I’ve posted a few times about the Old Homosassa Sidewalks, first back in July 2014 and then last Sunday. If this is your first visit to my website, the concern is that we have seven large oaks that are marked to be removed between in the Sugarmill Ruins area for the sidewalks. I am all for the sidewalks, just not the destruction of several of our beautiful trees.
I emailed our county officials regarding this issue and received three responses.
From Commissioner Ron Kitchen: “Thank you for your concern for our community and for your well thought out comments. I am sure we will take what you say into consideration as the county continues with the planning process.”
Walt Eastmond, Transportation Project Manager, responded, “Good morning Mrs. Green – Thank you for your interest in the Yulee sidewalk project and taking the time to review the 60% plans and the site. We appreciate your comments and will forward them to our consultant preparing the plans.
And on Wednesday I was “cc:d” on an email from Randy Oliver, County Administrator, to Jeff Rogers: “Jeff: Would you ask someone to follow up with Mrs. Green and copy Commissioner Kitchens and myself on the response.”
Jeff did not email me. So sad.
I’ll be following up on those emails this week.
Here’s a website and some emails addresses for you.
It’s been a strange week for us. Started out with Terry and I studying the plans for the future Old Homosassa sidewalks and discovering that we would lose seven large oak trees that help create our canopy. I updated my post from Sunday about the sidewalk plans with the email I sent and the responses. I was feeling hopeful.
Then on Wednesday I was “cc:d” along with Commissioner Ron Kitchen on the following email from Randy Oliver, County Administrator, to Jeff Rodgers, the Director of Public Works.
Jeff:
Would you ask someone to follow up with Mrs. Green and copy Commissioner Kitchens and myself on the response.
Thanks,
Randy
Haven’t heard anything. Now I’m perplexed. Will follow up with Mr. Oliver next week.
Meanwhile, I’ve been busy busy busy letting all of the “locals” know about the tree issue.
The Old Homosassa Heritage Council had a town meeting at the Civic Club on Tuesday. We are moving forward with fund raising to purchase and refurbish the water tower. Very Exciting!
I couldn’t find a lot going on in the county that I wanted to attend this weekend–probably because we already have plans. But if we get a chance, we’ll be stopping by the Visitor Center on US 19 at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park on Saturday for the arts and crafts show by local artists.
There is a lot coming up!
February 21st is the next open house at Three Sisters Springs. This is a GREAT event. Sponsored by the Friends of Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, you can catch a bus at Kings Bay Plaza. With the weather being a bit chilly, you are ensured of seeing manatees. Possibly hundreds of them. And you don’t even have to get in the water, you can view them from the boardwalk. Plus–it’s free!
Right here in Old Homosassa, on March 6th and 7th from 5 – 9 we will be having the Luminary Art Nights. We have some great art spots here. I’m planning on helping out Watsons Art Gallery & Studio. If you haven’t stopped there already, you must. Check out the art and then have dinner at one of our several fun restaurants on either side of the river.
On March 14th it’s the Shrimpapalooza! Sponsored by the Homosassa Springs Rotary Club, this is nothing but fun. A parade. Beads. A festival. Beads. Bands. Beads. Food. Beads. Have I convinced you yet? We like to take at least one grandkid….
This post is for my friends, neighbors and anyone else that enjoys driving through Old Homosassa’s tree canopied streets.
I mentioned a few weeks ago that I received an email regarding the proposed sidewalks on Yulee Drive.
From Fritz P. Smith,
“As discussed at the Yulee Drive Sidewalk Townhall Meeting conducted on July 31, 2014, a set of 60% complete plans will be available for review at the Citrus County Homosassa Library,4100 South Grandmarch Avenue, Homosassa, FL 34446, beginning Monday, January 26, 2015 until Friday, February 13, 2015. Please direct any questions or requests for additional information to Walt Eastmond at 352-527-5446 or Walt.Eastmond@bocc.citrus.fl.us.”
Terry and I went to the library on Friday to check out the 60% completed plans.
It took us a little while to understand the plans but once we caught on, we were able to follow the sidewalk route from Old Homosassa all the way out to 19. It followed exactly the route that was covered in the meeting back in July.
Then Terry and I started studying the Old Homosassa area. In the section where the old sidewalk ends through the area just past the Sugarmill Ruins, seven oak trees will be removed.
Seven very large oak trees. The very oak trees that provide our beautiful canopy.
I want the sidewalk but not at the expense of these trees.
Just to make sure we had it right, we went to the park area and checked out the trees.
I’ve circled the trees being removed on each page. This is page 3 in the plan. The large circle shows two trees directly across from Bressler Ct.
If I understand the plans correctly, these are the two trees across from Bressler Ct.
Page 4. The area right across from the Sugarmill Ruins.
By counting the other trees on this page, these are the three trees being removed.
And a closer view of those trees.
Page 5. The sidewalk goes to the other side of Yulee Dr. No trees are marked to be removed.
I would love to have sidewalks. But not at the expense of these trees.
These photos might be difficult to understand. If you haven’t checked out the plans at the library please do this week, they will only be there until this Friday, February 13. Let Mr. Eastmond know how you feel.
**** February 9, 2015
This is an update to my post from February 8, 2015, I have sent the following email to Walt Eastmond and our Commissioner Ron Kitchen
My husband and I went into the Homosassa Library on Friday to check out the 60% plans for the sidewalks in Yulee Drive. Then we followed up with a stop at the Sugarmill Ruins on Sunday to understand where the new sidewalk would run.
We have two concerns.
First, seven large oak trees are designated on the plans to be removed in the section where the existing sidewalk ends and just past the Sugarmill Ruins. These trees provide the beautiful canopy over Yulee Drive and are irreplaceable. The sidewalk will need to go around the trees.
Second, the crossing from the existing sidewalk to the other side of Yulee Drive is on a very dangerous curve. Drivers will not be able to see the pedestrians as they make the crossing. When we stopped at the Sugarmill Ruins yesterday, traffic was non-stop. The crossing needs to be moved closer to the Sugarmill Ruins. There is plenty of room after Breville Ct. and before the ruins.
We live behind Old Homosassa in the Mason Creek area. We have been here for over eleven years and are active members of our community. I have a blog with a focus on Citrus County and have made a short post which further explains the tree issue. There are some photos of the trees that will be removed that will clarify our concern.
Looking forward to having sidewalks but these two issues must be addressed.
Sincerely,
Kathy and Michael Green
Mr. Eastmond responded within 20 minutes:
Good morning Mrs. Green – Thank you for your interest in the Yulee sidewalk project and taking the time to review the 60% plans and the site. We appreciate your comments and will forward them to our consultant preparing the plans.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional comments/concerns.
Sincerely,
Walt Eastmond
Transportation Project Manager
Engineering Division
And Commissioner Kitchen sent an email an hour later,
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Green,
Thank you for your concern for our community and for your well thought out comments. I am sure we will take what you say into consideration as the county continues with the planning process.
Thank you again,
Ron Kitchen
I feel better about the planning process but we should still stay on top of the issue!
It took us a little while to understand the plans but once we caught on, we were able to follow the sidewalk route from Old Homosassa all the way out to 19. It followed exactly the route that was covered in the 
And a closer view of those trees.
