Florida Park Drive is finally getting its Prozac: after innumerable complaints lodged before the Palm Coast City Council over the past dozen years and almost as innumerable punts by the council of one idea or another, the city is moving ahead with plans to add traffic-calming “devices,” the Xanax equivalent of anti-traffic anxiety measures.
Not to worry: there will be no roundabouts. No speed bumps, either, though getting there will not be nearly as speedy as traffic on the road: don;t expect changes until 2022.
The most notable change, according to a city release issued today, will be the addition of two medians to add traffic calming measures. One will be located to the north between Flinstone Court and Foster Lane. The other will be situated to the south between Fernham Lane and Farragut Drive. These medians will produce a traffic shift for vehicles on the road, which is intended to slow traffic. Lanes will be 10 feet wide on either side of the median.
The greenery-enhanced island will include a couple of palm trees and flowering ground cover, with native grass, shrubbery and flowering cover on either side of the traffic island past the edge of the pavement, for added aesthetics. Here’s the whole concept (click on the image for larger view:
The city in its release provided draft designs planned to bring enhancements to Florida Park Drive. These updates intend to bring significant improvements to both the aesthetics of the roadway as well as adding traffic calming features.
Residents along Florida Park Drive have raised concerns over increased traffic on the road. They’ve cited noise, pollution, speed. A traffic study showed no issue on the road, but complaints have persisted. The street’s design is closer to that of a major city thoroughfare, with its homes built close to the pavement with little buffer, than like most of Palm Coast’s other streets and parkways. The city over the years has considered all sorts of options, including restricting traffic on Florida Park Drive to “local” traffic, an option considered unfeasible, restricting truck traffic–or doing nothing, which a more recent council found unacceptable. Ironically, the driving force behind the coming changes–Milissa Holland–is gone.
In January of 2020 City staff met with residents to discuss various options in a neighborhood meeting. The draft design and timeline are a direct result of that meeting and additional feedback from residents.
The current project plan is expected to have final designs completed by the end of summer 2021. Once designs are approved, the project will go out for bid. Construction is expected to begin in the early part of 2022 with completion expected near the middle of 2022. The projected cost of the project is $250,000. Funds will come from the Streets Improvement Fund.
With the addition of these medians, beautification improvements are proposed as well. The enhancements include green groundcover within and alongside the medians, a shift in the sidewalk, concrete pads with benches, trees, and screening shrubs.
“We appreciate the participation and input from residents that have helped bring about this plan,” said Director of Stormwater & Engineering Carl Cote. “Once completed, we are confident these enhancements will provide the solutions to address resident concerns and be in line with the great quality of life our residents expect.”
The city intends to keep the community updated as the project progresses. Residents will be able to view detailed project information and follow project progress on the City’s ‘Capital Improvement Projects’ online map by visiting www.palmcoastgov.com/maps.
Florida Park Drive residents can expect updates through direct email, including traffic pattern impacts during construction. Email addresses have been obtained from utility accounts as well as those who have provided contact information to staff. Residents can also sign up to be included on the list by clicking here or emailing contact information to [email protected].
Brian says
I wish they would do this for White View. That is my back yard and it is like an interstate. And I swear folks coming out of Ravenwood do not have mufflers.
Lou says
I have used that street for over 20years. Houses on Florida Park Drive had been lower priced houses because of the location.
I am a 30mph user and had been.
Traffic on Palm Coast Parkway is truly bad in relation to traffic of 2000.
What are you people on Florida Park Drive are suggesting about that traffic issue????
Mary Kay Hayward says
Palm Coast Parkway is not a residential roadway; HOWEVER, since you bring it up, PCP from Palm Harbor Drive (bridge) to Old Kings Road in pre-pandemic 2019 had an AADT count of 7300 vehicle – FPD had 8300 and IS a residential roadway FIRST AND FOREMOST. Furthermore, OKR parallel to FPD during the same counting period had 4300. What does that say to you? I agree with you that traffic is increasing, but we are taking on more than our share. I do THANK YOU sincerely for traveling 30 and not pushing the 35 or more. It does make a difference, is safer for all, and greatly appreciated. I do the same when traveling other neighborhoods…out of respect for my neighbors and fellow Palm Coasters.
