Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation And Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents raise traffic and development concerns; county directs staff to follow up
Summary
Public commenters told commissioners about a proposed 160‑home project near Newnan's Lake, a McDonald’s permit on U.S. 441 and hazardous road conditions in High Springs; commissioners urged constituents to work with growth‑management staff and asked the MTPO/DOT to study safety concerns.
Several members of the public used the March 11 meeting to press county officials on local development, traffic safety and small‑business support.
David Wilkam said a developer plans a 160‑home project near Newnan’s Lake (Magnolia Heights) and urged county staff to provide more detail about road capacity and storm‑water issues; Commissioner Prizia responded that the application may be quasi‑judicial and advised residents to contact Growth Management to request party status or stay informed about the hearing process.
Kelly Potter and other High Springs representatives asked whether a McDonald’s permit for a developer on U.S. 441 north of Winn‑Dixie had been issued and pressed for traffic studies after a recent fatal crash involving a bicyclist. Potter said residents had requested traffic studies without success; commissioners asked her to e‑mail the specific roadway segment so staff could raise it at the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization (MTPO) meeting.
Tara James, a small business owner in Waldo who runs the Embassy Event Hall, asked for improved access to county and tourism grants and for county staff contact to explore marketing and affordable‑housing or landlord assistance programs. Commissioner Prizia recommended the county tourism development committee (TDC), housing staff and sustainability staff as contacts and offered to connect James with those programs.
As a follow‑up, Commissioner Cornell moved that the commission send a chair letter to the Florida Department of Transportation asking DOT to focus on safety along U.S. 301 (Hawthorne area) and work with stakeholders on an updated speed/traffic study; commissioners approved the motion. Commissioners noted multiple entities — the county, the city and the school board — were preparing or willing to send letters to underscore the safety concerns.
Ending: Staff were directed to connect residents with Growth Management and MTPO/DOT staff and to accept emailed specifics about roadway segments for consideration at the next MTPO meeting; the commission authorized a chair letter to DOT on 301 safety.
