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I-75 Interchanges
Public Meeting
September 5,2000
FPID: 404627-1-32-01, 404627-2-32-01
Approximately 17 people (including FDOT, Lochrane and Corridor
Council representatives) signed into the I-75 Interchanges /
PD&E for Landscape Design Public Meeting, held on September
5, 2000 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Lake
City. A copy of the sign in forms is attached.
The meeting began with an overview of the project by Joe Montalto.
Mr. Montalto and the Design Team (consisting of Joe Montalto,
Buford Davis and E.J. Bolduc) then began the PowerPoint Presentation.
Mr. Montalto discussed the conceptual ideas for the project
that the Design Team has identified. Buford Davis discussed
the landscape/hardscape elements, and E.J. Bolduc continued
with the landscape discussion. Mr. Montalto closed the presentation
by discussing improvements to signage, lighting and guardrail.
He also went over the project schedule. Mr. Montalto then opened
the floor to public comment.
The following concerns were brought up at the meeting:
| Q: |
Henry Dunn: He is concerned
that some rest stops along the corridor look "trashy"
and wanted to know if the Jennings rest stop was going
to be renovated. He also suggested that a video could
be shown at the rest stop highlighting tourism activities
for the area. |
| A: |
Penny Wheat directed the
question to Fred Wright, who informed Mr. Dunn that a
new rest stop will be built in Jennings. The plans are
approximately 95% complete and construction should begin
within 14 months. |
| Q: |
Edwin McCook (Greenways
Coordinator): He inquired about how one could request
that the maintenance person responsible for mowing could
stop mowing the wildflower plots. He also stated that
he has witnessed the plots getting smaller and smaller
as a result of mowing. |
| A:
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Penny Wheat stated that
she knows Fred Wright is committed to getting the mowers
to stop mowing the wildflower plots. Fred Wright stated
that the FDOT is currently working with the mowing contractors
to train them to prevent mowing of the plots. Unfortunately,
because of turnover in personnel, the contractors are
not always using trained mowers in those areas. However,
the FDOT is committed to working on the problem. |
At this point, Penny Wheat took the time to introduce herself
and explain who the I-75 Corridor Council is, who the members
of the council are, and the legislation that enabled this project
to come into being. Ms. Wheat also explained that there are
19 interchanges that are not funded by this project and the
Corridor council is seeking private funding for those areas.
She explained that there would be a low cost design for these
interchanges, and a high cost design that would include hardscape
and decorative signage. She reminded the attendees that this
project is about opportunities for our communities.
| Q: |
Mark Gluckman (Consultant
for Hamilton County): He informed the design team that
they left out White Springs in their discussion of the
area rivers and springs. He wanted to let the Design Team
know that he is excited about the project. He was interested
in how the Team is proposing to get tourists off the highway
and into the communities. |
| A: |
Penny Wheat stated that
we need more informational signs about cultural and historical
attractions along the corridor. |
| Q: |
Elaine McGrath (Florida
Park Service): She would like to see the sign regulation
changed so that it is friendlier toward historical and
natural tourist sites. She stated that the Stephen Foster
Park had to remove a sign and put a new sign in its place,
instead of putting the new sign up in a different location. |
| A: |
Joe Montalto stated that
as part of the study, he was working with Fred Wright
and the District Design Secretary to get Federal Highway
Administration approval for non-standard polystyrene signs
similar to the types used in Ocala on SR 44. Penny Wheat
re-emphasized that we will be promoting tourism in North
Central Florida. Ms. Wheat asked Mr. Montalto if he would
be identifying all of the historical and tourism venues
along the corridor as part of his inventory of the project.
Mr. Montalto stated that he will be doing an inventory
and encouraged the attendees to email him with this type
of information. |
| Q: |
Mark Gluckman (Consultant
for Hamilton County): He requested that at the severe
curve between Jennings and Jasper some trees be removed
to provide a view of the river, because this would possibly
draw tourists. He also requested that the Design Team
consider using themes, such as an agricultural theme.
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| A: |
Joe Montalto stated that
as part of the inventory the Team would be looking at
doing things like this. He also stated that in trying
to secure private funding for the additional interchanges,
themes could be used to tie in the company's interests
with a themed interchange (for example, phosphate mining).
Penny Wheat stated that the I-75 Corridor Council is looking
at recording information on tapes that tourists could
pick up from information kiosks at rest stops that would
have local information to promote tourism. |
| Q: |
Ralph Hardwick: He requested
that the Design Team identify cotton fields so that when
they are determining tree plantings, they wouldn't cover
the view. |
| A: |
Joe Montalto said that
those views would be framed in order to enhance them.
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| Q: |
Jodi Hopkins (FL Dept.
of Environmental Protection): She asked about the date
of the final plans submittal, and the plant approval.
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| A: |
Joe Montalto stated that
the final plans would be submitted December 2001. The
FDOT Landscape Coordinator will be responsible for plant
approval. |
Fred Wright explained that the Department is in the process
of constructing radio towers to broadcast the I-75 Radio Network.
The network will broadcast tourist information about the area
that you are passing through. This will be a tool for communities
to use in order to promote their tourist attractions and various
historical and natural attractions. Signs along I-75 will alert
motorists to the station.
Penny Wheat asked how the station would work.
Mr. Wright asked Marsha Lee (FDOT-2 Public Information Officer)
to explain: Ms. Lee stated that all the details have not been
worked out yet. The basic idea is to secure advertising from
merchants along the corridor to cover the costs, and the tourist
information would be in the form of public service announcements.
| Q: |
Mark Gluckman (Consultant
for Hamilton County): Mr. Gluckman stated that in order
to get private support for this project, we need to get
out into the community. He suggested that Design Team
members attend City Council meetings, Commission meetings,
etc. in order to promote the project. |
| A: |
Joe Montalto stated that
the Design Team would be identifying companies that would
be interested in supporting this project during the study
phase. |
Penny Wheat said that finding private support would be the goal
of the I-75 Corridor Council. She also encouraged meeting attendees
to send in pictures of ideas they have for the project to Joe
Montalto or her.
There were no other questions or comments at this time. Joe
Montalto asked everyone to pick up an information sheet and
comment form as they were leaving in order to contact him with
additional ideas. He informed the attendees that Design Team
members would be available to answers additional questions after
the meeting. |
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