Marsh Oaks Neighborhood Association

MONA Minutes

Dec 15, 2000

MINUTES OF DEC. 2, 2000 MEETING OF THE MARSH OAKS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
(MONA)

PURPOSE OF THE MEETING: Reynolds, Smith and Hills (RS&H) got the contract
for
a traffic access study to quantify the negative effects of the Mayport
Flyover on access to and from Marsh Oaks via Mayport Road. (RS&H has a
Scope
of Study document, which defines their contract responsibilities.)

More than 25 people attended the meeting at Oceanside Christian Church, 130
Main St., Atlantic Beach -- the site of our monthly meetings, first
Saturday
of every month.

TRUCKS
The incursion of large trucks into residential areas of Marsh Oaks as a
result of the Mayport Flyover's constuction was a major concern at the
meeting. Among the suggestions for dealing with this problem were weight
restrictions to legally restrict tractor trailers from entering residential
streets and "turnarounds," places in Marsh Oaks that large trucks heading
north on Mayport Road could use to enter a Marsh Oaks business.

The possibility of using service roads or alleys -- rather than
turnarounds,
which may not be practical in Marsh Oaks for a number of reasons -- was
discussed. Some businesses already have service entrances and exits.

MONA has been concerned with the incursion of large trucks onto the
residential streets of Marsh Oaks for some time, and the Association has
made
our views known to the elected and appointed officials in Atlantic Beach.
We
believe the city must add sidewalks and upgrade streetlighting on the
streets
most affected by increased traffic, including Levy, Plaza, Orchid/Rose, and
Main.

SPEED LIMITS
There was a suggestion to lower the speed limit to 35 mph, as is the case
on
A1A in Neptune Beach and parts of Jax Beach. The RS&H engineers said DOT
alone has that power.

FLYOVER GROUND-LEVEL ENTRANCE RAMP
This lane was designed to move vehicles from Mayport Road onto Atlantic
Blvd., heading west, with no stoplight near the intersection. The present
stoplight system at the intersection will remain, but pedestrians will
cross
the entrance ramp at their own risk, according to RS&H supervisor/engineer
Monty Selim.

DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION OF TRAFFIC ACCESS STUDY
RS&H is supposed to submit their report with recommendations to the MPO in
February. The neighborhood meeting on Dec. 2, which was sponsored by MONA,
is
one of two permitted by the contract in order to get neighborhood feedback.
A
second meeting will be announced by RS&H or the MPO in the near future.

TOUR OF MARSH OAKS
Two of the RS&H engineers (Jennifer Mendelson and April Lee) also took an
hourlong tour with me the day before the meeting. I drove them around the
area along Mayport Rd., focussing on the streets between Orchid/Rose and
Mayport Rd. They saw the new duplexes going up in 2 places, the Plaza Rd.
intersection and the site of a possible city park, Singleton's trailer park
and Driftwood apartments, the light industrial area north of Levy , Dutton
Park and the entrance to Cypress Cove, and the occasional overlap of
commercial and residential properties. Coincidentially, we saw a tractor
trailer heading south on Orchid St -- which is precisely what we don't
want.

ETC.
Maureen Shaughnessy attended the first meeting of the Mayport Rd. corridor
group, which is charged with improving the safety, attractivemeness and
quality of life along Mayport Road, from Atlantic Blvd. to Mayport NS to
Mayport. The access study by RS&H is just one part of the bigger picture.
Mo
brought to our Nov. meeting some valuable information and handouts from the
corridor group, and she will post an item on the MONA website