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Items of Interest
Current &
Accurate North Merritt Island Weather Stats at our service
Phil Waltman, a certified Weather
Spotter for the National Weather Service in Melbourne, has offered his data to everyone at http://home.roadrunner.com/~kg4zvw1/. Mr. Waltman is a resident of NMI and
as a member of the NMIHOA, offers this gift to his neighbors as a public service.
Waltman said, "The web page is updated
every 5 minutes and it will auto refresh itself if left up on one's computer. This allows everyone to see the actual North
Merritt Island weather instead of what the Orlando TV stations or other sources provide.
Such information can be very
helpful during severe weather situations and of course you can see what our weather is from work, on vacation, or anywhere
with internet access. Some of the advantages are knowing
exactly how much rainfall we actually get here, wind gust values, and realtime temperature readouts.
There is also another website that
stores historical data with graphs and tabular data located at http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KFLMERRI7 which updates every 5 minutes and
has been running 24/7 for over 5 years."
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North Courtenay Corridor Study
Recommended for Approval
On February 23, 2009, the Local Planning Agency (LPA) recommended approval of our long anticipated North Courtenay
(NMI) Corridor Study.
This advisory board recommended the county commissioners approve our North Courtenay (NMI) Corridor Study
and codify our study elements into county ordinances. This improvement to NMI is the result of many
NMI residents' hard work over several years (since 1992).
We
can have our corridor peppered with busy, garish, flashing neon signs close to the road or we can encourage a classy,
high value, well landscaped corridor with discreet lighting and generous setbacks, as the gateway to our home.
The latter will certainly increase our property values.
This
item will come before the Board of County Commissioners once more when it is ready to be finalized.
Please review the Corridor Study at: http://www.brevardcounty.us/zoning/documents/051012-npcrg2005final.pdf
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North-North Tropical Trail Small Area Study Recommended
For Transmittal to State
The North-North Tropical Trail Small Area Study that was completed in 2005, approved by the BoCC
in 2007 and recommended by both LPA and the BoCC to be transmitted to the state as an Amendment to our Comprehensive Plan
and Future Land Use Map.
This study was a very thorough and high quality study that included area resident surveys, multiple
public meetings, county staff input and detailed research. One of the primary
conclusions of the study was that the zoning density in this area should NOT be increased, due to the overall limitations
in the area and that the rural quality of the area be preserved and the Indian River Lagoon be protected. Those higher zoning designations that were already in effect through prior BDPs in the area at the time
of the study remained.
Please review the North-North Tropical Trail Small Area Study at:
http://www.brevardcounty.us/zoning/documents/0512-north-tropical-trail-small-area-study.pdf
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Check
online at www.brevardparks.com for more information about the great public parks on NMI.
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Space Coast Government TV is now shown on Brighthouse cable channel 199 in most of Brevard
County, on Comcast Channel 51 in the Mims area; and on Comcast channel
26 in the Micco area. Program schedules are updated daily at www.scgtv.org.
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Copyright 2006, North Merritt Island Homeowner's Association.
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EEL Program Awarded $2.5 Million
Florida's Blood Centers' Mission is to provide a safe and adequate blood supply to our hosptials, to support world-class collaborative medical
research into human disease, and to improve the quality of life for its employees, partners, donors, and the community.
The nearby Blood Donor Center is located at 956 South US1, Rockledge, FL - 321.632.5720. Pleae donate to save a
life. You may call 1-888-9-DONATE or go to www.floridasbloodcenters.org for more information.
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2005 North North Tropical Trail Citizens Small Area Study
In April, 2005, a small area study (SAS) for North-North
Tropical Trail was established. Over nine months of work by dedicated NMI residents went into this comprehensive
research project which covered the area along North Tropical Trail from Porcher Road to the "bend" of SR 3.
The recommendations of this SAS were submitted to the Board
of County Commissioners in December of 2005.
A final staff review was held on July 19, 2007 and then
this SAS was included on the Commissioners' agenda on September
25, 2007 and passed.
