ALVA Community Meeting  Jan. 24, 2002

 Alva Middle School, 7 p.m.

Next meeting: Thursday, Feb. 28, in Alva school cafeteria. Please mark your calendar.

 

Present: 72 members of the community.  Signed in: Rob Andrys, Larry Bauer, Gay Bennett, Bill Brewer, Steve Brockman, Susan Brookman, Mike Buff, Anita Buff, Martin Call, Tom Colvin, Jean Colvin, Dick Crockett, Becky Crockett, Margaret Daniels, Michael Dove, Jim English, Irby English, Kate English, Marilyn Fensterer, Doug Fowler, JoAnne Fowler, Roxanne Gause, Sarah Gillim, Flo Ginter ,Ken Ginter, Kitty Green, Heidi Heinrich, Lynda Kendrick, Nancy Lee, David Lee, Jack Liddell, Kim Liddell, Julie Moore, Margaret Ottgen, Maria Pagan, John Payne, Jensene Payne, Greg Reed, Mary Reed, Bev Reese, Chaney Reese, Jamesine Riley, Patricia Ross, Steve Sexton, Martha Shackleton, Herbert Soellner, Jennie Taylor, Rosie Taylor, Walter Taylor, David Turkel, Jeffrey Tuscan, Sally Watson, Maria Mussler, Stanley Kinder, Carroll Kinder, Rolando DiLeigghio, Debrah Forester, Jim Mudd, Mary Povia, Karen Moulton, Randy Glkaese, John Elting, Mark Edwards, Terese Vaughn, Irene Newton, Teresa Browning, Dennis Riggs, Virginia Riggs, Ralph Shepherd, George Austin, Angel O. Pagan, Nettie Rountree, Madeline Babb, Christina Outlaw, Alice Washington, Ron K. Newson, Rossie J. Newton, Sr.   

 

Meeting opened by Sarah Gillim, president.   She requested everyone’s email addresses to be registered and corrected as this is the primary way to communicate with the community.

 

Announcements:

 1. Interested persons were invited to sign a petition to increase the number of firefighters who are trained in EMS.  The petition also includes a request for emergency services to be available closer to Alva than now exists.

2.  Recognized a new conservation 20-20 purchase in Alva, east of Joel Blvd and south of Tuckahoe Road..  Good news!

3.  Note that the next general meeting, February 28,  will be in school cafeteria behind the auditorium building. 

4.  Everyone is invited to join Alva Inc. and support its work

5.  Fund raising event was held to elect  an honorary mayor of Alva.  Total dollars received ($1 per vote):  676.00 which will help fund the Alva, Inc. program.  New “honorary” mayor:  Lynda Kendrick; runner up, Julie Moore. A presentation of a new gavel was given to “Mayor Kendrick,” who stated that she would come to any openings in the community.   

 

Roxanne Gause, and George. Austin reported on developments of plans for expansion of  FL 80, probably beginning in 2003.  Their work focused primarily on Iverson and Joel area.  They met on Jan. 15 with representatives of County Dept. of Transportation (DOT).   Agenda emphasized the Broadway intersection and the need for a traffic light.    Median openings are planned for future commercial development.  The state’s objective is for 80 to be an intrastate highway across Florida to relieve traffic on Alligator Alley.  The committee’s goal is to try to achieve a design which would cause traffic to slow through the Alva area.  Roxanne Gause presented a drawing of intersection of Packinghouse and Broadway, illustrating how Packinghouse road will line up with Broadway.  Plans include realigning and re-paving Packinghouse Rd..  All parties have agreed.  Habitat for Humanity has agreed to give up 75' on east end of land so that access will be available for Packinghouse Rd. at Broadway intersection.

 Traffic studies at both Joel road and at Broadway and 80 thus far do not show enough traffic to warrant a traffic light.  However, Roxanne Gause will ask to the see studies and seek to have another survey to be made.  The committee has requested a wider median for turn at Broadway because this area is planned for commercial development.  Curbs will be necessary on median if the requested oak trees are planted there rather than the typical median landscape.  The rules for what can be planted are governed by the width of the median.  A possible negotiation may allow the curbs to be built using landscaping funds, but planting of the oak trees would be delayed and may need to be purchased by the Alva community.  Curbs designate road as suburban rather than rural.  Sidewalk provisions are still in negotiation; perhaps also using some of the funds allocated for landscaping.  The construction segment of 80 will be from Hendry County to Hickey Creek, and will be done in two phases possibly beginning sometime in 2003.  

 

Carol Cunningham and Rob Andrys discussed the proposed Alva plan that has emerged from previous workshops and the work of the various committees.  The emphasis is on a “rural village” concept and opposed to strip centers, large commercial developments and large parking lots.  Consensus has emerged  that the Alva “center” is Broadway, the draw bridge, the river (a river walk is suggested), post office, and Alva Middle School.  Drawings were shown that highlight possible commercial development and a river walk near the bridge.   Development of the center will influence what happens around and beyond the central core.  Objective is to protect the rural village ambience and to prevent a “sea of cookie-cutter sub-divisions.”.  A basic principle is that no one’s property rights should be infringed upon.  Open space, agricultural activity should continue.

  

Carol Cunningham listed some tools that the community could use to help implement the goals:

1.  Conservation communities. Cluster arrangements in developed areas.

 2.  Create a non-profit land trust which can accepts donations of land, purchase land for conservation and protection as funds become available.

 3. Transfer of density.: Designated areas could be developed by purchasing density from other properties - keeping that other area in a conservation mode.  

Everybody can win in this process and helps to conserve land.  She emphasized that we have the  choice: to sit back and let county and state make rules about our area; or be an active community working independently and also negotiating with government. processes

 

The remainder of the meeting focused on discussions in small groups concerning the Alva plan.  The various groups reported back so that Carol Cunningham can include the responses of the groups in the next planning steps toward completing the Alva plan.  Her report will be available and placed on the Alva web site.

In general the plan as presented met with wide approval.   Gratitude is expressed for the participation of representatives from the Charleston Park community which is adjacent to Alva and a significant part of the broader Alva community.         

The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

 

Submitted by John Payne, secretary.