CDD discusses options to deter area speeders

HERITAGE HARBOUR — Rick Schappacher remembers his frustration when he saw cars zip past his house, obviously going faster than the speed limit, when his children were young.

The Heritage Harbour South Community Development District engineer sympathizes with parents of young children who are upset with neighborhood speeders.

“To me, anything over the speed limit is a problem,” Schappacher said. “My kids are grown now, but I didn’t like it when people were flying through my neighborhood, either.”

Schappacher manages the two speed radar signs that rotate throughout Heritage Harbour and are currently stationed in Lighthouse Cove.

The signs’ generated reports showed maximum speeds up to 40 mph on the community’s 25 mph streets with an estimated total vehicle count of 5,500 drivers. The reports showed about 15 cars sped through the monitored zones in a two-week period.

As a result of residents’ concerns of speeders in the community and reports generated from speed radar signs, the speed limit will decrease from 25 to 20 mph in Lighthouse Cove. The signs weren’t changed as of last week, but the supervisors hope the change will take effect as soon as possible.

Lighthouse Cove also requested the addition of 12 speed bumps throughout the community.

The CDD didn’t approve speed bump installations, which can cost up to $3,500 each, partially because of the greater need for speed deterrents in other parts of the community, such as Stoneybrook.

The CDD requested Schappacher research which areas of Heritage Harbour would benefit most from the speed bumps and to bring back estimates for installing four speed bumps in the community.

The CDD has also discussed the idea of having an official monitor speeding in Heritage Harbour a few times per week and issue tickets.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].