Among the items included are the Future Land Use Map (FLUM)
be changed to the current zoning density map, action to alleviate flooding on West Crisafulli, Church and Porcher Roads, the
repair of several roads in the study area, and to exclude use of the Open Space Ordinance in this area.
Since other areas in North Merritt Island may see the benefit
of holding their own small area studies to maintain the quality of life and sense of place that makes our home so
unique, this first one may provide a helpful reference in understanding the process.
The current status of the NNTT SAS is that the LPA and BoCC has recommended that the Study be
transmitted to the state as an Amendment to our Comprehensive Plan and the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) be modified accordingly.
After return from the state, the LPA and BoCC will hopefully approve these improvements to be
incorporated within our county planning and zoning.
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A Small Area Study is approved for East Merritt Island.
It includes South Banana River Drive from the SR 520 south,
including Newfoundharbor Drive, and the North Banana River Drive from the SR 520 North to the Barge Canal; west including
the Ulumay Sanctuary though Sykes Creek with the east boundry the Banana River.
County representatives from the Transportation, Stormwater, Natural Resources, Recreation,
Fire Rescue, Water & Sewer, Emergency Management, as well as organizations/vendors, including FPL, Waste Management, etc., have provided information about the area. A group of 11 Merritt Island citizens
worked through 17 public meetings with the county staff to craft these recommendations that cover land use, and intensity
of development for this area.
The study was approved by the Local Planning Agency (LPA) on September 8, 2008 and went
before the to the Board of County Commissioners on October 14, 2008, where it was unanimously approved! On February
23, 2009, the study recommendations were again reviewed by the LPA and this board voted to transmit to the state
as an Amendment to our Comprehensive Plan. The BoCC approved the study for transmittal to the state on March 5, 2009.
A huge thanks to our Commissioner Chuck Nelson for his strong support of this and other studies in District 2.
We may remember, what happens to other areas of Merritt Island may soon happen to
us. It is in our best interests to support all Small Area Studies on Merritt Island for the health and future of our
home.
(03.10.09)
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The Island Pioneer Trail
Jack Ratterman, our
Association President has persevered to make our Island Pioneer Trail (between Chase Hammock Road and Hall Road)
a reality. According to our District 2 Commissioner, Chuck Nelson, there is funding for a start on this project for
this 2009 fall. We are so excited to see the Trailhead begin at King Park on Chase Hammock Road and wind through near
pristine "natural Florida landscapes" all the way to a portage for kayacks on Hall Road!!
A lot of complex planning is
involved and it takes time to put together a project like this, but thanks to the help of Commissioner Chuck Nelson,
Bike and Pedestrian Path Coordinator Barbara Meyer, Park & Rec Jack Masson and a host of other excellent community supporters,
we are looking forward to this project getting under way this winter! Special grants were obtained specifically
for this trail, so it is not taking any money from our distressed county budget. The NMIHOA has been working on
this for ~ 9 years...and we are nearing the start! Very exciting!!!
AND MORE GOOD NEWS is on the horizon for NMI! The footprint we
requested for a future community center in Mitchell Ellington Park is also coming to fruition, after all these years of meetings
and patience. A great Pavillion of our own...for all our residents to enjoy for generations to come! We voted
for the Referendum dedicated to support our park and now we may see it all come to pass....and boost our economy with
jobs too! Look for more of this incredible news!!!
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The North Merritt Island
Special District Advisory Board (NMISDAB) has seven members who represent the NMI residents concerning
zoning issues in our area. Elected members are Chris Cook, Mary Hillberg, Aneta Ott, Ron Penn, Tom McFarland and Shaye
Williams and Gina Lindhorst.
This non-partisan,
quasi-judicial, elected board represents the interests, views and future vision of the NMI community regarding rezoning
requests in this area and makes recommendations to the County Commissioners by studying the county rules, reviewing the
areas involved, listening to the area residents and hearing the presentations of applicants for proposed zoning changes. This
board is our Special NMI "Zoning Board" by referendum vote, so it is very important in terms of rezoning issues for
the residents of NMI.
