not concerned with the flooding in the yards, but where the water would go that would
have been absorbed in the ground previously. Mr. Wilkison stated the water that would have been absorbed would be redirected. He noted that meetings with the St. Johns River Water Management District provided direction to allow for discharge to the canal, which was beneficial.
Council Member Batcheldor asked about the diversion of the water to the Doherty canal and measurements further upstream. City Manager Morgan stated that there were two projects proposed that would benefit the C1E canal. One project upstream at the headwaters of the basin would divert some water away from canal and into the Melbourne-Tillman drainage district for properties in the Bossieux and U.S. 192 area. Another project downstream would construct a stormwater retention pond at the
wastewater plant which would improve downstream capacity.
Council then voted on the motion to authorize the City Manager to execute the task order for the Doherty Drive/Heritage Oaks Boulevard Extension Project, which passed 6-1, with Deputy Mayor Bentley opposed.
Extracted from official minutes.