Manatee County Dealing With Construction Dust Issues

Construction companies often have to deal with concerns from those who are not their clients. For example, dust issues from breaking ground can cause health and contamination issues for those who live nearby.

Dust is currently an issue in Florida. Nearly a year after first raising concerns, residents say developers in Manatee County have not resolved dust issues from a nearby construction site. Residents of the Foxbrook subdivision in Parrish say that heavy dust from a new housing community is causing respiratory issues, poor driving conditions, and expensive cleaning costs.

The Manatee County government put new rules in place last year to combat these issues. After hearing from residents last year, county officials now require developers to create a dust control plan to limit construction impacts on neighbors. Builders must limit land clearing to 100 acres at a time, halt construction activity when wind speeds are above 15 miles per hour, and place sod in cleared areas.

If developers fail to control the dust leaving their construction sites, they have to shut down construction for a first offense. For a second offense, they must shut down construction and pay a fine. A third offense will result in the need to create a revised dust control plan. Meanwhile, residents say the construction of the Rye Ranch community is causing the same problems as before.

A 61-year-old who lives with her husband in Foxbrook said she wants county officials to hold developers accountable for the dust storms. She says construction dirt blew into her porch in Parrish on March 5, contaminating a cup of coffee

A 40-year-old man who lives with his wife and three children in Foxbrook said he sprinkled water to keep the dust down when he built his home. He says contractors should be held to the same standards as anyone building their house,

Lennar’s vice president of communications says that the company is addressing complaints from residents about the dust from Rye Ranch and other nearby developments. She says Lennar takes community concerns seriously, and that the construction area is 95% stabilized with mulch and other measures to minimize blowing dust.

D.R. Horton’s Sarasota division president said that his company is also taking steps to reduce pollutants from their construction sites. D.R. Horton has established stormwater pollution prevention plans and follows best practices established by the EPA on dust control.

Construction dust is a problem for residents in other parts of Manatee County, too. County officials halted construction at the new SeaFlower community in West Bradenton “because there was not sufficient dust mitigation.” Residents have been complaining about dirt from the development, saying it gets in their homes.

Contact Us Today

Running a construction company is not easy. Homeowners and those in the surrounding areas often have concerns about dust and noise. It is possible for contractors to be held accountable for these issues.

A Florida construction lawyer from Linkhorst Law Firm can help you understand your rights and responsibilities. We can answer your questions and find the best ways to address your concerns. Schedule a consultation today by filling out the online form or calling 561-626-8880.

Source:

miamiherald.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article302460339.html