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Council discusses gating Loxahatchee Avenue at Tangerine to limit cut-through traffic; seeks FDOT input and design options
Summary
After a staff traffic study, council discussed options to block Loxahatchee Avenue at Tangerine (dirt berm, gates, guardrail with emergency access) to reduce cut-through traffic from a nearby commercial site. Residents, the business owner, and council members raised concerns about turnaround requirements, FDOT easements, and impacts on deliveries; staff will return with FDOT coordination, refined cost estimates and engineering options.
Council held an extended discussion about traffic-calming measures on Tangerine Drive and the potential closure or gating of Loxahatchee Avenue where it meets Southern Boulevard to limit cut-through traffic originating at a nearby commercial site (Southern Lawn). Staff presented a one-day traffic count and proposed options ranging from a dirt berm to a keyed gate or guardrail with emergency access.
Residents and the commercial property's representative urged caution. A business representative and counsel warned that closing the road could create turnaround problems for large vehicles and could require FDOT consultation because of adjoining FDOT easements and an FDOT retention pond along the corridor. An attorney for the business asked the council to confirm that turning radii, emergency-vehicle access, and FDOT stacking and queuing implications were addressed before any closure. Staff said they would attempt to reuse guardrail removed elsewhere and reported an initial quote of about $2,500 for two gates plus staff installation; guardrail reuse would reduce cost but staff time and installation remain additional.
Council members asked staff to confirm FDOT easement limits, provide an engineering assessment of turnaround options (noting the road is platted with a 50-foot right-of-way), solicit additional vendor quotes, and return with a more complete recommendation at the council's July meeting. Several councilors expressed a preference for a lockable gate rather than a dirt berm because berms tend to attract dirt-bikers and informal use.
No formal action was taken; staff will follow up with FDOT coordination, detailed engineering options for turnarounds and emergency access, and a refined cost estimate.
