Proposed speed tables rattle Palmer Ranch neighborhood

The Board of Governors of the Turtle Rock Community Association has a plan to slow speeders in the area, but it appears to have hit a bump in the road: the community’s residents.

The board planned to install 17 speed tables in the Palmer Ranch community of Turtle Rock. The speed tables are designed to prevent drivers from going faster than 25 mph throughout the area; the engineering firm Stantec designed the project.

But some residents say the speed tables would present a bigger inconvenience for the residents than speeders do.

Because of the response from residents, the topic was added to the agenda of a board meeting Tuesday. During the meeting, the board agreed to conduct a street study to gauge the prevalence of speeders. A workshop is scheduled for next month to further consider the proposal.

Bev Moses, president of the Savannah Homeowners Association within Turtle Rock, is one of the most outspoken opponents of the plan. Although she’s appreciative the board has moved toward a more open and thorough process, Moses still believes the proposed plan would be a misstep for a community such as Turtle Rock.

“The board needs to consider all options,” Moses said.

Moses said speed tables would punish residents of the 758 Turtle Rock homes for the actions of a handful of speeders. She said several other Palmer Ranch communities don’t have speed tables, and based on the homeowners’ letters she’s read written to the Turtle Rock board, there’s little demand for them in Turtle Rock.

“They’re against it,” Moses said. “They say there are other options; the board doesn’t have to be so drastic — they can take baby steps.”

One concerned resident is Jay Cooper, a civil engineer with a background in road design. In a letter provided by Moses, he wrote that a radar sign would be a more economical and practical solution, with none of the downsides of speed tables.

He laid out a list of those downsides backed by a series of articles. Among other things, he said speed tables would reduce property values, hurt the response time of emergency vehicles and increase the wear and tear on cars driving over them.

Board President Becky Bee declined to comment on the plan. Moses believes the board’s decision at Tuesday’s meeting was a step in the right direction, and she urged the board to consider input from residents.

“We have to listen to these homeowners — they’re the ones who are paying dues around here,” Moses said.

Contact David Conway at [email protected]