The St. Johns County Commission has officially nixed plans to build a divisive walking path along Shore Drive.<\/p>\n
The decision Tuesday came after years of planning and seeking funds for the 3-mile-long paved path along Shore Drive in St. Augustine South.<\/p>\n
The project was estimated to cost $1.1 million, and the budgeted money will be reallocated to the construction of a park on the county\u2019s south side named for two former county commissioners.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis trail has to die, and it\u2019s going to die today,\u201d County Commissioner Clay Murphy said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There is no sidewalk along Shore Drive, and the path was originally proposed to get pedestrians and cyclists out of the winding two-lane road. <\/p>\n
Impassioned supporters and opponents spoke about the project during the County Commission meeting Tuesday. <\/p>\n
Opponents worried that the 5-foot-wide asphalt path would damage the environment and drive up property values \u2014 and, by extension, taxes. Supporters wanted the county to build an alternative to walking in the road for individuals with mobility issues and kids.<\/p>\n
Elected members of the commission sparred, some debunking misinformation spread about the project and others criticizing the project as out-of-control development.<\/p>\n
But even after denouncing tactics he called \u201coffensive and false and a bunch of crap,\u201d Murphy, whose district includes St. Augustine South, said he still could not support the project.\u00a0<\/p>\n
County Commissioners Krista Joseph and Ann Taylor joined Murphy in the 3-2 vote to axe the project.<\/p>\n
Joseph responded to concerns that some members of the St. Augustine South community expressed about the lack of a sidewalk in their neighborhood. She said it\u2019s up to residents to be responsible for themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t want to live over there, and you don\u2019t want your kids to not have sidewalks, don\u2019t move there,\u201d she said. \u201cYou have choices. I can\u2019t sit there and tell people to be safe. I can\u2019t help someone who wants to run down the middle of the road.\u201d<\/p>\n
A divided community<\/p>\n
Since even before the project was first approved two years ago<\/a>, tensions have run high between supporters and opponents of building the paved path.<\/p>\n Opponents in the St. Augustine South community recently conducted a straw poll at local events gauging support. Individuals who organized the poll told the County Commission that every voter was checked against a list of addresses in the community, and the final count was of 332 votes against the trail and 89 in support.<\/p>\n Speakers said the poll was an indication that the neighborhood resoundingly opposed the project, but opponents pointed out that the 421 votes represent only a fraction of St. Augustine South\u2019s households.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to data from St. Johns County, St. Augustine South is made up of 2,407 households.\u00a0<\/p>\n