A master plan aiming to reshape the future of the Fills will be sent to state transportation officials by the end of the year, Islamorada village officials say.
A plan for Tea Table, Lignumvitae and Indian Keys, MM 77.5 to MM 79.8, would examine possibilities for parking, a fencing system and other amenities in a bid to improve what’s long been a chaotic situation during weekends and busy holidays. Issues have been addressed through limited parking and staff directing trailer traffic at Indian Key Fill where boats are launched.
Issues at the Fills came to a boiling point during Memorial Day Weekend in 2019 when village residents took their frustration to council members over the mayhem, trashing and degradation along the nearshore waters. That led to a temporary agreement that gave the village the ability to control parking and maintenance on state-owned property.
Last April, village council approved a five-year sublease with FDOT to maintain the Fills. A few months later, council members said “yes” to move forward with a master plan.
During an Oct. 1 village council meeting, Interim Village Manager Maria Bassett told members the village is seeking engineers to develop a schematic for FDOT’s review. Bassett said it will include preliminary information on a cable barrier system the village is proposing for the Fills.
In August, Public Works Director A.J. Engelmeyer presented three fencing options – cable, timber with rope, and guardrail – along the three islands for council to discuss. Of all options, the cable option was the least expensive at an estimated cost of $322,000.
“Once FDOT approves the master plan, then we can move forward with going out to bid for a contractor to provide a cable barrier system, as that’s the first step that we want to move forward with,” Bassett said.
A new barrier wouldn’t go up, however, without approval from a new council. Based on the cost for the cable barrier, Bassett said the dais would need to approve the expenditure.
In the meantime, Bassett said village staff will maintain presence at the Fills during weekends and holidays. A 2020-21 adopted budget shows $49,100 in personnel costs at the Fills and $159,000 between rentals, leases and operating supplies. A Fills master plan engineering and construction project for $350,000 is among the items listed in the capital projects fund.
Construction crews are working to restore and strengthen the shoreline along the Fills after damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017. The state-funded project that’s restored the shoreline up and down the Keys is also restoring the sea wall at the Fills.
“They (construction crews) are doing it in phases, so we’re keeping certain areas on the Fills closed because they’re construction zones,” Engelmeyer told council members. “We’ll keep shifting that as they progress through the project.”
Engelmeyer said there are roughly 50 parking spaces at the Fills, and that includes boat and trailer parking.
As for the master plan, resident Sue Miller said she hopes the public gets another opportunity to look at it before FDOT’s review. Mayor Mike Forster said that’s up to the next council to decide.
Village Attorney Roget Bryan said amendments have been drafted to increase penalties for violations such as illegal parking at the Fills. Bryan said staff intends to bring that before the new council before the end of the year.
