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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 Jan 24 TCPalm ArticleSebastian to realign Main Street intersection: TCPalm.com Pagel of 2 1 L . -µ-- -- -- �. €.., FLOR1DASTPEASUPLE4=€7ASTAND PALM BEACHES REAL MOPE AT 1^ 1NW.TGPrkLM.CO Sebastian to realign Main Street intersection By Ed Bierschenk Thursday, January 24, 2008 SEBASTIAN — City officials will push ahead with a project that will realign the Indian River Drive and Main Street intersection to accommodate a boat trailer parking lot, despite opposition from a vocal group of residents and business owners. The split within the community also was reflected in the vote of the council Wednesday evening, which was acting on the issue in its capacity as the Community Redevelopment Agency. Council members Al Paternoster and Eugene Wolff voted to table the matter. Mayor Andrea Coy along with council members Sal Neglia and Dale Simchick voted to move forward with the project estimated to cost $1.5 million to $2 million. Wolff noted he has been consistently opposed to the project, which he believes is "way too expensive." He also didn't think the project would provide additional benefits to retailers and said the chances of residents being able to use one of the 27 boat trailer parking spaces was "negligible." Paternoster suggested the money might be better used for some other project, such as facade work in the area. While the new parking lot east of the realigned intersection will not increase the number of boat trailer parking spaces currently available, Coy noted 39 vehicle spaces would be added elsewhere. She also believed the project's landscaping would enhance the area and said the city had received almost $500,000 in grant money for the project. Community Redevelopment Area money and recreation funds are expected to cover the remainder of the cost. According to some, people dropping off and getting their boats sometime pull out into traffic and create back -ups at the intersection. Paternoster, however, said there were no reported accidents at that intersection. He said the realignment of Indian River Drive could create a problem along Main Street, http: / /www.tcpalm.com/news/ 2008 /jan/24 /no- headline- 24vboat/ ?printer =1 / 1/24/2008 Sebastian to realign Main Street intersection: TCPalm.com Page 2 of 2 which would be shortened east of U.S. 1 as part of the realignment. Sebastian resident Chuck Lever, who previously presented a petition containing 357 signatures of people opposed to the project, presented another one with 230 names. Some other residents, however, spoke in favor of the project and said it would serve the boating community and that out -of- towners using the ramp could help the retailers. Beth Mitchell, executive director of the Sebastian Area Chamber of Commerce, noted that her board of directors fully supported the project. Business owners Lisanne Monier and Ruth Sullivan joined her in supporting the project. Other business owners, however, were strongly opposed, including Tom Collins, co- owner of Capt. Hiram's Resort, who dismissed the idea that people using the boat trailer parking area would spend money locally. Business owners Damien Gilliams and Cindy Falcon- DiCorrado also opposed the project. Falco n- DiCorrado did not think the parking lot would be a good idea aesthetically and also believed it would serve only boaters rather than the entire community. ftl© 2008 Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers http : / /www.tcpalm.com /news /2008/] an/24 /no- headline- 24vboat/ ?printer = l / 1/24/2008