Traffic, Safety, Aesthetics Concerns Voiced at Edgewater Drive Gathering

Last night, concerned Dunedin citizens gathered at the to discuss how to make Edgewater Drive better.

In short, citizens were in agreement that safety and traffic are the biggest issues and are intertwined. Traffic is so thick that pedestrians are risking their health trying to cross the street.

"We had a good turnout," said Charlotte Abington, the chairperson of the long-term plan subcommittee of the Edgewater Drive advisory committee. "And the consensus was that people are concerned about the traffic on Alternate 19."

"Alternate 19" is the alternative name of the state-controlled street, named "Edgewater Drive" within Dunedin city limits.

As a result of the street being governed by the state, the city can only do so much along the road in relation to traffic control. Abington noted the residents wanted a raised crosswalk that would not only provide a modicum of safety for a pedestrian, but also a form of traffic control.

But the city cannot erect such a feature because the road is state-run.

Traffic wasn't the lone issue discussed at the meeting. So too were aesthetics and flood control.

One reason the palm tree-lined street is so popular is that it hugs St. Joseph Sound, making for a picturesque route. Just offshore there are several mangroves that are growing so that the mangroves are in some places blocking the view of the water.

The mangroves are environmentally protected by the county and the city is limited in what it can do with the mangroves.

"The lateral growth of the mangroves is getting to be a problem," Abington said. "Edgewater is designated by the county as a scenic drive. We need to find out exactly what that means. Can we just keep the mangroves that we currently have?

"Now, we can trim only 65 percent of a mangrove per the county ordinance. They have to be six feet [long] from the roots. Can we clear the interior branches? It's very labor intensive."

As Abington noted, labor intensive is also cost intensive. She hoped perhaps the county could help the city with trimming the mangroves.

The group also has asked the city to replace fallen or dying Washingtonia palm trees along the route. The trees are 90-years old and are beginning to show their age.

"We're asking the city to provide funds to replace whatever Washingtonia palms need to be replaced," Abington said. "There are a lot of holes. The trees have been there since 1922."

The city currently has a procedure to replace the dying trees, Abington said.

Flood control was also a popular issue at the meeting. Abington said residents wanted to make sure the seawall is able to keep back waters in case of a storm.