Norfolk Parkway Improvements

Asked whether Fire Department response-time standards have been reviewed for the area, and said 800 new homes will hurt traffic and police response.

Slammed how D.R. Horton built homes and sidewalks in her community and said the city shouldn't have allowed 933 Sawgrass homes before the road was sufficient.

Said the developer's plans seem to matter more to the city than residents' needs.

Said the single access point is a safety problem and three to eight years is too long to wait — asked the council to approve an expedited timeline.

Happy to hear improvements are coming and hopes they finish sooner, but sees getting them done as a positive.

Reviewed the traffic study himself and argued the 2024 data is outdated, the level of service will be exceeded, and all Palm Bay traffic will turn east since there's no contract to extend to St. Johns Heritage Parkway.

Said the Minton Road intersection got worse when the school opened, the road can't handle current traffic, and road closures could create safety and legal problems.

Has been waiting since she saw an extension sign in 2017; said traffic was tolerable until the school was built, and residents were glad in 2022 when a signal was promised.

Argued the city should have required infrastructure improvements before homes were built — roads should get ahead of development, not trail it.

Supportive of the improvements after eight years of waiting, and noted developments near Atlanta always required two points of egress; also suggested D.R. Horton coordinate with Melbourne on its own Norfolk Parkway expansion project.

Wants a divider when the extra lanes are built, and noted displaced wildlife being hit by vehicles and risks to children from traffic conditions.

D.R. Horton's entitlements manager explained the traffic study triggers, said they've already bought the $1 million mast arm equipment, and noted permits are under review but final approvals haven't been received.

Urged attention to the fact that Norfolk Parkway is the only way in and out of The Pines until connections to St. Johns Heritage Parkway are built, and detailed Plat Ranch land-use constraints.

Predicted West Melbourne will become a 'stomping ground' for cut-through traffic and compared the piecemeal development to 'If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.'

The CEG civil engineer explained the timeline was worst-case, construction access comes from the west, and the design was reworked to avoid HOA easements.

D.R. Horton's division president — who lives in Sawgrass — said he wants traffic relief too and committed to ordering the traffic signal mast arms immediately upon approval.