Reader Spotlight: 'Growth May Be Threatening'

Devoted Patch reader JC had this to say in response to our story about downtown growth:

I have noticed an increasing and bad trend along Bayshore, Phillippe Pkwy, and Hwy 580 in Safety Harbor over the past several months. Cars racing and red lining motorcycles early on weekend mornings and many late evenings. I have even been passed on the double yellow line by cars on both Bayshore and Phillippe Pkwy within the past 2 weeks. What is going on…we are primarily residential here! Maybe, with any growth in Safety Harbor (especially the more and more drinking establishments), the existing road structure can't handle the selfish driving that results. I can't think of any other reason for this. “Growth" may be threatening a reason many of us love Safety Harbor - the peace and quiet! And of course, the new Mullet Park, the Marina Park expansion downtown, and the future Courtney Campbell Causeway trail will bring more walkers, bicyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts to our town, and vehicles passing through our town - directly conflicting with our single lane residential streets. If this future is left unmanaged, someone will get hurt or killed along our little city's roadways. We need to get in front of this. I am not a fan, but we require SERIOUS traffic calming measures or clearly marked lowered speed limits along our main thoroughfares. As an example, 40 to 45 mph on some parts of Bayshore and Philippe Pkwy? Really? That's the same speed as McMullen Booth and that road is 2 lane divided. Leaving things to work themselves out does not seem to be working.

What do you think? 

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