The Walden Lake Community Association met with city officials Monday to work out a plan to alleviate traffic coming out of Walden Lake’s front entrance during rush hour.
Originally, the WLCA heard from city officials that a left hand turn lane was to be added, knocking out the center median to the main gate.
With its landscaped median, green shrubbery and brick monicker signs, the Walden Lake front entrance makes a certain type of statement about the deed-restricted community.
“We really feel like it’s our front door,” Bette Guarino of the WLCA said. “It’s the most peaceful way to come in, and it won’t be Walden Lake without it.”
Now, Plant City Engineer Brett Gocka is working on a new design in order to keep the median intact.
“(The WLCA) likes their landscaping and the aesthetic feel,” Gocka said. “I think we can accommodate it.”
The original plan was estimated to cost about $36,000. Other designs are being drawn up that will add extra landscaping. The cost will be slightly higher.
“It’s going to be a little bit bigger of a project now, and it’s going to be a little nicer project,” Gocka said.
The city previously tried to alleviate traffic at the intersection after a complaint about the timing of the light.
The city adjusted the timing as much as it could.
“Still, there is some backup being experienced,” Gocka said.
The city wants to fix the problem before the Alexander Street extension is finished. After the extension is completed, Alexander will become a state-operated street, overseen by the Florida Department of Transportation. With the overturn, it will be harder to make changes to intersections on Alexander, such as Timberlane Drive.
Designs should be submitted to the city commission for discussion in about 60 to 90 days.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
ELECTIONS:
The annual elections were held at this month’s WCLA meeting.
• Jan Griffin, president
• Marcus Alexich, vice president
• Jim Chancey, secretary
A treasurer was not elected at this time. The position will go up for election the following meeting.
Griffin has been a board member since 1994 and president since 2004.
IN OTHER NEWS:
• Construction on The Hammocks golf cart path will begin Thursday. Since last year, residents have been lobbying to get one put in at this location because of the dangerous intersection at the front entrance of The Hammocks on Timberlane Drive.
• The annual garage sale was a success, with more than 100 homes participating. “There were cars everywhere,” Bette Guarino said.
• Marlene Merrin presented a monthly report of violations for the 16 neighborhoods she does enforcements for. The violations were:
Yard: 50
Care and appearance of home: 28
Mold/paint/mailboxes: 27
Boats/trailers: 10
Care and appearance of fence: 7
Trash cans: 6
Vehicles: 4
Pets: 5
Bouncy House: 1