Restrooms, trail enhancements, minimized parking and recreational water access are among the proposed developments within two proposed visions for the Fills in Islamorada. Consultants hired by the village are set to present data and feedback from the public, as well as the visions, to the dais at a meeting inside Founders Park Community Center on Thursday, Feb. 17.
But survey results and comments gathered from the public over the past several months show many opposed to the idea of enhancing the Fills experience. A stakeholder survey presentation by CPH Inc. unveiled in November gathered some 344 responses and comments from local residents. Of those responding, 92% said they owned property in the village.
Roughly 60% of the respondents were opposed to the idea of bringing active recreation, like boat and kayak access, to Indian Key Fill and passive uses, such as bike and pedestrian amenities, to Tea Table and Lignumvitae Fills. The area stretches between MM 79.6 and 77.7.
Results also show that residents were split on the idea of overlooks and pull-off areas to allow safe and specified locations for taking photos of the water and viewing sunsets. As for parking, a high number of respondents, 61%, disagreed with the idea on the Fills. But if parking was provided, 77% believed people should be charged for using the parking spots. A majority also believed in charges for boat launch parking.
Roughly 52% said they’re strongly opposed to restroom facilities on the Fills. Many also strongly agreed on a swim ban along the Fills, as well as no-wake zones.
A number of comments mention that the Fills isn’t a park and that it should be kept natural without any development.
“This is a critical narrow area and its use should be limited accordingly. It is not suitable for a recreational area,” said one resident who provided a comment. A seven-page document posted to the Fills Master Plan website includes the 340-plus responses from residents.
Community workshops last October saw residents meeting one-on-one with consultants to provide comments. A community survey was also sent out with responses back by mid-November. Another workshop in December saw a red dot/green dot exercise led by Javier Omana, director of land planning services with CPH, Inc. A workshop on Feb. 3 saw discussion on concepts.
Following a presentation, the council will select and approve a concept and budget. A final concept and design report is expected by mid-March.
In March 2021, village council members unanimously approved to go with CPH Inc. to assist in developing a master plan for the property, which is owned by the Florida Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection. A pair of sublease agreements are in place between the village and the state agencies that give Islamorada the ability to manage and maintain the Fills. That agreement began in 2019.
While authorized to control parking and access, the village is also required to submit a management plan for each agency’s approval.
Mayhem at the Fills came to a breaking point in June 2019, just after the Memorial Day Weekend, when scenes of overfilled dumpsters and the littering of plastic bags and beer cans caused an uproar among residents and then council members. By 2020, measures were taken to reduce parking space on the Fills. Barricades and orange cones still remain. A ramp on Indian Key remains closed, but it could open soon once Florida Keys Electric Cooperative completes line pole repairs.