Humpty Dumpty says
Speed humps are very effective. They’re all over the place up north in suburban neighborhoods.
TR says
I believe speed bumps are against the law in Fl. on a residential street. They put them on a short street (can’t remember the name) that connected whiteview and pine lakes pkwy awhile back and the state made the city remove them after 1 week. tat street doesn’t have any houses on it and is only about 200 yards long. But because the street is in a residential neighborhood they were illegal.
Speedo says
Seriously ? That would be a TARGET for drunks and idiots to ram thru and bounce off or run up someone’s lawn and hit a house……That’s just plain IGNORANCE !!!!!!
Mary Kay Hayward says
Speedo, too late. Already happens on a consistent basis, but the accident on 8.5.20 (just as the others) was not published. This particular wreck was the cause of a driver trying to pass, taking out NUMEROUS mailboxes (including mine), destroying several trash cans (including mine), catapulting AIR BOUND across my lawn, striking a PARKED pickup two doors down from me and SPINNING IT AROUND causing the pickup to crash into that house, then doing a 180 into the roadway and CATCHING FIRE!! This idiot who thinks it’s OK to pass on double yellow lines was five minutes away from KILLING the owner of that pickup who was about to change the oil. A month ago a driver took out a street sign in front of my home as another driver veered across the DOUBLE YELLOW LINES. So, Speedo, it’s not this plan that’s IGNORANT, it’s the drivers who think they own this road and IGNORE the law. So the drunks and idiots need to NOT DRIVE and are certainly not a criteria for roadway improvements.
TR says
I can not for the life of me figure out what all the false claims are about Florida Park Drive. I rented a house on that street awhile back and to this day travel that street for business purposes a lot and don’t see any of the complaints happening. I’m sure there are a few speeders from time to time. But that is on every roadway in PC. The people that live along FPD should have done their do diligence before buying or renting on that road. Some people just have to complain about every little thing until they get what they want. Then in the mean time the rest of the people that travel that roadway have to suffer. This new idea is the stupidest thing i have ever heard of IMO.
Mary Kay Hayward says
A few speeders? Seriously? Out of 8400 AVERAGE (per AADT counted numbers) has only a “few” speeders. You travel this road? Do you go the posted speed limit and diligently look for people trying to cross the street or mowing their lawns so close to the road? Remember, that PER THE CITY’S OWN REPORTS that is 500 vehicles PER HOUR during the weekdays. So sorry that going around a little island causes YOU to suffer.
TR says
The answer to all your questions Mary is the same answer, Yes. But if you want to believe the stories people are saying without a formal study (your words in another post) then go ahead. I don’t believe any of it.
BTW, I never said I suffer because it doesn’t make me suffer one bit. But apparently others do otherwise there wouldn’t be all these people complaining about it. It just seams stupid to me that people complain about something that happens on a road that is a throughway since day one. If they would have done their diligence they may have found out what they found out later. Oh and by the way for your info. I lived on FPD for almost a year and a half while waiting to find the house I wanted to buy and I still didn’t see all the problems that others are complaining about. But don’t worry, I’ll probably never see these stupid speed diverters, because I found a better and faster way to get to the “C” section of town. It’s a lot faster and less traffic.
