PLACIDA MEETING TURNS INTO SHOUTING MATCH

THE SECOND PUBLIC MEETING FOR THE PLACIDA ROAD WIDENING PROJECT WAS HELD MONDAY NIGHT AT THE LEMON BAY GOLF CLUB AND THINGS TURNED HEATED AGAIN.  ACCORDING TO THE ENGLEWOOD EDGE, CHARLOTTE COUNTY COMMISSIONER ROBERT SKIDMORE FIELDED ANGRY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM AN OVERFLOW CROWD WHICH WAS MOSTLY AGAINST THE PROJECT TO TURN PLACIDA FROM ROTONDA BOULEVARD WEST TO CAPE HAZE DRIVE INTO A FOUR LANE ROADWAY THAT WILL HELP WITH HURRICANE EVACUATIONS AND TRAFFIC IN SEASON.  MOST IN ATTENDANCE QUESTIONED THE NEED FOR THE EVACUATION ROUTE, AND ROSS WITSCHONKE, PRESIDENT OF THE CAPE HAZE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, READ FROM A PREPARED STATEMENT, SAYING “WE BELIEVE THAT ANY IMPROVEMENT TO PLACIDA ROAD SHOULD BE IN CONCERT WITH THE UNIQUE AND VALUABLE COASTLINE COMMUNITY WHICH WE LIVE…WE DON’T NEED MEDIANS AND FOUR LANES.”  SKIDMORE WAS PRAISED AT ONE POINT BY FOR HAVING THICK SKIN AND ONE PERSON CALLED THE CROWD A LYNCH MOB.  THE PERMIT APPLICATION FOR THE PROJECT WAS SUBMITTED ON FRIDAY AFTER THE COUNTY HAD AN EXPEDITED PERMIT REQUESTED TO THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT GRANTED A WEEK EARLIER.  THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO INCLUDE CURB AND GUTTER, FOUR-FOOT PAVED SHOULDERS, AND SIX-FOOT SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES INCLUDING ENHANCED LIGHTING ON ONE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY.