Anger, Concern Continues to Erupt over the NFCU 9-Mile Road Overpass, Part III

Anger over Navy Federal Credit Union's $70 Million Dollar Overpass continues to overflow..

"I certainly understand your position, and appreciate that you want residents involved - as they should be.  I think this mainly has been a public relations fiasco, [emphasis added] could have been handled much better...the item popped up on the agenda with a "preferred" option that did not involve the public at all.  More written background on the agenda item could have helped to explain the process, and what this move will mean."  ---Concerned District 1 Resident

"We understand that the current plan is only a concept, but we have the following concerns/observations:

1. Our project is not Future Development, it is currently under construction.

2. The current plan does not allow for west bound exit from Navy Federal or RNC at the proposed intersection. West bound traffic from RNC would need access through the Navy Federal Campus to access Nine Mile Road.

3. There is an existing ECUA/International Paper 48” effluent pipe just east of the Navy Federal/RNC shared property line that we avoided building over in our design. The current concept plan appears include an lane over the 48” pipe.

We request any action taken by the BOCC include assurance that Navy Federal/FDOT/Escambia County include the RNC development in their analysis and design. Your attention to this matter is appreciated." ---- Concerned Area Developer, District 1

"I have been following this issue since it first became public a week or so ago. I am surprised that something of this magnitude would be acted upon so fast.....basically devoid of public input. I know as well as anybody we need improvements in traffic in that area but I am concerned that the Beulah Interchange effort could suffer as result of focusing on another large project.....one that does not solve long term traffic needs.  I strongly urge you to allow appropriate time to allow for public input AND insist that nothing be done that will slow down the Beulah Interchange process. A slowdown of the Beulah Interchange will have serious negative impacts on the Sector Plan and the developers revised MOU that was submitted to county staff last week.  These issues should be addressed together as part of an overall plan and not individually."---Concerned Escambia County Developer

"An earlier proposal to create an additional I-10 exit was defeated by FDOT yet would have been ideal for Navy Federal Employees and for the residents of Nature Trail.  I do not view the proposal to be a reasonable option and I question whether it is also premature decision?  It will, unfortunately, give commuters a great view of our neighborhood.  In addition, the recently constructed sound wall on Nine Mile will be worthless.  Ultimately this will have a negative impact to our quiet community and property values.   The existing construction of four lanes on Nine Mile Road (according to the pre-construction study) is able to handle 10,000 vehicles which would be sufficient. 

So why this flyover option?"  ---Concerned Beulah Resident

"I own property in the Sector Plan area and I am very concerned about  the design of the Navy Federal overpass proposal, it being acted upon so quickly and its potential negative impact on the Beulah Interchange.  I urge you to grant 90 days to allow for the proper study and debate.  Thank you for your consideration"  Concerned District 5 Resident

Anger Erupts over Navy Federal Credit Union's 9-Mile Road Overpass, Part II

Anger and concern is building over the proposed NFCU Overpass project for 9-Mile Road in Beulah--why is this being rushed?

"I worked my way up from XXXXXXXXX to XXXXXXXX in the XXXXX and retired in 1985. In 2010, XXXXXXX and I bought our final retirement home in Nature Trail, a modest patio home. There were two other houses on our street which backs up to Nine Mile Road. I’m thankful that Navy Fed relocated to Pensacola, bringing a lot of jobs with it. My part of the payment for it has become the four-laning of Nine Mile and now a cement wall in place of the trees that used to stand behind our home. There’s not [a lot] of Nature left in the Trail these days. Sir, not everyone in Nature Trail has a lot of money, living in expensive homes. We bought here for the security and what used to be the peace. Please don’t allow commute times to trump what we worked so hard, so long for. I know there are many other voices, probably all with legitimate issues. Please keep the little guys in mind in the discussions. Tallahassee and Wash DC are distant in their priorities as well as geographically. I’m looking to you, sir, as my local voice." Concerned District 1 Resident

"Why is new infrastructure being planned before the effects of the widening [of 9-mile road] project are determined (or even completed?)  Concerned District 1 Resident  

"Most reasonable people understand there is no solution to the Beulah problem until the new interchange opens and takes some of the traffic off that 9 Mile Road bottleneck between NFCU and the existing interchange." Concerned District 5 Residents

"I believe that we all need to flood the chambers tommrrow night if your for it or against it it our community we need to let the BOCC hear from us!" District 1 Resident

Anger Erupts over Navy Federal Credit Union's 9-Mile Road Overpass.....Part I

Angry Beulah Residents are now enraged over this NFCU Overpass--and some are saying they regret  moving here over this proposed initiative and the way it is being steamrolled over them...This is not the way projects should be developed!

