Residents press Destin council for stronger Crosstown Connector protections; council asks staff to return with alternatives

Residents who live near the Crosstown Connector returned to the council with safety and noise concerns, asking for acoustical barriers, bollards, speed control and stronger fences where the new roadway approaches backyards on East Legion and Sandalwood.

City staff proposed allocating up to $225,000 — roughly 2,400 linear feet — to install a solid fence on the north and south boundaries of the roadway for aesthetic and limited noise mitigation, either as a change order to the prime contract or via separate procurement. Staff emphasized the original intent was to clean up unsightly, failing fences and that a solid barrier could also provide modest noise reduction.

Council members and residents pushed back on an immediate fence-only approach and suggested natural alternatives and a fuller mitigation package. Councilman Schmidt moved to bring back multiple options that would address acoustics, safety and sight lines; council voted 7–0 to request updated proposals that include vegetative screening (podocarpus hedges and canopy trees), potential bollards, and speed-control devices or other engineered safety measures. Staff said they will coordinate with the project CEI and contractor to evaluate costs and durability.

In a related item, the city’s construction consultant, Half Associates, reported that Phase 1 of the Crosstown Connector and its stormwater component completed four days early and under budget. Doug Pritchard said the team installed one of the state’s largest storm chamber systems and identified March 11 as a Phase 2 preconstruction conference.

The council’s request will return as a design/options package for further consideration before any fence procurement or change order is approved.