Celia M Pugliese says
Appropriate City response to the FPD residents after years of request is not Xanax, Pierre and thank you for the informative editorial as usual ( we agree to disagree with civility) our voices even heard by law enforcement. Sheriff Staly just purchased a number of speed detector equipment units to install in their patrol cruisers so hopefully that will address the speed and they also need to tkt the drivers with cars with open mufflers that do not have the silencers on them as becomes noise pollution against our quality of life. We had in our street a young man ( in our residential road were children paly walk to school or ride their bikes as well as adults and elderly walk themselves or their dogs ) in Memorial Day weekend with a thundering, speeding and making a motorbike wheely witnessed by neighbors and caught on camera so the sheriff was called and copied the surveillance camera video and they went talked to whoever was in the residence and problem solved. Of course that is a residence were often laws and rules are ignore but we should only endure up to a point and to their dislike, when necessary law enforcement will be called. The extorsion of being a nice neighbor when for that we have to endure their violations has a limit! I would tell residents in sdtreets like FPD, Cimmaron, Whiteview, Clubhouse drive address the issue with our city officials if traffic safety noise or air quality becomes a problem. Is the only way to try to improve or resolve it. My sincere appreciation to City Engineering Carl Cote and past Mayor M. Holland former Manager Mr. M. Morton for the above improvements described plans for FPD as they approved. Can’t wait till will be completed! Now you can kill the messenger. Lets see whoever will be elected what they will do to preserve our quality of life like Holland and Morton in this case, because for sure I will be one of those in my 3 minutes with my foreign accent (because I speak more than one language) that earned me this insulting county employee email that will never deter me: *” A Spiller
celia pugliese you are a prime example of our poorly run immigration system. You don’t hold American values and want to make our country more like the sh!thole that you came from. I will gladly help pay for you to go back” .Without hesitation I will be holding their promises on the campaign trail now … and their feet to the fire after elected!.
Mary Kay Hayward says
Celia, I don’t know who “A Spiller” thinks he is, but I personally am so sorry that such a DEDICATED CITIZEN as you have been so publicly disrespected. You are the epitome of what an American Citizen should be, and I am proud to have known and worked with you on issues facing our City and its residents. You attend more meetings and participate in more citizens groups than anyone I know (including myself). I remember you counseling me on exhibiting respect for our lawmakers, even when in disagreement. It’s a shame that you have not been afforded the same respect. You are a kind, intelligent and beautiful human being.
Dennis C Rathsam says
What a joke, now the city is going to spend all this money, to fix a street that they themselfs made. Yes FPD is a cut thru, its always been, it was designed for this purpose. Mostly every home, is rental property, the owners saw what was coming and moved. Now thier making a killing in rent. Here we go again…one bad decision, after another, wasting our tax dollars to fix one street. Instead of complaining , just move! Why should we all have to pay for your bad investment?
chefie says
Regarding speeding and intersections, why don’t we raise the pavement at intersections several inches (something like there is in Town Center).and you’ll see how the will slow down after hitting the first “bump”…..There are enough intersections where this could be applied to. Just a thought………..
Celia M Pugliese says
Chifie you are correct and we requested that but was not taken in account as one of the “excuses” is will slow down the emergency service vehicles (fire, EMS or sheriff) response time. Something we do not agree because then looks like that they do not see it as the same problem in the Town Center other FL or across the country cities. Looks to me that all the speeding drivers on FPD are against the improvements here.,, obviously.
cgm says
what a waste of money.
PC cause it own problems with poor planning.
If they didn’t think FPD would have traffic problems after they allowed the Hammock bridge, the Matanzas interchange and opening Old Kings Rd all the way to RT1 their a bunch of idiots.
Hmmm says
“A traffic study showed no issue on the road, but complaints have persisted.” So whose fault is it they moved to a main road? Its always been a main road, since palm coast was first developed. For people who live off Cimarron, Colchester, Coral Reef Ct N, its not a “cut through “, its the way home. If you dont like it, you should’ve established somewhere else. Period.