"The proposed extension to Nine Mile either over or under for Navy Federal needs to go to the North side sooner, where there are no homes impacted.  The existing proposal has Federal Way coming across Nature Trail property and behind Salt Grass, impacting our quality of life.  The raised Nine Mile (25’) impacts those homes backing up to Nine Mile.  Surely we are a smart enough people that we can come up with a different solution.  The way it is now, DOT and whomever will just TAKE Nature Trails property across the street from the existing exit/entrance on Federal Way to NFCU.  This is something that residents of Nature Trail voted down last year.  We do not want to give up that buffer.  Now, if NFCU or the County wants to buy my home at “fair market value”, great.  Either way, we will be moving as soon as we can to get away from this mess.  We moved into our home Dec 2013…heard about the widening of Nine Mile a few months after that and then heard about the expansion of NFCU.  IF we’d have been informed that these “improvements” were going to happen, we have purchased a home elsewhere."  ---District 1 Constituent

"I just moved here with my husband three months ago...had I known about this issue and that now there is going to be an overpass built on 9-mile road, and even more construction--we would have never bought this house.  Who can I call, who can I write?  I will write the Governor and our state senators because this is not right!"  ---Angry new District 1 Constituent and Beulah Resident

 " my wife [and I]are against this project, to [at] least not taking 60 days to study this project.   Many of those owners will be in the meeting room for Thursday’s BCC Meeting.  Many of them have written their representatives.  Our neighbors along Nine Mile Rd and across all of Beulah also have a vested interest in whether this project, that significantly improves the commutes for NFCU employees who come here and leave here but one time, five days a week but does not do much for the residents.  The residents who drive this road daily who have learned to work around the impact of these NFCU employees on Nine Mile Rd, trying to be good neighbors. This is a 25 ft. high elevated roadway, although some in leadership positions have tried to sell this as an underpass, that will alleviate any benefit that the 15 ft. high Sound Walls provide.  This is a $72,000,000 project that is being fast tracked, steamrolled, through the process without any studies, public meetings or any of the normal process items.  All to benefit NFCU, but have a very large financial impact on the residents

WCOA Radio Interview This Morning: NFCU overpass, ECFR Firing, Bed Tax

Lot's of discussion this morning on WCOA:

--The Navy Federal Credit Union Overpass at 9-Mile Road--and the anger it is generating among residents in the district, and how this sudden initiative has been pushed through to this week's agenda

--The breaking news on ECFR Chief's dismissal

--Discussion of the allowable uses of Bed Tax revenue--in light of the Sunday editorial

Listen to the podcast HERE

What a Great Day at Escambia's Animal Shelter!

                      Watch the brief highlight video from the event and the ribbon cutting above

From MyEscambia.com

"The Escambia County Animal Shelter hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday, Jan. 29 for a shelter reopening after extensive shelter renovations. The renovations are part of a grant valued at $75,000 from GreaterGood.org's Rescue Rebuild, a volunteer program that works to rebuild, repair and renovate animal shelters and rescues in need. The grant was applied for by Friends of the Escambia County Animal Shelter, and the Escambia Shelter project was selected from 150 project submittals.

Volunteers began renovations Saturday, Jan. 20 and worked through Monday, Jan. 29. Over 400 volunteers participated throughout the course of the project. The renovations included complete demolition and reconstruction of the lobby, front counter, tile flooring, cat rooms and waiting area, along with the addition of a "catio" for outdoor cat play and the installation of sun sails over the dog play yards. 

Escambia County Animal Services Manager John Robinson said the renovations will focus on increasing adoptability while making the animals’ time at the shelter more comfortable and enjoyable.

