Page 10 - CRCCE0923
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President’s Message continued





                                                                    allowing us to put in more stop signs. So we were stymied and
                                                                    at the suggestion of former Commissioner Heather Moraitis
                                                                    and City Transportation and Mobility Director Ben Rogers, we
                                                                    pivoted to installing more speed cushions.

                                                                    Fast forward to early 2023. Ben Rogers approached me at
                                                                    the HOA annual meeting and suggested that there was a new
                                                                    City Manager and new City Attorney and the City would be
                                                                    willing to take another look at our stop signs issue. With that,
                                                                    in August we sent the list to the Transportation and Mobility
                                                                    Department and they have asked the County to perform stop
                                                                    sign studies at all  the locations on the list (except Bayview &
                                                                    NE 47 St and Bayview & NE 37 Dr., where the roundabouts
                                                                    have been installed).

                                                                    So that’s where we stand. The City asked us to prioritize the
             So we brought this to the attention of County Commissioner
             (now County Mayor) Lamar Fisher, who in January 2021   intersections where we would like to see stop signs. Please get
             intervened with County staff and got them to agree to enter   me any feedback you have on stop sign locations, (pro and
             into an interlocal agreement with the City that would allow the   con) so we can share it with City and County staff.
             installation of stop signs at various intersections throughout the   On a related front, Association VP Karen Polivka and I
             neighborhood. We were elated.                          met with Transportation and Mobility to discuss the idea
                                                                    of strategically closing off some of the road connections to
             But then, shortly thereafter, our former City Attorney and City
             Manager killed the idea. The primary concern relayed to us   Oakland Park, Federal and Commercial.
             was the possibility a driver might sue the City if the driver   We provided them with a map showing the location of
             caused an accident while running a stop sign that was not   potential road closures. It is shown on Page 10 of this issue.
             in strict compliance with MUTCD standards. Though MUTCD   Keep In mind that, as explained before, traffic is like water, if
             standards allow for engineering judgment in placing traffic   it can’t go one way it will find another. So it is likely that any
             control devices, the City could not get comfortable with   road closures would reduce traffic on some streets but increase
                                                                    it on others. See the attached map and let us know what you
                                                                    think. Are you in favor of closing off certain streets? If so,
                                                                    which ones? Are you against any closures? Let us know.

                                                                    Tim Hernandez
                                                                    President, CRCCE Community Association


                                                                    Timothy L. Hernandez, AICP, is an urban planner, builder and
                                                                    developer. He is co-founder of New Urban Communities, a
                                                                    Delray Beach-based development firm specializing in urban infill
                                                                    and redevelopment and is a 30-year resident of Coral Ridge
                                                                    Country Club Estates. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the
                                                                    University Miami School of Architecture’s Masters in Real Estate
                                                                    Development and Urbanism (MRED+U) program. Current projects
                                                                    include the Pompano Beach Fishing Village commercial
                                                                    redevelopment at the Pompano Pier (Salt Life is opening soon and
                                                                    How You Brewin’ is now open), The Centre at Abacoa mixed
                                                                    use development in Jupiter, Atlantic Grove townhomes in
                                                                    downtown Delray Beach, Haney Creek Crossing, a new
                                                                    residential development in Stuart and the Elizabeth, a new mixed-
                                                                    use project in downtown Stuart. He can be reached via email at
                                                                    timhernandez@bellsouth.net.



         8                                   CORAL RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION



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        CRCCE 0923.indd   8                                                                                          9/6/23   8:57 PM
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