Port Richey council tables US 19 median landscaping after debate over palms, maintenance and FDOT limits
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Summary
Councilors paused a FDOT-funded US 19 median landscaping plan after a lengthy debate over removing existing palms, long-term maintenance and FDOT design-speed limits; staff will request a grant extension and hold a public workshop before returning with revised options.
City of Port Richey councilors voted Tuesday to table a proposed FDOT-funded landscaping design for the medians of U.S. 19 after widespread concern that the draft plan would remove existing palm trees, create maintenance burdens and conflict with FDOT design-speed restrictions.
The plan, presented by David Flanagan of Kimley Horn, would plant low-lying, drought- and salt-tolerant shrubs and groundcovers from Ridge Road south to the bridge and add limited rock hardscape. Flanagan said FDOT design-speed requirements for the roadway — a 50-mile-per-hour design speed even though the posted limit is 45 mph — limit vertical plantings within a specified distance of the curb, which prevents adding new trees in the median under current rules. “When our design speed hits 50 miles per hour . . . you can do no trees within 24 feet of the curb,” Flanagan said.
Council members objected to removing the palms that currently line portions of the corridor and pressed for a design that preserves mature trees or uses more hardscape to reduce maintenance costs. Several councilors said dense plantings of small shrubs can look attractive when new but often become a maintenance problem in two to three years. One councilor urged the city to pursue more rock and hardscape elements to lower long-term upkeep and to ask FDOT whether an exception or design-speed review could allow trees.
City Manager Don King said staff had worked with the engineer and maintenance crews to prioritize low-maintenance species and durable materials; he also warned the council that the grant's design deadline is imminent. Staff said the FDOT grant requires submitting final plans by May 1 and that asking FDOT for a design extension was possible but not guaranteed.
After discussion, council directed staff to request an extension from FDOT, hold a public workshop (council set a workshop for April 7 at 6:00 p.m.) to collect community feedback and return with revised options that could include more rock hardscape, different plant mixes or alternative proposals depending on FDOT responses. The council then voted to table the item. No final approval of the design was granted at the meeting.
The item will return to the council after staff reports back on FDOT’s response to the extension request and following the planned workshop.
