Comment EI-20697
Received or sent (printed as 12/8/2014)
My name is Sue Ford and I am a former Canaveral Port Authority Commissioner, elected in 1984 and 1988. As a resident of North Merritt and a former Port Commissioner, I have strong concerns about the impacts of this project on our sensitive environment and the impacts on local residents and their property values. First, if the Port believes that they must have a connection to the Florida East Coast Railway, the only plan that makes any sense is the plan that goes North of the Port on to The USAF Station to connect to Kennedy Space Center's rail that comes almost to the Coast. This would be the least miles of new rail, with less cost, and NO impact to local residents and their property values. The environment is also far less sensitive as I believe it is high and dry. The plan that has been chosen would cause environmental degradation in many ways: 1. A bridge and partial causeway in the only pristine area of The Indian River Lagoon (where even motor boats can't go) would do tremendous damage to the entire Lagoon. This is and has been the spawning area of the Lagoon for many years, and some of the fish do make their way South and into other parts of the Lagoon. Also their is valuable wetlands along this area that filter runoff like nature intended. The development of a bridge and causeway would do tremendous damage alone. However, blocking the fish from swimming south would be detrimental to the whole Lagoon. Also, this comes at a time when the rest of the Lagoon is in very poor condition and state voters just voted (75% of the vote) to spend money to clean up the Indian River Lagoon. One part of government is going to clean up the problem while another part of government is harming it. I don't think that this will make any sense to the 75% of environmental voters in Florida. 2. To run rail tracks north to connect with KSC's rail spur on Merritt Island will majorly impact very substantial wetlands along the Banana River that filter the runoff before it goes into the river. This is another reason the river is so pristine in this area, along with there being no development on either side. Local fisherman and tourist will tell you how many fish can be caught there and how large they can be for those that are in shape enough to paddle to that area. Whether they fill the wetlands or try to run a bridge over them, would all be detrimental to this pristine part of the Lagoon. Development and the removal of wetlands in many other parts of the Lagoon has caused the problems of poor water quality, less grass beds, and deaths of marine life, including dolphins and manatees. 3. For those that say this will be of public good, I question that. As it is local residents do NOT feel that we get any benefit of having a Port in our area. We no longer even get the benefit of buying seafood cheaper like in the past. I am sure that the Port will be spouting about how many dollars and jobs this will bring to our area. One report that I read said 200+ jobs for construction of the project and 5 permanent jobs. That won't really impress a lot of people. I would believe that the money we could loose from tourists and snowbirds coming to the area would far out weigh what they could bring in. 4. Property values and noise and inconvenience to local residents must be addressed also. Definitely The Savannahs (with a Public golf course) will be affected. Having a train, any days of the week, 1/8 of a mile away will impact the property values of those beautiful homes. I am a licensed real estate agent in the state of Florida and was a Realtor, (selling property) until 2008 when I retired. I am very familiar with this area and it's property values. There are other subdivisions and individual homes that will be affected along the route to KSC also. 5. Brevard County is beautiful because of the Indian River Lagoon and our beaches. If we keep destroying our Lagoon tourist, snow birds, and even residents may find somewhere else to go. These are our natural resources that bring the majority of our money to Brevard County. Man and government has done everything in their power to destroy these valuable assets. I grew up in Cocoa Beach and watched them expand land in Cocoa Beach by filling the Lagoon and developing along most of it's shoreline. They destroyed most of the wetlands. I remember when they filled land where Merritt Square Mall now sits. Anyone that has been here as long as I have could tell you how beautiful it was in the 1950s and 1960s. The marine life was abundant and the water clean. My father would get oysters out of the river and eat them raw. However, at least they had the excuse back then that they didn't know any better. No one has that excuse today. Let me also remind you that this is a Lagoon (one of a kind). It has no current because it is a lagoon, not rivers! Due to the man-made locks, it has no tidal flow! All run-off that goes in, stays!!! 6. Another concern is about money and tax dollars. The present Port Director (on the Port's website) says that this whole project will cost 1 Billion dollars! (with a B) I am concerned that the Port will be getting too deep into debt. Canaveral Port Authority is still a taxing authority. If that were to occur, they could go back to the Public (1/2 of the county homeowners and businesses) and create a new property tax. As a Commissioner that fought to discontinue this tax in 1986, I would oppose such a proposal. Our Port is making money and doing well with the present businesses of Cruise Ships, restaurants, parks (one left) and more touristy type businesses. The Port is the second largest cruise ship port in the world. That is quite an accomplishment! (especially due to the small amount of land available. I personally, pushed hard for this type of business as a Port Commissioner in the 1980s because of our sensitive lands and an abutting city. I do NOT want to see Port Commissioners today make the same mistakes of the past by filling lands (50 acres in Banana River and 100 acres in Indian River) and further destroying our environment in order to create more land for business. (filling of the 150 acres in lagoon also in the present Port Director's comments on this project) 7. My last concern is about the way that this huge project is being phased out. If government agencies only approve/disapprove this project in phases and don't look at the whole thing. This is unfair to the public! This is a major project of substantial impact to the Port, our county, and our quality of life. The whole project should be evaluated in its entirety! I hope that all the agencies involved will understand the impact of this whole project on our environment and our lives in Brevard. Please do NOT allow one government agency to make the mistakes of the past. The real solution is the plan going north with the rail to the USAFS!!! Sincerely, Sue Ford © 2014 Microsoft Terms Privacy & cookies Developers English (United States)
Submitted by: Sue Ford · Merritt Island, FL
The Board publishes this comment in its environmental-comment table for this proceeding. It is quoted here as printed; nothing is inferred from it, and it states the commenter's own position in their own words, not this record's.
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/FD-35852/comment/EI-20697 · back to the docket sheet