The meetings of this board are generally
the second Thursday of each month on the 2nd floor of the Merritt Island County Complex and starts promptly
at 6pm.
These are public meetings and are open
to all residents. If the access doors to the Complex are inadvertently locked, please ring the doorbell assertively
until they are unlocked.
Please check the "Zoning" section of this website for more information about
pending rezoning issues that may affect NMI. If you are unable to attend the meetings, share your opinions regarding
rezoning issues on NMI by email or phone to your area NMIHOA District Representative or email the manager of
this website.
THANK YOU for supporting your community!
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Environmentally Endangered Lands PICA
Dr. Scott Taylor, PhD, Central Regional Land Manager, Environmentally Endangered Land Program
(EEL), invites us to learn more about our North Island Treasure. The 900-acre Pine Island Conservation Area (PICA) located
on North Merritt Island is just one of the spectacular one-of-a-kind things we have here on NMI. To learn about PICA
and see all the great things that our EEL Program has to offer, click www.eelbrevard.com. Dr. Scott Taylor may be reached at 255-4466 or staylor@brevardparks.com.
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Beautification Xeriscape Grant Awarded to NMIHOA
In 2006 we were awarded a Beautification Xeriscape Grant from Keep Brevard Beautiful, Inc! The
median area of SR3 ~ 1.2 miles north of the Barge Canal (across from the Merritt Island Nursery) has been cared for by the
NMIHOA for several years with permission of the Florida Department of Transportation.
Volunteers removed old plants, repaired the reuse water sprinkler system, planted new native grasses,
flowers and mulched the median area. This last renewal was completed during 2006. It was a colorful
visual relief on SR3 for our residents and visitors throughout that year and was featured in a beautiful (above the fold)
1/2 page color photo in the TODAY newspaper.
In April of 2007, B&G Landscaping volunteered to "adopt" the median and maintain it. A sign indicating
this has been placed on the south end of the median. We are looking forward to increased participation by this
volunteer business to maintain this median of our NMI corridor.
In addition, there are other ways we may beautify and enhance our community. Any time
we see a situation that is not compatible with the Vision of the association (see our Home page on this website), we
may make a difference by contacting our district association representative. The more we collaborate, the more beautiful
and valuable our North Island home will become.
If you would like to contribute to your community in a "green" way, or would otherwise
like to volunteer for the Beautification Committee, please contact Mary
Hillberg @ 453-0220.
(03.10.09)
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Mitchell Ellington Park has become a true
"field of dreams"! Even with limited funds for maintenance (and with budgetary constraints always looming), the
park is a wonderful asset to our community.
Many children's baseball games are played there every week and
there is nothing but praise for the beautiful park!
Hat's off to our Commissioner Chuck Nelson for actively supporting
this quality of life improvement for our Island community. During the original planning, a footprint for a community center was placed in the park. Now, although a community
center may be too expensive at this time, it looks like there may be a big beautiful pavillion built there for all our residents
to use! It may also serve as a command post after future hurricane events. The funding for this pavillion is part
of our already paid Referendum monies and cannot be spent for other items.
(09.18.09)
2005 North Courtenay Parkway Corridor Study
Status
This North Courtenay Parkway Corridor Study
was completed by North Merritt Island volunteers and a final draft sent to the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners
in September 2005.
This study involved many issues that impact
safety, aesthetic and environmental aspects of this corridor, which has been named a "Scenic Highway" by the State of
Forida.
The 2006 Brevard County Board of Commissioners voted to accept
this study and the recommendations were to be codified into the county planning for North Merritt Island. You may
review the final study under "Helpful Links" in the Zoning section of this website.
It will soon be time for an evaluation of this Corridor
Study to assess the results of this community/county collaborative effort. We will report that when it is available.
(03/10/09)
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