To the editor:
Read Gasparilla Gazette Editor Terry O'Connor's July 21 article ("$46M Placida Road widening projects remains on fast track") and must say that I continue to be amazed that this project is moving ahead with such speed.
Yes, there are many questions that remain: why here, why now, why sooooo many lanes, who really benefits from this project?
And while it has been reported numerous times in numerous publications, that the Rotonda West HOA is in favor of the project, the individual property owners in Rotonda West did not vote for this project. Apparently the Board of Directors of the Rotonda West HOA were asked to given an opinion, and apparently "affirmed" the referendum vote of August 2008 on the continuation of the 1 percent sales tax.
That referendum did not spell out any particular road project and passed with 638 votes on a base of 34,182 - not a real strong majority.
Along this line of thought, did the individual property owners of Cape Haze HOA approve this project? I did attend the November 2010 meeting that you referenced and while there was significant opposition from the group it is not clear to me if they voted individually or as a group?
So who chose this particular road project and who pushed it ahead of other projects? Why is the Winchester Road extension not being done?
Would like to hear more about this project.
Linda DesRoches
Placida
Editor's note: The Cape Haze HOA did approve this project.
