- September 11, 2024
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What traffic calming measures should be implemented at North Halifax Drive in Ormond Beach?
In a 4-1 vote on Tuesday, Aug. 20, the Ormond Beach City Commission approved a work authorization for a new safety study to be performed of the city road, citing a recent uptick in requests for traffic calming and speed evaluations on the road. The safety study, to be performed by civil engineering firm Burgess & Niple, Inc., of Maitland, will cost the city $45,331.74. According to a city staff report, it will evaluate the corridor, and identify safety concerns to make recommendations to the city.
“Speed, four-way stop conditions, no passing zones — what we can do to make it safer and make sure that we’re optimizing and utilizing that roadway as best as we can,” Assistant City Manager Shawn Finley said.
City Commissioner Travis Sargent voted against the work authorization, saying he was having a tough time approving a $45,000 study when he believed the issue could be evaluated in-house.
“I understand that we’ve had a lot of residents ask for this, but I go back to the basics of having officers writing tickets,” Sargent said.
Sargent said that for him, that’s more effective than putting in speed bumps. If having officers write tickets for speeding doesn’t work, then the city could consider a study.
“I think we’re jumping the gun here,” he said.
Finley said he wished the city had enough staff to complete the study in house, saying more people would be needed to complete the necessary surveys and evaluations. Just having a consultant to come in and meet with the city would cost about $10,000, Finley said.
“We’re really reflecting the cost of bringing qualified professionals,” he said.
Burgess & Niple, he said, are involved in the ongoing FDOT improvements on West and East Granada Boulevard.
Commissioner Lori Tolland said she’s received traffic calming requests for the corridor, with the most recent having come in two weeks ago.
“I hate to spend money needlessly as well, but I do think that this is very valuable to have,” Tolland said.
Commissioner Susan Persis was in favor of the study, but said she’d also received concerns regarding South St. Andrews Drive in Ormond Beach. She didn’t want those residents to feel slighted that they were not getting a traffic calming study.
“I am all for safety and the cost doesn’t bother me as much as being equal to everybody,” Persis said.
Finley said North Halifax Drive is a challenging corridor, being a major collector road, and once the study is completed, the city will take a look at other roadways.
“There’s other roadways that are easier to do,” Finley said. “South St. Andrews is probably one of those.”
The city is also working on an improved traffic calming program and South St. Andrews Drive is likely a road that can be reviewed in house using that.
Mayor Bill Partington said the description provided by resident a few months ago at a City Commission meeting of a pedestrian killed on North Halifax Drive haunts him.
“As a mayor, you never want that to happen if you can prevent it,” Partington said.
The City Commission unanimously rescinded its determination of non-compliance for the developer of Hunter’s Ridge, U.S. Capital Alliance, at its meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
Last October, the city issued the developer a notice of noncompliance over allegations of a violation of the 1991 Hunter’s Ridge Development of Regional Impact. The violations largely surrounded almost 300 acres of conservation lands that hadn’t been granted to the city and a dispute over a road easement granted to Flagler County for a logging road known as the 40 Grade.
A lawsuit followed the non-compliance notice, which was settled earlier this month following a May 16 mediation meeting between the city, the developer and the Flagler County Board of Commissioners.
To resolve the lawsuit, the parties agreed to convey the 40 Grade road easement back to the developer, who would then convey the conservation lands to the city. Flagler and Ormond will enter into an interlocal agreement for the limited utilization of the 40 Grade.
On Sept. 12, at 5:30 p.m., Volusia County Community Assistance will conduct a public meeting at the Ormond Beach Regional Library where one person will be elected to represent low-income people on the Human Services Advisory Board.
This is one of five meetings that will take place countywide. One person will be elected at each meeting to serve on the board, a requirement per grant regulations, according to a county press release. An alternate may also be elected to serve in the absence of the elected person if enough interest is warranted at each meeting.
The advisory board provides guidance to assist the Volusia County Council in developing Community Services Block Grant program goals and objectives, identifying community needs, and evaluating program effectiveness.
The Ormond Beach City Commission discussed the city’s current $1.94 million landscaping contract with Yellowstone Landscape on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
Yellowstone has performed the city’s grounds maintenance since 2012 and performs work in over 375 sites with the city.
Commissioners were given an overview of what Yellowstone’s contract entails and were supportive of renewing.
City staff will bring that before the commission for a vote at its next meeting.
