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Communication Barrier Snarls Wall Repair

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: February 18, 2009

HUDSON - Summertree residents complain it's like talking to a brick wall.

They say state officials have refused to correct a problem with the subdivision's barrier wall dating from the widening of S.R. 52 several years ago.

The wall had been 6 feet tall until the road widening. For some reason, a section of the wall was lowered to 3.5 feet. The District 7 office of the Florida Department of Transportation, in Tampa, seems to have ignored pleas and disclaimed any damage, residents say.

"State, shame on you," Shirley Youngs, a Summertree resident, said at the Thursday meeting of Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization. "You should be extremely ashamed of yourself."

She was directing her ire at Donald Skelton, DOT's District 7 secretary, who attended the MPO meeting.

"How dare the state say they're not obligated," Youngs declared. The subdivision is on the south side of S.R. 52, a bit west of Moon Lake Road.

"The noise level is getting worse and worse and worse," another Summertree resident, Joe Jablonski, testified. "We've already surpassed the estimated 2010 noise level" DOT had calculated, with more development on the way, including a new high school.

Jablonski said he virtually can't sit on his back porch because of the noise. He played an audio tape he recorded from his porch indicating the din of noise from traffic. He suggested restoring the barrier wall to its 6-foot height with a curved, 6-inch "noise cap extension" to redirect sound waves away from homes.

Commissioner Michael Cox also criticized DOT's response to the residents' pleas.

"This is what frustrates people about government," Cox commented. "I guess I'm not going to get anywhere today," as DOT representatives sat silently.

"I'll be a thorn in your side. I feel the county dropped the ball" allowing this to happen, Cox added.

In response, Skelton explained that DOT regarded the Summertree wall as a privacy structure, not a noise-abatement barrier. Noise is bound to increase after DOT performs its studies.

Some of the Summertree houses were built after the S.R. 52 widening project, DOT officials noted.

County officials countered that argument, saying development plans for the subdivision were created long before the widening.

Skelton said he will research any precedents under which the state agency could assist residents.

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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