Mary Kay Hayward says
To be perfectly clear, the City has NEVER done a formal, signed and sealed, traffic impact study for Florida Park Drive. I can prove this beyond a doubt via emails with city officials which are public record. The level of service study done by an in-house employee recommended a formal traffic impact analysis be performed. This was not performed and discounted by former Mayor Netts, as documented in the linked story in this article. Also to be perfectly clear, noise IS an issue as per the outsourced Traffic Noise Study demonstrated and as the director of that study stated loudly and clearly at the council meeting where this study was presented (check the video/audio of said meeting). The worst noise makers (he stated) are the heavy trucks as they continue to disobey the signage/law and assigned truck routes. I do wish Mr. Tristam would correct that statement. It is misleading and not consistent with the level of research this publication usually exhibits.
Celia M Pugliese says
What gives you the right Hmmm to tell a resident to established somewhere else? when you do not reside FPD front and not only are not affected by the traffic nuisance but probably are one of the noisy speeders abusing that road? We all have the right to preserve our quality of life in Palm Coast like in any other place we reside. Whatever is necessary to be done should be done in spite of you, period!
MITCH says
This is much needed and way past due. FL PK DR, a residential street, has been used as a thoroughfare to exchange traffic between the two parkways (Palm Coast Pkwy & Palm Harbor Pkwy) . According to FDOT there is 8,400 cars per day just 60 feet from homes. Numerous Scientific Studies about prolong exposure to the traffic fumes/dust/noise is harming the health of residents world wide. The last noise study on FL PK DR reached 64.5 decibels. See many Scientific Studies here: http://flpkdr.com/
Jimbo99 says
Holland Park isn’t really an issue beyond being an attraction for higher traffic volume
“60 feet from children’s bedrooms – 80 feet from children at play on the Basketball Courts of Holland Park.”
Really ? Those basketball courts are fenced in and children aren’t at risk there. There’s a line of trees too between the fence and the road. Noise ? 64.5 decibels is close to 60 decibels for normal conversation level. An AC unit produces that level of noise. Heavy traffic is 80-85 decibels. Granted there are peak hour(s) each day, but it’s hardly all day long at this point of Palm Coast growth.
MITCH says
Scientific Studies says traffic fumes/dust travel over 500 meters. Those studies tell the damage to children’s health. Thoroughfare drivers never think of the harm from what comes out of their tail pipes. Most drivers are concerned about safety and don’t ever think of the poisonous fumes/dust they just left at the front of someone’s house – but that is not worst; its I don’t care how it harms people on that street. “Southern California Children’s Health Study on the association of residential distance to traffic and lung function development, performed, found adverse health effects in children living as far as 1500 m from roads. The authors noted that studies showed that people living up to 500 m (1,640 ft) from heavy traffic are most at risk from the health effects of traffic pollution.” – FL PK DR homes 60 ft. Scientific Studies Here: http://flpkdr.com/
Joe3 says
HAHAHahahahahahha .. XANAX ISLANDS ..
Ernie says
The Xanax and Prozac reference is heartless. Please change that. Anxiety-depression is a horribly real thing. Suffered by people of every education level and income level. Etc. without those medications many would die or be hospitalized. They have no control over their ailment. If can happen to YOU! Please remove that insensitive reference.
Stop the stigma says
I thought the same thing. “Mental health awareness.”
“Stop the stigma!”
They are mocking it. Here’s one of the many reasons there is still a stigma.
Celia M Pugliese says
I can see al the pass thru drivers on FPD posting here. Well you do not have to endure the nuisance, danger and pollution of 8,400 vehicles a day and when we bought in the 80’s and 90’s those homes the problem didn’t exist! None of you users, abusers, speedo’s and speeders in FPD are not affected as you do not live road front on FPD or half block from it! We addressed our problem for years and finally we were heard, the hundreds of residents in the 2 mile FPD and adjacent streets. Thank you Palm Coast government.
Jimbo99 says
The problem with Florida Park is the homes built facing one the street of one of the few roads North & South between Palm Coast Parkway & Matanzas Woods Parkway. And it’s going to most likely get worse as the entire county continues growth because traffic will increase on that street, especially with the Holland Park becoming an even bigger attraction for higher traffic volume with the addition of the Splash Pad. The driveways of those hones and people are trying to back out into the street.
