A motion to fund the striping of golf cart paths in Community Development District 4 died during Wednesday’s Amenity Authority Committee meeting. The possibility to extend interlocal agreements to other districts interested in striping also died separately.
The vote deadlocked at 3-3, with vice chair Jo Weber, and representatives Carl Bell and Rich Lambrecht all in favor of the motion, citing increased safety afforded by striping. Representatives Ann Forrester, Gary Moyer, and committee chairman John Wilcox were opposed to the motion, citing speed and consistency as their foremost concerns.
“It’s disappointing to me – once again, we need to listen to our residents,” said Rich Lambrecht, representative and supervisor for District 4. “If you’ve ever driven those trails at night, you know it’s of some benefit. I look at the [report] from Kimley-Horn…none of [the report has] to do with safety. What we’re talking about here is safety for our residents,” said Lambrecht of the report the district’s engineer, Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. has conducted on the matter.
Kimley-Horn has recommended against striping on the multi-modal paths, citing increased maintenance and a detraction from the “intended multi-modal nature” of the paths. Lambrecht suggested points made in the report indicating the stripes would make the paths “slippery for bicyclists” were inaccurate. He referred to current bicycle paths along main roads and the stripes, diamonds, and bicycle symbols that currently fill those paths.
“Give me a break! That line is not going to be slippery for bicyclists. This is incredible to me,” added Lambrecht of the striping. He further suggested that the committee should enter into interlocal agreements with “each of the four districts, [so] when they come forward, we will be willing to provide the striping and the maintenance of the striping in those areas where [the districts] deem appropriate and of value to their residents.”
Village Center Community Development District Member Gary Moyer questioned the speed at which motorists might travel with the added striping.
“I’m just wondering whether the unintended consequence in striping increases the speed at which people will be using the cart paths,” stated Moyer. Moyer suggested that the primary concern on paths is not the striping, but rather, the speed at which motorists travel and the increased danger presented during nighttime travel.
“We hear all the time that the problem is primarily with the speed and people breaking the law. At night you need to be more cautious than you need to be in the day, and I think to facilitate that, I wonder if that’s the unintended consequence,” said Moyer.
Residents from districts 2 and 4 addressed their concerns and supported striping or adding reflectors to the paths to aid in nighttime driving. The residents suggested that drivers were being impeded by the weather and night visibility in light of proper striping or reflectors. Around certain corners and when in the presence of headlights from oncoming traffic, residents indicated having to come to almost a complete stop.
“Consistency throughout The Villages is something that people were talking about quite a bit,” said Forrester, District 2 representative, in reference to the information she received from her constituents in previous meetings. “One of the things they were hoping for was that we could have consistency on this,” Forrester added.
“What do I do…I’m with Ann, and I would really like to see consistency,” said John Wilcox, Chairman and representative for District 3.
After the vote was deadlocked at 3-3, the committee members and meeting attendees were unsure what the result meant.
“If District 4 chooses to stripe their paths, they will pay for striping their paths. The AAC will not pay for the striping,” clarified District Manager Janet Tutt on the decision.
After nearly 90 minutes of heated discussions on multiple agenda items with a couple split votes, the Savannah Center meeting room had a few parties on opposite ends of the spectrum. “Are we finished with Old Business?” asked Wilcox after the striping stalemate. “I hope so,” replied Tutt.