Subject:
Title
James Road Traffic Calming - District 1
End
Fiscal Impact:
Pursuant to the stipulated settlement, Barrera Shores, LLC (now the new developer, Taylor Morrison of Florida, Inc.) will pay an estimated $559K for the construction of traffic calming devices (Section 7 of Stipulated Settlement Agreement)
Dept/Office:
Public Works Department
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners adopt a resolution in support of the implementation of Traffic Calming measures on James Road; delegate authority to the County Manager, or designee, to execute any related documents, including, but not limited to, permits and associated bonds.End
Summary Explanation and Background:
Beginning in 2004, the County and the City of Cocoa were involved in a dispute regarding the City’s annexation of certain lands located just east of Interstate 95 and directly abutting State Road 528 to the north and south. After years of litigation, on December 11, 2007, Brevard County entered into a Stipulated Settlement Agreement with the City of Cocoa, as well as the then-property owners: Florida Space Needle, LLC, which owned the north parcel, and Barrera Shores, LLC, which owned the south parcel (“Agreement”). The Agreement provides, in pertinent part, that in order for Barrera Shores, LLC, to develop its parcel (267 +/- acres) it needs to satisfy certain requirements. One such requirement was for Barrera Shores, LLC, to “pay for construction of traffic calming devices along James Road.” Section 7, Agreement. The construction of such traffic calming devices was to take place after property owners along James Road were solicited for their opinions on the location and placement of traffic calming devices on James Road. Since the original agreement, the south parcel ownership was transferred to Taylor Morrison of Florida, Inc. (“TM”). Pursuant to “Section 10 - Binding Upon Successors” of the Agreement, TM assumed Barrera Shores, LLC’s obligations under the Agreement. Importantly, the Agreement further states that, “. . . [a]ll traffic calming devices along James Road shall be constructed and completed following land clearing but prior to any further construction or site work being completed.” This agenda, and resulting Board action, is not a referendum on this development nor is it applicable to any other County road. This request is only to approve the proposed traffic calming the County is required to consider under the Agreement and based on the particular set of circumstances that exist on James Road.
A public involvement meeting was held at the Space Coast Convention Center on July 25, 2024. In addition to this public involvement meeting, the County required TM mail a survey to affected property owners in the vicinity of James Road so that citizen input could be reviewed in conjunction with the Engineer of Record’s recommendations. The survey was sent out by TM to all affected property owners on September 20, 2024, and the results were tabulated by County staff on October 30, 2024, based on pre-established guidelines. For the purpose of establishing the list of survey mailer recipients, it was determined that the affected area would include those residents who benefit from the resulting speed reduction along James Road and also those residents who must traverse the speed tables to access their residences off of James Road. It was sent to the property owners’ mailing addresses. A sample survey with instructions is attached to this agenda report for reference.
Following the advertised deadline to return the survey, input from property owners regarding the proposed traffic calming measures was tallied from 62 responses received out of the 101 eligible respondents. With the exception of the proposed reduced lane width, the results indicate that the majority of property owners support traffic calming for the purpose of slowing vehicle speeds and altering driver behavior on James Road. Regarding the proposed speed tables, 76% (47 of 62) of the affected area residents who responded support speed tables as a traffic calming strategy on James Road. Textured Pavement at Friday Road, 71% (44 of 62); Textured Pavement at Cox Road, 68% (42 of 62); Reduced Lane Width, 32% (20 of 62); and Vibratory Edge Markings, 55% (34 of 62). It should also be noted that while it doesn’t change the recommended outcome, these percentages are slightly different than what was presented during the November 12, 2024 Board Meeting due to a minor error.
Regarding the proposed reduced lane width, 50% of residents who responded disagreed with this strategy. However, it is quite possible they didn’t understand that this simply standardizes the existing varied 10-11 foot existing lane width to 10 feet and that no pavement will be removed, thereby adding an additional level of safety for those with large trucks and trailers. Further, this is necessary and is supported by engineering design standards for adequate separation if speed tables (with guardrails) are to be installed.
It is the professional engineering assessment by Taylor Morrison’s traffic engineering consultant and confirmed by staff, that when used in conjunction with one another, these combined traffic calming measures will reduce the anticipated risk due to the increase in traffic and existing roadside conditions. Furthermore, without implementing traffic calming due to the limited right of way, there are no other cost-feasible alternatives to reduce vehicle speeds and improve the safety of all roadway users along James Road.
The Board may consider the following options:
1) Approve all recommended traffic calming measures (i.e., speed tables with guardrails, textured pavement, reduction and standardization of travel lane width, and vibratory edge line marking)
2) Approve one or a combination of the below traffic calming measures:
a. 8-Speed Tables (with guardrails and travel lane reduction/standardization)
b. Lane Reduction/StandardizationTextured Pavement at Friday Road
c. Textured Pavement at Cox Road
d. Vibratory Edgeline Markings
3) Reject all traffic calming measures
4) Other options as the Board may direct
As previously stated, the Agreement provides that TM cannot complete further construction or site activities, until all traffic calming devices are constructed and completed on James Road. If the Board approves Option #3, it is authorizing TM to proceed with its development project without the need for any work to be done to James Road, foregoing its estimated $559K investment on the road. If the Board approves Option #2, then it is approving for only a portion of the traffic measures to be constructed and completed before TM can receive a certificate of completion for site activities and commence vertical construction. The Board’s action shall also provide for a delegation of authority to the County Manager, or designee, as it pertains to related documents, including, but not limited to, the issuance of necessary permits and approval/release of applicable bonds (performance and maintenance).
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
None