A property owner in a small Key Largo neighborhood is seeking a solution to a rough street.
During a recent Monroe County Commission meeting in Key Largo, Tom Scaturro took to the microphone to express concerns surrounding the deteriorated state of Adobe Casa Court Drive. Scaturro, who owns a duplex on the road, said he’s taken the issue upon himself in recent months not only to find a solution, but also to figure out who owns the strip of road.
Driving the road is no smooth experience for those who live in the neighborhood near MM 94.2, bayside. Holes of all different sizes make for a rough ride among the residents coming in and out of the neighborhood for work.
“I’ve obtained three paving estimates coming in at $50,000,” he said, adding he’s also attempted to contact the 27 other property owners in the Casa Court neighborhood. “(I) even started a GoFundMe.”
In a span of four months, he said, five property owners showed interest in the issue. And not much was raised on the GoFundMe page.
The biggest obstacle, Scaturro said, is the confusion over who owns the road.
“Many residents believe that someone owns it, but when I went to the property appraiser’s office I was told there’s no ownership information list on Casa Court,” he said.
Kristen Livengood, county public information officer, told Keys Weekly on March 14 that the street is owned by the adjacent property owners in Adobe Casa Court Drive. Per a document dated Aug. 22, 1960, Casa Court Drive is “not dedicated to the use of public but is reserved for the exclusive use of owners of property in this subdivision.”
Scaturro read a letter from another property owner in the neighborhood, noting that the first platted property in the neighborhood was in 1960. At the time, the developer installed a road as there was no existing public infrastructure available to the homes.
Scaturro told commissioners he was hoping to receive guidance in hopes to fix the road.
“I understand you deal with multimillion-dollar projects, but the beauty, safety and appeal of the Keys starts in neighborhoods like this,” he said. “A deteriorating road affects property values, emergency access and overall appearance of our community.
“I’m willing to put in work myself; what I need is direction and financial support options, via program or special assessment or simply clarity of road ownership. I’m asking for help to help clean up and improve this neighborhood.”
Scaturro spoke to commissioners during a period of the meeting where residents can spend up to five minutes to relay an issue. As Mayor Michelle Lincoln noted, the commissioners generally don’t respond once the speaker concludes.
Livengood said neighborhoods like Casa Court could seek assistance through a municipal service benefit unit program the county is implementing. In 2025, the county revised the program to give neighborhoods flexibility to address specific local priorities. Property owners who benefit from the project would share the cost through a non-ad valorem assessment that would appear on their annual tax bill.
In order to get a project going, 51% of property owners in the neighborhood would have to provide approval before the county would assist with any design, permitting, construction management and financial logistics.
