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President’s Message continued

go one way it will find another. So it is likely that road On the roundabout trees, there was a discussion on the
closures will reduce traffic on some streets and increase it Board between Sylvester Palms and Poincianas, which were
on others. Closures also increase trip length—people have the options given to us by the City. The board voted for the
to drive further to and from their destinations--so there is an Poincianas. Though they do bloom only once a year, they
environmental impact over time. This may of course be offset keep their foliage for most of the year and it was felt they
by public safety benefits. There would need to be public would create a more impressive streetscape over time, with
process to confirm community buy-in for any closures. We a canopy over the entire intersections. There are many large
need to be able to show that strong support exists among Poincianas in the neighborhood that have managed to survive
residents for street closures. City officials will want to be the various storms we have experienced over the years. There
assured this is something we really want. In the meantime, is no perfect choice...the Sylvesters have the sharp fronds
I will raise the issue and ask them to study it. and oaks are slower growing. You are correct that the Royal
Poinciana is not native (it’s from Madagascar originally) but it
Email rec’d: “The magazine for CRCCE is an excellent, quality is on Broward County’s list of approved canopy trees.
and informative publication. Thank you to the hard working
board for all your efforts to upgrade and improve our I hope this has been helpful to you and we’ll do more of this
neighborhood -- Speed bumps, roundabouts, lighted entries, next issue. Send me your questions and I’ll do my best to
etc. The recently installed speed bumps are really working, provide answers. We’ll discuss undergrounding of utilities
slowing and discouraging cut-through traffic! However, I am and more. - Tim
concerned that a native tree or plant was not selected for Timothy L. Hernandez, AICP, is an urban planner, builder and
the roundabouts…for longevity, low maintenance and more developer. He is co-founder of New Urban Communities, a
representative of South Florida. Royal Poinciana blooms one Delray Beach based development firm specializing in urban
month a year and is very susceptible to wind damage. infill and redevelopment and a 30- year resident of Coral
Also, the Bahia grass being planted in the swale areas Ridge Country Club Estates. He is also an Adjunct Professor in
between the bike lane and the sidewalks is pasture grass, the University Miami School of Architecture’s Masters in Real
highway grass, and requires mowing every few days in Estate Development and Urbanism (MRED+U) program. Current
summer to eliminate unsightly seed producing stalks that are projects include the Pompano Beach Fishing Village commercial
not only allergy-producing but will spread Bahia grass seeds redevelopment at the Pompano Pier (Salt Life and How You
into adjacent St Augustine grass. What other options are Brewin’ are opening soon), The Centre at Abacoa mixed use
available?” development in Jupiter, Atlantic Grove townhomes in downtown
Delray Beach, Haney Creek Crossing, a new residential
Tim: First on the Bahia. The Board completely agrees with you. development in Stuart and the Elizabeth, a new mixed-use
On March 17, I sent this email to FDOT’s project manager project in downtown Stuart. He can be reached via email at
Erik Nemati (who has been good to deal with and very timhernandez@bellsouth.net.
responsive): “Erik, some neighbors have complained the
contractor is re-sodding the swales (the areas between the
edge of pavement and the sidewalk) with Bahia. They should
be re-sodding with the same sod that was there before, which
in most cases would be St. Augustine or possibly Zoysia in a
lot here or there.”
Erik immediately promised to research this and got back to me
with this on March 28: “After reviewing the contract, the plans
allow for contractor to place bahia sod in the swale area.
They are required to match existing when making repairs to
private property. It is a funding challenge again since the
project is primarily fed-dollars. Probably not what you wanted
to hear… the delay in response was I was coordinating
with city to see if they could do anything…”. This issue was
subsequently brought to the attention of the Commissioner
Herbst. Some neighbors have taken the initiative and
resodded their swales with St. Augustine. We do not think they
should have had to incur that expense.

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