Citrus Chronicle
By: Terry Witt (terrywitt@chronicleonline.com)
Published: May 1, 2007

In Sugarmill Woods, birdsong and the wind rustling in the trees are the main background sounds on most days, but a study commissioned by the community’s civic association found that Suncoast Parkway II could dramatically raise noise levels.

The study by Power Acoustics Inc. said noise levels in portions of the community would be three to four times higher if the four-lane toll road were constructed on the community’s eastern border as currently planned. The civic association asked the state to move the highway 800 meters east of Sugarmill.

Florida Turnpike Enter-prise’s top executive rejected the request.

In a March 19 letter, James L. Ely, executive director and chief executive officer of FTE, said moving the road alignment 800 meters would not be considered as part of the re-evaluation of the parkway route.

“The approved alignment was chosen in order to minimize environmental and social impacts along the corridor,” Ely wrote. “Shifting the alignment as requested by the Sugarmill Woods Civic Association is not feasible as part of the re-evaluation.”

He said the FTE is acquiring consultants to update the 9-year-old parkway corridor noise study and would follow federal and state laws and consider all developments in close proximity to the parkway, including Sugarmill Woods. The study would use “future worst case traffic flow conditions as recommended in Power Acoustic, Inc.’s report.”

“This may result in additional sound barrier walls along the corridor,” he wrote.

But Civic Association President Paul “Skip” Christensen said the association doesn’t want barrier walls. He said the association believes the sounds of the parkway would all but disappear if the route were moved a half-mile east on state owned lands — the Annatulegia Hammock.

FTE staff has agreed to meet with Christensen and other community leaders Friday in Ocoee at FTE’s headquarters. The three Sugarmill villages’ presidents sent County Commission Chairman Dennis Damato a letter April 16, endorsing the civic association’s position.

Christensen is hopeful the meeting is a sign that Ely’s “no” is not final.

“My feeling is he had a quick answer, hoping we would go away,” Christensen said. “The fact that he will meet with us; that tells me there’s room for discussion. It’s not a full out no.”

Turnpike spokeswoman Joanne Hurley said Ely’s letter was a specific response to the civic association’s request to move the turnpike 800 meters east of the approved route.

“But we’re going to have a dialogue with the Sugarmill folks on how we may mitigate there,” she said.

The current alignment of the parkway would run parallel with the Progress Energy power lines on Sugarmill’s eastern boundary. Some residents would have a direct view of the parkway from their homes. The analysis of noise impacts said sound levels would increase substantially deep into the community.

Sugarmill was originally platted in 1972 with 8,600 building lots, with about 4,400 currently developed. The community was developed with “wildlife strips” or greenbelts behind every home to retain the rural character and attract wildlife.

The noise analysis found that current background sound levels came primarily from the existing sounds of nature, such as the effects of wind, birds and other wildlife. Minimal street activity was observed Jan. 10 to 12, the days sound monitoring equipment recorded the sounds of life in Sugarmill.

Ely’s letter to Christensen brought a swift and terse reply from County Commissioner Gary Bartell. In an April 10 letter, Bartell cited numerous reasons why he thought the parkway should be shifted 800 meters east and said the Ely’s reply to the association was “frankly unacceptable.”

“It is important that your department make every attempt to minimize the impact of the parkway on the citizens of Citrus County as much as possible as you re-evaluate the path of the parkway,” Bartell wrote. “I am requesting that your reconsider your response and support their request, or you may well lose my support for Suncoast Parkway 2 extension.”

All five county commissioners met individually with FTE officials last week in private sessions. Damato said he came away satisfied that FTE is willing to work with residents.

“My meeting was upbeat and I liked what I heard, that they are willing to work with these people,” Damato said.