"You see the changes on the outside of the building, but the amazing thing is that it’s not just cosmetic"

What is District 1 Saying about getting Steamrolled, Part III

....The angry comments and negative reactions continue to pour in.....We Do Not Want This NFCU Overpass!  Is What I am Hearing from angry residents and constituents in Beulah

"Your Idea putting a back road on to Frank Reader is the same Idea I had and then if they could speed up the new Exit off Beulah Road onto I-10 that makes the most sense the cheapest and fastest way of solving the problem . Beulah Resident, District 1 Constituent"

"The core issue here is the traffic problem will continue to get worse as long as the state and others remain hell-bent on cramming all the current and future Navy Federal/Beulah traffic into the 9 Mile Road interchange, mainly the eastbound lane onto I-10. The new "flyover" concept on 9 Mile Road may help. But the new Beulah Interchange is the most viable, long-term solution for Navy Federal employees and all the rest of us."  District 5 Resident and Property Owner

........"We believe this to be an important issue, and would like to see the proposed Flyover "not pass"  Beulah Resident, District 1 Constituent

"I’m totally confused. We need a public meeting to clarify what is going on with the original widening project and this proposed overpass before any decisions are made."  Beulah Resident and District 1 Constituent.

."..I'm upset because this will be taxpayer money spent on a proposal that primarily benefits one private entity, one private business.  It is too expensive and I believe the other interchange option, with a back road to that exit out of Navy Federal Credit Union should be considered!" Beulah Resident, District 1 constituent

"As a resident of one of the communities on 9 Mile Road I want to adamantly state that I am opposed to the proposed “fly-over” that is under discussion at this time.   The alternative solution of an interchange for Belauh Road appears to be the most logical approach for long term traffic management"  Beulah Resident and Property Owner

"Thank you for your consideration of my viewpoint on this matter. I believe it is an important issue, and would like to see the proposed Flyover fail " District 1 Resident and property owner"

..."Thank you for standing up for the homeowners on 9-Mile Road--there are a lot of us that DO NOT WANT THIS, DO NOT SUPPORT THIS!" Beulah resident and property owner 

"I believe it is an important issue, and would like to see the proposed Flyover fail.  Instead, it should be replaced by an alternate solution that is less invasive and esthetically more pleasing." Beulah Property Owner, District 1 Constituent

   

What are District 1 Constituents Saying about Being Steamrolled, Part II

District 1 Residents are not happy about a proposal to add a 25' High Overpass to 9-Mile Road in Beulah to help the egress of NFCU employees in the afternoons after shift change.....NOT HAPPY.....Here is what they are saying....

I have received numerous emails, phone calls, and I have even been stopped in public this weekend over the potential overpass that is being considered for District 1 on 9-Mile Road.  The email inbox has blown up!!---and residents are NOT HAPPY about this being Ram-Rodded through!  here are some snippets of what I am hearing....

"Before work of this significance were to happen, is it not incumbent on the board of Commissioners to inform the people who will be effected by such a significant change to their environment?

 A clearer explanation as to how this would work would greatly appreciated. We are a Community of 659 families." Beulah Resident and District 1 Constituent

"The proposed fly over is the most ludicrous and destructive idea to our development..The recently constructed sound wall on Nine Mile will be worthless.  As this may assist Navy Federal Employees, this will not help with traffic getting on to   I-10.  This will eventually have a negative effect on our quiet community and property values..The proposed additional I-10 exit that was defeated by FDOT would have been ideal for Navy Federal Employees and the residents..I am sorry that the "morale" of NFCU employees may be affected, but this fly over will destroy our property values and that is more important than their minor discomfort"  Beulah Resident and District 1 Constituent

"I hereby would like to submit my  strong, official objection to an overpass proposal to add an overpass/underpass to 9 mile road anywhere alongside Nature Trail Residential boundaries.  This option was never discussed when I reviewed my options for purchasing a home in Pensacola or Nature Trail.  If this option is chosen, I would probably choose to move and  not  continue to refer other incoming Navy , Navy Federal or anyone that asks me to recommend this area to include anyone in the  Beulah are  to consider moving to this location.  I believe this option would cause too much noise as well as cause a decrease in property values as well as desirability of this as a relocation site.  My husband and I enjoy this location which we chose as our enduring retirement home."  Beulah Resident and District 1 Constituent  

"...we need to study this further, and also, give the current road-building efforts a chance to be implemented. Having a four lane road and better traffic light timing on 9 Mile along this area could substantially improve the

traffic problems. Also, I think the combining of this issue with the Beulah Rd project already in the plans and funded, would be a much better solution.  Of course, if there were any possibility of further pursuing the original

solution of adding an I-10 exit at the back of Navy Federal, getting the federal gov't to make an exception, that would be the best thing of all!!"