JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A civil engineer spoke with News4JAX about the recent traffic study results over a proposed Chick-fil-A restaurant trying to come to an Oceanway neighborhood.
Ramin Shabanpour is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of North Florida. He researches transportation engineering. He reviewed the traffic study -- including the updated version -- and agreed with the assessment that called for a traffic signal to be added and the removal of a line that said turn lanes on Lady Lake and Duval Station roads weren’t feasible.
“I won’t see any kind of major issue in terms of traffic operation. That being said, we have also a high school pretty close to this project location. And that can cause some safety concerns,” Shabanpour said.
Despite Shabanpour’s opinion that there would be minimal traffic impact in the area, neighbors were still unconvinced that was true.
Robin Hood is one of the dozens of North Creek residents continuing their fight against the proposed Chick-fil-A that would be built on Bradley Cove Road and Duval Station Road at the front of the North Creek subdivision.
The rezoning vote was deferred a second time by the Land Use and Zoning Committee last week after it was learned a revised traffic study had come in that morning. Even with a revised traffic study, Hood’s concerns about putting a Chick-fil-A in the front of his neighborhood remain the same.
“This traffic study, they said 95% of the time, the traffic would be held on the property. Okay. That means that 5% of the time, it’s going to spill out onto the street. 5% of 16 hours is 48 minutes. That means for darn near an hour, every day, traffic is going to be spilling out onto the street right behind you,” Hood said.
Roberta Smith is another North Creek resident fighting the rezoning.
“I’ve watched school buses come through here trying to get to the school. We have trucks. What are you gonna do with the delivery truck? Are you gonna put a turning lane? I mean, there’s just so many unanswered questions,” Roberta Smith said.
Shabanpour said traffic studies focus on traffic performance and efficiency, but safety is also high on the priority list. He thinks it’s good that the revised traffic study recommends a traffic signal but more safety features can be added.
“We have different types of warning systems like flashing lights or enhanced lighting in the area. For kids, especially in early mornings, or late afternoon, pavement, marking roadside signs, reduce the speed limits,” he said.
Smith hopes the LUZ board will take the time to listen when it’s time for the final vote in June.
“Like, really put themselves in our situation. What if you lived here, and this was your neighborhood? And better yet, you’re pretty much setting precedents for the entire city that Chick-fil-A can just find a piece of property, and not just Chick-fil-A, any restaurant can just find a piece of property no matter where it’s located and stick it wherever they want to,” Smith said.
The vote was deferred until June 4.
The City of Jacksonville shared this statement when asked about neighbors’ concerns.
We share some of the community’s concerns. We are reviewing the current version of the study and will have more to say soon.
Melissa Ross