Northeast Rural Area, Watergrass traffic, EMS concerns

0:12And the county were in agreement that this was a transition area. The image shows the amount of was allowed by a developer to take down a hill. If you could switch the images. That is taller than I am. That hillem back there was the original height of that. And if you switch it back to the other one again. That shows you the road was actually the top of that hill, and they were allowed to take it down. This

0:42image is um the original height. Um by the way that project's called Saint Show Two and because their entry and exits are on 41 there will be at least 2,000 U vehicles on Blanton Road because of this. Another project that is to come before the Planning Commission but has asked for continuance this week is also seeking to opt out of the rural area. Perhaps they're planning on topping off a hill to get out of complying with Scenic Road Ordinance.

1:12They are also they are asking to change this ordinance. It's called Hilltops Vista.

1:20I think that because they're trying to change those ordinances, they're getting around it. What I'm trying to say is there are an awful lot of things going on in the Northeast Rural area plan that are tearing this plan down. There's also one on the north side that is rumored to take huge amount of area out of our plant. What is gonna be left? And by the way, we've been trying to encourage the biking And that's going to be gone by the interstate because with two things with diesels going on and

1:51warehouses, there's no chance for bikers there, plus RVs. Thank y'all.

1:56Thank you.

2:00Just wanna check one more time for Miles Puka. He was signed up for WebEx. I don't know if I'm saying his last name right. Mm-hmm. But I was told he wasn't on yet. Okay. Next one is Larry Lewis.

2:18I just came to uh this meeting just to t tell you I'm from uh little disappointed

2:25name and address for the record, please.

2:26Oh yes. Larry Lewis, [address removed].

2:32Thank you.

2:33And uh I'm a petitioner for that area. I live in a subdivision back off of uh Coolwood. And th this when I turned this in on this PABC, I didn't realize these this was not a low impact county road. This is a cut-through road from 301 to Fort King and they use it all the time. We got big trucks going through and uh the dust was bad enough with the cars. With now we get all these other trucks and stuff cutting

3:03through the roads and stuff. And we had this you guys passed his road to have a black top in November of uh two thousand uh ten. And Here it is all this time, and it's they just told me it was something to do with the fact that uh on Swift Mud, had to go through some reviews and stuff. I went up there last week. They just basically said the people can do what they want to do as far as on the county, it's

3:33getting these roads done. And I've had them ditches cut out and everything several times because of the civil go down in the into the ditches and stuff and and water run off with the roads. And all I want to do is just make a quick comment. I appreciate if you could help me uh get this road black topped.

3:52Okay. Thank you very much.

3:56Pardon.

3:56I said thank thank you very much.

4:01The next person is Justin Cook.

4:07Good morning. Justin Cook, [address removed]. Uh I wanted to kind of talk this morning about EMS, fire, police, and really what's going on. So I'm over at uh Waterbridge and underst or um Uh Telamor. And So what's what's going on over there in the Watergrass area is we've noticed a significant uptick in what's going on after 282 and the overpass entrance and exit has opened up. So

4:37really what's going on is in regards to the EMS fire police

4:43With the with the increase in traffic we have noticed that fire has not been able to get out, especially off of Old Pasco Road, going on or old bridge going on to Hancart, so that's a concern. And then also Hancart at all hours of the day and night have just become more or less a drag strip. And so one that's a huge noise concern and then two It's a safety concern. So really I guess what my point being is is is there anything and I would propose for

5:13the docket to look at how we can increase fire police and rescue uh to one look at the overall traffic. I know that there's been traffic studies done and I appreciate all of that. But the enforcement is just not there. From what I understand, that there's very few uh local police that are able to do that. However, what I have been told is that FHP is willing to take that into consideration. So how do we get that uh under review and consideration for some of the speed

5:44and traffic uh to help out with that? The other piece is we've come to some of these meetings and hearings. is we're not hearing about additional fire police or EMS services in that particular area. So again, that proposal is is how do we get some more of those public servants out there in that area to hear and to be able to respond where we know that they can't get in, can't get out, and develop to service the community. Thank you very much.

6:09Is it in the unincorporated area or the incorporated area?

6:13Uh I'm not sure I I'm completely versatile.

6:18Right nearby hand cart what he's talking about.

