Letter: What to do about ‘the wall’

What can be done now? Paint the new Walmart wall white. Use 12-foot-high plantation shutters in a contrasting color, spaced as required to break up the length of the wall. Plant very large palm trees between the shutters. Make sure the developer has placed a bond with the county for the improvements.

Any agreement should be drawn by a landscape architect, with the specifics of the plan absolutely binding for the developer. No certificate of occupancy should be given until the improvements are in place. Don’t accept blight on your community. Don’t count on the good will of the developer. Make sure you have the right to make the improvements if the developer defaults.

What can be done in the future? A master plan for roads is needed. This plan should provide for the widening of the road to accommodate traffic increases. You don’t want to pay for land that has buildings on it in order to widen the road. The ordinance should require a road right of way setback. The zoning ordinance then requires an additional setback. Remember that the further the landscaping is from the structure, the more the line of sight blocks the view. Do not allow any side of a building to be a big cinderblock wall.

This story was originally published June 29, 2016 at 5:47 PM with the headline "Letter: What to do about ‘the wall’."