Cocoa approved a plan to vacate right of way to property near Diamond Square Tuesday, despite pleas from residents not to.
- Stone Street near U.S. 1 in Cocoa
- Residents near Diamond Square say cutting off access jeopardizes their safety
- Cocoa approved the motion Tuesday
Residents who live near Diamond Square on U.S. 1 in Cocoa say the city is creating problems for local businesses and jeopardizing residents’ safety by possibly allowing developers to build near Stone street.
“The city of Cocoa is planning to put a Cumberland Farms across the street across from us, which would completely seal off Stone Street, an important access point in our community,” said resident Purvette Bryant.
The City of Cocoa told News 13 that, at this time, it doesn't have plans to put a Cumberland Farms at that location; however, it decided Tuesday to vacate the city's right of way to the property.
This is just one issue that residents say stemmed the railroad near Stone Street shutting down back in 2003. The City of Cocoa received a request from the FEC and FDOT to close down the railroad due to safety hazards.
The City of Cocoa said it has tried to work with FDOT and FEC several times to get that portion of the street ro-opened, but its requests have not been approved.
Residents also recently found out the city would be relocating their fire station, on US 1 and Fisk Blvd, to a different location, per an agreement with the County. The County will now house their EMS offices at that location.
The relocated fire station will still be within the statewide 4 minute response time for that community.
However it still doesn’t sit well with those who believe their neighborhood is suffering because of all the changes.
“We need the city of Cocoa commissioners to revisit this and reopen Stone Street, where both the black and white communities can have thriving businesses,” said resident Nate Hooks.