6:21JJ Murphy's in the back, maybe he can meet with you. Uh Alex from the Sheriff's Office here as well. And then uh I think if you talk with him afterward he might be able to help you. Okay. And by the way, Mr Lewis, Brantford Amadoule, I was looking for him earlier, he can talk to you about the road situation too.

6:35Okay. Call my office. Set up a meeting I'd be more than happy to sit with you. Okay. All right.

6:41Thank you very much.

6:48Uh who's next?

6:49Next person is Cassandra Bronson. Cassara Cassara sorry. State your name and address for the record, please.

6:57Kissara Bronson, uh [address removed]. Um, I'm a first-time homebuyer and a new resident in Pasco County and a mother of three. So when I bring up my concerns and my experiences so far in living here in Pasco County, I'm regularly told that I should have been smarter and done more research before I made my home purchase. I never imagined that the county I chose to buy in, whose slogan includes open spaces. We'd be planning to develop so much of the open land that makes this area attractive or widen roads right

7:27up to the backyards of our homes. I never imagined that the lack of infrastructure that exists and support service would have the impact that it's having on my neighborhood and my community and my family. Old Bridge Road is being used as a cut-through for all of East Pasco's traffic to get to Wesley Chapel, Tampa, and 75. They're extremely large industrial and commercial trucks that are tearing up our small residential roads. The plan for overpass to be extended through Handcart and 301 was supposedly planned to be done around 2029

7:58and may be possibly moved up based on recent conversations that we've had with some of you. We need a better solution, and we need it now to relieve the homeowners in Watergrass. Something has to be done about the hand the speeds on handcart and the noise. There are people speeding down handcart at all hours of the day and the night, and there have already been so many accidents. Watergrass has been left exposed and is in a very unsafe position given that Crown, the developer, was allowed to build a berm instead of a barrier wheel. Well.

8:30I don't see being berms being built in almost all of the communities that surround us.

8:36I would ask that every commissioner here Google the words berm and car accident. Every article that I've seen to read mentions that a car has launched over the berm and into a home and hurt a family. I would like you all to look back at the accident that just happened last week on Eland where a cement truck lost control and injured a family and killed others. Not only are many of the was the residents in Watergrass concerned about a truck losing control, And launching over our berm that serves as

9:07a ramp. We're really concerned about the excessive noise and the long-term effects that this have on our health. physical health, mental health, and the area that just attracted us to moving here and how that's not being maintained. Thank you.

9:22Thank you.

9:25Next is Julie Picchiato.

9:29Good job.

9:31Julie Picciano [address removed]. Um I live in Watergrass and my house backs up to Hancot Road near the corner of Old Bridge Road. Traffic is much heavier for Watergrass to sustain um all this traffic, especially after 75 exit. Um York Pest Road exit has opened. Um I believe the new developments being built along handcart will include barrier walls. Are these are there different rules for BOPH

10:02com communities? Why are they getting barrier walls and we have a burn? Um We are living in the middle of a construction zone and the this building can continue for ten plus years or even more. We need a barrier along Handcart to block speeding tractor trailers, cement trucks, and gravel trucks that speed all day and night. I know when overpass extends to a six lanes, F DOT will be installing an eight-foot barrier. What is the plan for Handcart when it extends? I

10:32want to thank Vencat uh with the traffic operations for being so responsive. If I can get an update on um I requested to lower the speed limit on Hancock Road and I just wanted to get the status on that. I don't know if he's on the line. Um

10:49Uh excessive speeding uh up to 75 miles per hour, mufflers, law uh loud mufflers keep us up all day and night. Florida laws prohibit vehicles from producing excessive unusual noise, yet there is no policing on this hand on hand car road. These noise decibels exceed 70 over 70 and it's unexpected unacceptable standards. Um I did reach out to Commissioner Oakley. and the last email he sent to me was to reach out to Mr. Weber at Crown Developers. Crown will not

11:20help us because they follow county guidelines. Can the county work with Crown to fix some of our issues? Old Ridge Road is filled with potholes and fire trucks can't get through. Something needs to be done to help our community. Thank you.

11:35Thank you.

11:38Tammy Tammy Cook?

11:44Good morning. I'm Tammy Cook, [address removed]. I'm also in the Watergrass community and I came to speak with you guys this morning about the issues at Old Bridge and Hancart Road, among other issues. The first question I have, traffic operations informed us that there would be a temporary signal within the next 90 days at Old Bridge and Hancart Road. Road. That intersection has weekly accidents, if not more often. We'd also like to

12:14request a roundabout be placed there as a safe and inexpensive long-term solution for exiting our community. It will serve as well as a self-policing tool for the speeders along Cantart.

