HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992 - Vision of the Riverfront • • 111)NY
City of Sebastian
POST OFFICE BOX 780127 c SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA 32978
TELEPHONE (407) 589-5330 0 FAX (407) 589-5570
December 14 , 1992
Mr. James W. Davis, P.E.
Director of Public Works
Indian River County
1840 25th Street
Vero Beach, FL 32960
Re: Indian River Drive and Gibson Street
Dear Jim:
This is to summarize the meeting held in your office on November
12, 1992 with you, Daniel C. Eckis, P.E. , and me to discuss
Indian River Drive within the City of Sebastian and that portion
of Gibson Street which abuts the City.
INDIAN RIVER DRIVE
As a result of the "Vision of the Riverfront" report compiled by
a special committee, the City of Sebastian is asking the
continuing cooperation of Indian River County in improving Indian
River. Drive. Further, it is our desire that Indian River County
maintain jurisdiction over Indian River Drive and maintain the
roadway to acceptable standards while at the same time grant the
City of Sebastian permits for certain right-of-way related
improvements.
Specifically, we request that Indian River County:
A. Rehabilitate the driving surface by repairing areas of
pavement failure. For your convenience, City Engineer, Daniel C.
Eckis, P.E. , has provided you with a memorandum detailing the
results of an inspection made by our staff and keyed to the
station numbers of the Indian River County sewer plans for Indian
River Drive.
B. That Indian River County remove all tree stumps within
the right-of-way. While the County did an excellent job in
removing many of the Australian Pine tree stumps which were the
result of the 1989 Christmas freeze, there are still several
stumps which need to be removed.
i
. • ' .
Mr. James W. Davis, P.E.
December 14 , 1992
Paae *2
C. That existing shoulders on the east side be filled and
graded to allow for a proper vehicle recovery area .
Approximately 125 l.f. needs to be filled. We also ask that the
few remaining open ditches on the west side be piped or regraded
to remove the potential safety hazard and to permit the
construction of a pedestrian walkway. Approximately 1,200 1. f. of
open ditches would need regrading or culvert pipe. Enclosed is a
report from City Engineer Daniel C. Eckis, P.E. outlining the
locations of low shoulders and ditches.
D. That any maintenance improvements as outlined above be
coordinated with the Florida Department of Transportation since
the FDCT U.S. fl median improvement project will be impacting
Indian River Drive with the replacement of certain storm water
conduits.
The City, in our continuing effort to enhance the river front
area , may be requesting permits for improvements which may
include the following:
A. Placing existing over head telephone and power lines
underground. Fortunately, there are very few over head
facilities within the Indian River Drive right-of-way.
B. To install "theme" street lighting.
C./ To construct a sidewalk/bike path in the west right-of-
way..
D. To construct a boardwalk, at approximately the same
elevation as the pavement, in the east right-of-way. It may be -:
necessary to bridge certain sections of this boardwalk to
maintain the level with Indian River Drive and to install hand
rails for safety in certain sections. However, we wish to
preserve and enhance the view of the Indian River and would
therefore not wish to elevate the walking surface above the
elevation of Indian River Drive. Further, we may wish to keep
both the bike path and boardwalk near the outer edge of the
right-of-way in order to avoid potential conflicts with
underground utilities.
We recognize that the issuance of permits will depend upon the
final design of the improvements and subject to sound
engineering. However, at this time, we are asking you to approve
the concept of underground utilities, "theme" lighting, bike path
and boardwalk.
• •
Mr. James W. Davis, P.E.
December 14 , 1992
Page *3
GIBSON STREET
Gibson Street (130th Avenue) is currently a County road which
extends south from Roseland Road to the north City limits of
Sebastian. The southern most 1, 320 linear feet of Gibson Street
is County right-of-way but abuts the City to the east and all but
two (2) lots to the west. This portion of Gibson Street is
currently unimproved (not paved) . Gibson Street is identified as
a collector street on the Indian River County Major Thoroughfare
Plan and is therefore eligible for impact fee expenditure or
impact fee credits from District No. 3 impact fee funds.
The City of Sebastian would like to see this portion of Gibson
Street paved. Under normal circumstances, Indian River County
could use its standard policy for petition paving whereby Indian
River County would pay 50% of the improvements for a collector
street and the adjoining property property owners, by special
assessment, would pay the remaining 50%. Bowever, Indian River
County does not have the ability to assess most of the adjoining
property since all but two (2) lots of the adjoining properties
are within the City. The City does not have a similar petition
paving process but improves its municipal streets through the
County Option Gas Tax Fund or General Funds of the City. We
believe that this portion of Gibson Street should be improved
since most of the adjoining land use is Industrial and it is our
desire to foster an atmosphere for industrial development within
our City,,: Therefore, we suggest a joint project whereby the City
would provide 50% funding and the County would provide 50%
funding. If approved by both City and County, the road would be
improved in fiscal year 1993-94 .
We anticipate that the extension of Gibson Street south to Main
Street through the Saint Sebastian PUD would be effected by the
developer of that tract and may be eligible for impact fee
credits. We recognize that any impact fee credits would be
negotiated between the developer and Indian River County.
I would like to develop a joint recommendation along the lines
outlined in this letter. Our joint recommendation would then be
reviewed and considered by the Indian River County Commission and
the Sebastian City Council.
As always, it is a pleasure to work with you and your staff.
Thank you for your continued cooperation and I look forward to
hearing from you in the near future.
PeZ1,71.
Robert S. McClary
City Manager
RSm/jmt
cc: Lonnie R. Powell , Mayor & Sebastian City Council
Daniel C. Eckis, P.E. , City Engineer
Bruce Cooper, Director of Community Development (