Neighbors want say in design of 44th Avenue East

Highland Ridge homeowners are meeting with County Commissioner Robin DiSabatino tonight to discuss "the stark reality" of the 44th Avenue extension that will soon pass their neighborhood.

The extension is a planned east -west thoroughfare that was designed as an evacuation route in the case of a hurricane. It has been in the works for decades, but somehow the people who bought into the newly developed community 10 years ago never got word of the new four-lane road.

Residents recently told commissioners that they are concerned that a wide road running past their community will create noise, increase traffic and will be a huge safety concern.

In deference to their concerns, commissioners asked the county's staff to examine several options that might make the new road less imposing. those suggestions included, narrowing the road from four lanes to two along the neighborhood corridor, which stretches less than two miles; slowing traffic from 45 mph to 35 mph in that corridor and determining the best buffering for the neighborhoods.

DiSabatino will meet with Highland Ridge homeowners to answer their questions and to discuss whether such measures address all of the neighborhoods' concerns.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. overlooking the proposed expansion site. Residents should meet in the backyard at 3102 43rd Ave. E..