Transportation, Development Issues Dominate District 5 Town Hall Meeting

March 22, 2022

Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry held ann open forum town hall meeting Monday evening in Cantonment, with most of the comments or questions centered around transportation or development.

Residents complained about commercial truck traffic on East Kingsfield Road, which is designated with no-truck signs. Barry said he would reach out to Ascend Performance Materials and other area companies to ask them to remind haulers about the posted no-truck zone on Kingsfield.

Another resident sarcastically asked Barry if he’s heard about Escambia County’s newest drag strip — the residential Cricket Ridge Drive off East Kingsfield. Barry said a petition is in progress for speed bumps on the road.

A Century resident nudged Barry to request a traffic light on Highway 29 in Century, either at the intersection with West Highway 4 or Pond Street. Another asked for a traffic light at Nine Mile and Stefani Road. Barry said that’s not likely to happen, but he feels the Florida Department of Transportation will consider a traffic light at Nine Mile Road and Ashland Avenue.

A Barrineau Park resident expressed concern about a rezoning proposal for property on Gibson Road in Molino. The rezoning proposal is still in the Planning Board process; Barry said he would address it publicly once it reaches the county commission.

For more photos, click here.

Pictured. Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry held a town hall open forum meeting Monday evening at the Langley Bell 4-H Center in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

9 Responses to “Transportation, Development Issues Dominate District 5 Town Hall Meeting”

  1. Steve on March 23rd, 2022 7:01 pm

    Local asks; Why have people given up?

    My answer:
    A few years back, before the massive development along Nine Mile Rd (and west of Hwy 29), I asked Commissioner Barry, why the County Commissioners didn’t work with owners of existing commercial properties to get those used INSTEAD OF rubber-stamping new construction of commercial properties. His response was; “we can’t tell people what to do with their property.”

    Consider; within the past year or so, we’ve had a county employee promoted to (I believe) Acting County Administrator AND the annual salary was bumped up to something like $173,000. Coincidence? Even if it is no coincidence, doesn’t $173k seem pretty high for this county?

    I’ve been to a few of these “town halls” and they seem to be nothing but lip service. If the Commissioner thinks they can’t tell people what to do with their property, I guess Code Enforcement can be retired.

  2. Rita Jenne-Ryan on March 22nd, 2022 4:36 pm

    I didn’t even hear about this meeting until late yesterday afternoon. Is there anyway to get at least a few days heads up?

  3. JOHN on March 22nd, 2022 3:28 pm

    I meant to say earlier that it seems as if those of us who live north of 98 get ignored.

  4. Citizen on March 22nd, 2022 3:19 pm

    Nobody in D5 is south of 98 JOHN.

  5. JOHN on March 22nd, 2022 3:07 pm

    Seems like if you live south of Highway 98, you get ignored.

  6. Hall on March 22nd, 2022 1:48 pm

    What happened to Hurricane Sally’s flood victims and FEMA.

  7. Citizen on March 22nd, 2022 1:36 pm

    Sarcastic bully’s are embarrassing. One can have a cordial conversation with their rep. One on One. Don’t have to show up with the awful complainers and negative insulting people around here who have no manners nor respect.

  8. Kane on March 22nd, 2022 11:32 am

    @local nah bud if the last two years has taught us anything it’s that no matter what side of an issue you’re on it doesn’t matter nothing will change except for those with money (actual fortunes not the money you live off or have in a regular bank) and if you think you have money and you are reading this you don’t.

  9. Local on March 22nd, 2022 6:02 am

    I hope folks will take a close look at this last picture.
    The lack of participation saddens me. Why have people given up ?
    Or could it be that most are happy with the way things are ?
    Just saying………

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News