CRESTVIEW — After lunch, residents could go to Twin Hills Park, paddle boats around the pond, ollie in a skate park, turn Fido loose in the dog park, or enjoy a live performance at an amphitheatre.
That is, if long-discussed plans come to fruition.
Following two years of discussion, the Community Redevelopment Agency Board on Monday was on the verge of approving Seaside Engineering and Surveying's feasibility study for improvements.
But when Administrative Services Director Teresa Gaillard explained the $25,590 study would be the planning tool used to prepare final site plans, board member Mickey Rytman objected.
“Most contractors will give you a plan for nothing… It would just seem like we could have a design-build contract for this amount of money," he said.
Board member Tom Gordon favored holding a public forum to accept residents’ input on proposed amenities.
Member Robyn Helt, who initiated the park improvement discussion, said there was no need for a brainstorming session.
“Over the last two years, the public has had ample opportunity to approach the council and express their desires on this,” Helt said. “I am asked on a weekly basis about the dog park. The public has done its part in letting us know what they think.”
And having plans drawn up concurrently with the feasibility study wouldn't make sense if the study revealed part of the plan was unworkable, Helt said. “You would always do a feasibility study prior to building a project,” she said. “Why would you have plans drawn for something that is not feasible?”
Rytman's motion to produce an enhanced feasibility study to include more detailed information passed 3-2. Board President Shannon Hayes and Helt voted nay.
This would be done through a “directive of order,” a set of guidelines to be prepared with the CRA board’s input “to basically tell us what they will furnish and prepare, and a dollar amount for the plan," Rytman said.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Twin Hills Park study postponed; board OK's revising feasibility study