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I have established this blog as a means of transparency to the public, outreach to the community, and information dissemination to all who choose to look. Feedback is welcome, but because public participation is equally encouraged, appropriate language and decorum is mandatory.

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Two Huge Decisions Today at BCC Special Meeting and Transportation Workshop

At this morning's special meeting of the Escambia BCC we selected the firm that will complete the Master Planning of our OLF 8 Property in Beulah.


The Escambia Board of County Commissioners held two very important and profound meetings this morning at which 2 key decisions were made that will set the tone for some very important progress going forward.

1.  We voted to select a firm to do the Master Planning for OLF 8 in Beulah, the 636 acre land that the board acquired from the Navy last January.  DPZ CoDesign LLC was selected by the board.  This was a huge decision with major implications for this county land in the months and years to come.  I look forward to watching this process move forward.  In addition to choosing this firm and voting them officially as the finalist- staff has already advertised the associated project manager position for this project and that the effort to bring this person aboard should be completed within the next 3-4 weeks.  

2.  We took a straw vote and unanimously supported the State/County "Road Swap" of Beulah Road for Perdido Key Drive.  The purpose for this swap was for the county to maintain forward progress on the Beulah Interchange project--a project that is moving forward with lots of momentum and that is understood by all the commissioners to be one of the most important, large scale transportation projects in our area for the foreseeable future.  By a memorandum of understanding that will be ratified on September 5th, responsibility for maintenance and ownership of these two roads will be swapped and I predict the vote will be unanimous for this.

2 comments:

Jimmy Sherouse said...

Swap of PDK Drive for a county road, do you think this is really a good idea, already when complaints of the Flora Bama causing back up because of road crossing? Now add more crossing, a read light slow the speed limit down, what is already a bone of contention for even your residents at PBCC instead of backed up to Bauer, they will be backed up to Walmart. The road I am talking about was built in the 50's to act as a connector to Alabama. Do you know how many people on the North side of the bridge this decision is affecting, what about those who travel every day to the Key or Orange Beach to work, more time at the windshield. When you have three roads coming together with a majority of traffic trying to head south over the bridge, the turn lane on to GB Hwy will not solve the problem. Long range planning can benefit everyone, not a case of tunnel vision to benefit a select few. Give this some thought, if you think its a good idea, put out for a vote. Let the county voter decide. Jimmy Sherouse Seegul51@bellsouth.net

Anonymous said...

Looking at the rankings, Commissioner Underhill's rankings appear WAY off from the other four commissioners, in favor of DPZ. I think his district has, or recently had, business with DPZ: https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/perdido-gulf-shores/2015/12/09/perdido-key-master-plan-presented/76787114/