12:27Roundabouts also don't require any upkeep or power and give relief to law enforcement. Offers officers from trying to chase down speeders along Han Bart. Traffic operations also informed us that Oak Bridge Road will no longer allow large trucks. This is excellent news, especially for station uh fire station 38, who we observed from our back door, got stuck in traffic trying to exit Watergrass to respond to an emergency. There was no way for any Anyone to turn, scoot

12:58over, or allow them to get through. They sat in traffic for almost five minutes trying to get out to respond. My question is, how is traffic operations planning on mitigating semi-trucks, dump trucks, auto haulers, cement mixers, buses, etc. on Old Bridge Road? When can we expect that damaged and buckling road to be repaired due to these heavy trucks cutting through our small community road? How will it be enforced that only local delivery trucks

13:28are allowed to be? Access that community road to prevent further damage. Again, I'd also like to thank Traffic Operations Vencat for his work trying to help us with Old Bridge and that intersection. He's phenomenal. We're all aware by now that the I-75 exit was opened before the FDOT overpassed extension to 301 was finished. This has created Massive problems for the residents of Watergrass. Traffic operations informed us they're moving up the Overpass

13:58extension project to 2026. My question is, who's making that happen? What is the projected timeline for completion if they begin in 206? In 2026. You heard my neighbor talk about the request for barrier walls for safety because the berms are Not going to keep families safe. What she didn't mention is also a long hand cart road. There's a park that our children play at that is not protected in any way. So my question to that is

14:28if an injury occurs due to the lack of proper protection for those residents and partgoers, who do the families hold liable in the lawsuit? Is that Pasco County, FDOT, VOPH, Developers, Sheriff's Office? Um because if a family has a uh it if a family has a harmed loved one due to this sort of reckless development, there will be a lawsuit to follow. Um

14:55What's the last one? Anyone on WebEx? No. Okay. And I'm sure ladies that uh Commissioner Oakley is your district, correct?

15:02Do one name?

15:03That's you Watergrass is your district, right?

15:06Um well uh on watergrass I don't know that we can control Mr. Kabala, can we control the berm that watergrass has put up inside their subdivision? I mean

15:19I think that uh

15:20they're talking about but I haven't actually been there to see it. So right.

15:24So I didn't want to get too deep with it, but knowing that one of them mentioned you already, I assume it was your district. But I think it's I think if you just you know take care of it, you'll be you'll we'll be right back. Oh yeah, I'll

15:33take care of it. I'll take care of looking into it and I'll find out what the uh issue was, especially the issue about uh when we opened up Overpass Road from there. Interstate the traffic come through there. Did we have an agreement with uh Watergrass that we would that traffic would flow through right on the hand cart? Like other traffic, uh normal traffic goes through there. So put trucks on

15:55there. Yeah, there's definitely some timing issues. I've I've been talking with Mr. Adam Walk. We'll we'll sit back and we'll come we'll come back and put our heads together on the case.

16:02Okay. If you can get those answers to me, then I'll get the answers to the folks out there.

16:07Obviously Venket's working on

16:08it

16:08too, so

16:10I'd like to make a general comment.

16:12Okay, go ahead. And

16:12um like I I don't know that area well. Um but in looking at the plan we approved, there's absolutely zero connectivity between the little neighborhoods. And and and this is what happens when roads don't connect to each other. This is classic. So just take a look sometime at the map of how this neighborhood was developed.

16:35Okay. All right, thank you. And there's no one else on WebEx? No one on WebX. Is there any in anyone in the audience who didn't speak that would like to come forward and speak?

16:42Yes.

16:43Just your name and address for the record please.

16:44Uh Zurio Cabrera. Um I'm actually on the C B D board for Watergrass. Um uh I'm in Palamore also, uh [address removed]. And uh essentially I'm here to echo the same as my neighbors. Uh It's been going on for quite some time. I've been there about two years. And uh I can assure you that uh on the playground side there's a fence um or a guardrail. That ends exactly at the playground area. So if you see it on the map, you'll see it. Um but again, why

17:15not echo same as my neighbors?