Council rejects request to make Heydon Road a city street
Another plea to make Heydon Road outside of the Sandoval community a city roadway was rejected on Wednesday.
“Staff does not recommend accepting this, or forced taking this as a public asset,” City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn told the Cape Coral City Council.
During citizen’s input, a few speakers asked Council to consider the transfer of Heydon Lane to the city, saying the use of the road has changed over time and that general traffic counts for half.
Sandoval Community Association President Bill Ciminelli said he worked with the association’s council and they feel a replat of the road is the proper path. He said they would pay for the initial repaving of Heydon Lane, or escrow the funds to the city.
“It no longer serves as a private purpose,” Ciminelli said, adding that it already operates as a public road.
Councilmember Rachel Kaduk continuously asked the city manager for an explanation of why he is against the replat.
“A replat is driven by whomever is doing the replat — their own stipulations,” he said.
Ilczyszyn said it started as a petition, which was denied before coming back before the council a second time. He said the road is a publicly accessible road that is not owned by the government.
For Sandoval to get the development it has, it had to provide commercial development and access to that commercial development.
“It doesn’t make it a government problem,” he said, adding that the city should not take on liability for something they inherited.
Ilczyszyn touched upon other liabilities the city would take on, such as drainage and infrastructure. Heydon Lane is not a full loop road, meaning there is nowhere for people to turn around as it is a dead-end road.
“There are some underlining issues that we have never discussed. All the drainage for the Sandoval land flows through all the Sandoval lakes. The water that falls — gasoline that spills, paint — flows through all the lakes of Sandoval. If a replat were to happen and it becomes a city road, our drainage flows through all of their lakes. If there is a breakout, contamination issues, environmental aspect — you’re opening up way more liability than just the road itself,” he said.
Many council members weighed in stating that their positions have not changed from the prior two times the request was brought before them.
“It looks like a cost savings issue for them and not anything else. I am not in favor of it,” Councilmember Bill Steinke said.
Mayor John Gunter said he was not aware of the drainage issue, which was concerning. He suggested that the roadway be given to the public shopping center.
“No one wants it. It’s a hot potato,” Ilczyszyn said.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email mbradbury@breezenewspapers.com