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Commissioners weigh CIP priorities and contested connector road study
Summary
The FY2027 CIP totals $25 million for 22 projects including a proposed connector road between CR 395 and South Watersound Parkway; proponents cited congestion and safety needs while opponents cited prior state opposition and environmental impacts in Point Washington State Forest.
Staff presented the FY2027 capital improvement plan with a total of $25,000,000 covering 22 projects, including design work for a Hewitt Bay connector road, two new fire stations and recreation infrastructure. "The fiscal year '27 capital CIP total is 25,000,000," Devin told the board.
Public commenters debated re-adding connector-road funding (PD&E/design) that had been removed, with proponents arguing the road would address traffic gaps and safety needs and the fire district previously supported the project. Bob Brook urged that at least PD&E/design funds be restored to enable grant applications. Opponents, including Celeste Cabana, cited past multiagency studies in which state agencies and federal partners rejected road routing through Point Washington State Forest and warned about hydrology and coastal dune lake impacts. "All of those agencies wrote letters... there's the meeting minutes where every one of those agencies said, no," Celeste said, urging the board not to fund studies unlikely to produce a permissible route. Commissioners asked staff for a list of open projects and their stages so the board can prioritize projects that are ready to advance rather than add new projects to a long backlog. No final CIP reallocation was approved at the workshop.