These plant islands, creates another hazard, where is maintenance going to park when they have to maintain the plants in the islands ? How will this effect traffic lanes for bicyclists, 10 foot traffic lane widths there, FL law specifies 3 foot buffer for passing bicyclists.
I’m not against safety measures per se, but they have to be implemented properly. The islands still don’t change the fact that home owners will still be backing out into the streets from their garages & driveways on a higher volume traffic road.
Celia M Pugliese says
Jimbo99 :FPD residents backing out of their driveways has zero importance or is not the cause of the 8,400 cars a day most speeding or trucks ignoring the No Truck Road ordinance that we requested and was approved. The speeders dangers, the noise/contamination pollution and stress is not caused but people backing off their driveways and the beautiful 2 islands to be installed will help to erase some of the blight of FPD so needed and hopefully will promote some of the landlords along the road to spruce up and better maintain their properties. Those two islands will have plenty room for our public roads crews to park and maintain the landscape. The sheriff traffic units patrolling accordingly catching speeders, etc. Enough sheriff fines will deter violators. We will have to have a grand opening to the partial remodeling as we are so appreciative of our city government specially Carl Cote Engineering, only one involved left in the city administration now. Unfortunately the wrong headline of this editorial only promotes bully comments.
MITCH says
There are a total of FIVE non-residential roads to exchange traffic between Palm Coast Parkway and the Matanzas Woods / Palm Harbor Parkways. US-1, Belle Terre, I-95, Old Kings Road, & Palm Coast Parkway / Palm Harbor Parkway Intersection. There is no need to use any residential street to exchange traffic between those parkways with that many NON-RESIDENTIAL roads available. Protect the “Quality of Life” and “Health” of all residents. Children playing basketball at Holland Park are 80 feet from 8,400 cars per day (3 Million cars per year) – their cardio activity have them breathing in volumes more air than normal (poisonous fumes). “Children have many more years ahead of them in which the cumulative damage caused by auto emissions can manifest itself in disease or disability.” “The experiments have demonstrated that nano-sized particles found in vehicle emissions can damage the immune system’s ability to kill viruses and bacteria such as e-coli and MRSA.” The question for the city, should they protect the health of children in city parks???? Poisonous fumes 80 feet from basketball courts.
Fix Old Kings First Before tearing up FPD! says
God this will be fantastic. Those of us who worked hard enough to move to C section are now going to be mired down by never ending Sparsely employed construction on both Old Kings AND Florida Park drive. Whenever theres work on FPD, I’ll take Frontier to Old Kings but thats a torn up Quagmire for the next few years. Now that a couple renters on a feeder road won’t stop complaining about their poor real estate choices, everybody has to suffer with high taxes and poorly planned construction. The only winner here is Bob. Bob owns Bob’s Barricades. It is good to be Bob.
Florida Park Drive Homeowner says
So, I’d like to say just how excited we are to have found a home here in Palm Coast! We’ve been looking for a while since becoming new grandparents. Thanks to all for your efforts in pushing for your neighborhood regarding Florida Park Drive and the crazy drivers who actually make it quite difficult to retrieve my mail and like to use my driveway as a roundabout. I will confidently say that myself as well as both my neighbors, who have purchased within the last 6 months, we are excited for the change in traffic. We aren’t renting our homes and therefore, I would love for all Palm Coast residents to be happy that this would provide a better property value, and perhaps engage us as neighbors who care about the quiet enjoyment and quality of life. We headed up from Fort Lauderdale, no stranger to the wild drivers and constant defensive driving, that we were hoping wasn’t here in Palm Coast. Safety first… this isn’t a note to aggravate any of the above commentators, but hopefully, all will protect Florida Park Drive residents and bring a sense of calm to the community. For those that use it as a friendly pass through, cheers and maybe a wave or two will generate a conversation allowing new friendships to arise. Happy new homeowner on Florida Park Drive!!!!!