10-19-2000 SP WS-MMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL WORKSHOP SESSION
OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL
OF NORTH PALM BEACH, FLORIDA
HELD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2000
Present: Joseph A. Tringali, Mayor
Dr. Edward M. Eissey, Vice Mayor
David B. Norris, President Pro Tem
Donald G. Noel, Councilman
Charles R. O'Meilia, Councilman
Dennis W. Kelly, Village Manager
George W. Baldwin, Village Attorney
Melissa Teal, CMC, Deputy Village Clerk
Mayor Tringali called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. All members of Council were present
except Dr. Eissey, who arrived at 7:32 p.m. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss
preliminary plans for the U.S. Highway 1 project with the Department of Transportation.
Public Services Director Tom Hogarth distributed copies of the North Palm Beach portion of the
Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council's master plan for U.S. Highway 1 entitled
Seven Cities: Northern Palm Beach County U.S. 1 Corridor Study. The plan included cities from
Riviera Beach to Jupiter and suggested changing U.S. 1 to a more neighborhood friendly
corridor. The North Palm Beach portion of the planning study called for more landscaping,
street hardware, and decorative treatments. The Department of Transportation plans to resurface
U.S. Highway 1 from Silver Beach Road to the Parker Bridge. Mr. Hogarth distributed copies of
the D.O.T.'s draft plan for U.S. Highway 1, which includes resurfacing the road, adding a bike
lane, new curb and gutter, sidewalk, bridge railing, street lighting, and landscaping. North Palm
Beach must fund any improvements above the D.O.T. standards.
Mr. Hogarth introduced Richard Creed, Project Manager, and Mike Melendez, from the
Department of Transportation.
Mr. Melendez discussed preliminary plans for U.S. 1, based on recommendations contained in
the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council's master plan, including reducing travel lanes
from six to four lanes, moving the edge of the pavement to gain eight feet of landscaping on each
side, median improvements, stamped asphalt at major intersections, and standard lighting versus
decorative lighting. Mr. Melendez pointed out that U.S. 1 south of Northlake Boulevard and
north of the Parker Bridge has four lanes, and the only six lane portion is through North Palm
Beach, although the section between Northlake Boulevard and South Anchorage Drive would
have to remain six lanes in order to maintain the capacity and efficiency of the intersection.
Minutes of Special Workshop Session
held October 19, 2000
The Council heard comments from the public, both for and against a reduction in lanes, in favor
of more landscaping, proposing aright-turn only lane or an access road, and proposing to widen
~`-' the sidewalk for bikers instead of creating a bike lane.
Discussion ensued on the cost of improvements. Mr. Creed advised that if the community
supports a reduction in lanes, the Department of Transportation will pay for it. Concerning
landscaping, the D.O.T. hires a landscape architect to work with city to develop plans, and the
D.O.T. handles the installation and irrigation, but the Village is responsible for maintenance.
The D.O.T. also performs a lighting justification report, and pays a base price for lighting, but
the Village pays for anything above the base price and the cost of maintenance.
Mr. Creed discussed bike lanes. The Department of Transportation has legally mandated
standards, which require bike lanes on roads, unless the Village can provide alternate bike lanes
on parallel roads within one block of U.S. 1. Discussion took place regarding bike lanes and a
sidewalk across Parker Bridge. These improvements are impractical, due to the cost, which is
estimated at $1.5 to $2 million because of the constraints imposed by the design of the bridge
and location of the bridge tender's house.
Discussion ensued regarding problems with the turn lanes at the intersection of Lighthouse Drive
and U.S. Highway 1. Mr. Creed agreed to investigate the situation and perform a traffic count.
Mr. Creed reported on the D.O.T.'s schedule, and suggested another public involvement meeting
before the holidays or early in 2001. Mr. Creed estimated that construction would take
approximately one year, and would begin in late 2002.
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Melissa Teal, CMC, Deputy Village Clerk
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