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The brick-paver issue in Westchase warrants more discussion

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By JESSICA BALANZA

jbalanza@tampatrib.com

Published: November 4, 2009

I can't say I was surprised a couple of weeks back when I got a more-than-normal amount of reader comments concerning an Oct. 21 column I wrote concerning Westchase and an issue involving speed humps.

Most of the comments were constructive. Some were against what I wrote, and others were in agreement. And because of the amount of feedback I got I wanted to dedicate another column to the topic.

I recognize traffic-calming devices are a touchy subject no matter where you go.

The topic I harpooned in my column was based on a conversation that took place at a Westchase Community Development District's meeting on Oct. 6. A co-worker reported on it.

The conversation involved whether the CDD should send a letter voiding a contract with Hillsborough County because the county used faux brick pavers on speed tables along Countryway Boulevard instead of real brick.

Greg Chesney, chairman of the Westchase East CDD board, said the agreement was for the county to install speed tables with brick. The county would fund the installation and Westchase would maintain them.

According to Chesney, however, the contract was not upheld by the county because the tables were paved with a faux brick pattern. And since the county didn't keep up its side of the agreement, Westchase doesn't want to be obligated to maintain something they didn't want.

If this were the only reason Westchase wanted to break a contract I could completely understand. A deal is a deal is a deal.

My dilemma in my previous column was with those who expressed distaste in aesthetics.

I drove to the area, and the shade doesn't exactly match the brick color that is used all over Westchase.

Chesney confirmed that some CDD members and residents had issues with the aesthetics of the pavers.

To add to this already complicated issue, Steve Valdez, spokesman for Hillsborough County, said brick pavers were never part of the contract.

After he read my column, he said his curiosity was piqued, and he checked the contract.

"Don't know where they got the impression that it would be real brick," Valdez said.

Westchase comes out the winner either way in this "he-said-she-said" issue.

If the agreement is flawed, then Westchase doesn't have to pay for maintenance. And if it isn't, there may not be much to the upkeep.

Based on my conversations with Chesney and Valdez, there is no proof that the faux brick material is unsafe in any way.

In fact, the county is having fewer issues with texturized pavers than it's presently having with brick. The problem is the installation process.

Along Casey Road in Carrollwood, speed tables with brick pavers are being removed due to a recent arbitration decision and because the installation method used by the county is not holding up.

"We started to have digression and dips where cars drive," Valdez said. "Engineers perhaps should have used a different type of mortar material."

He said the county has had to do little to no maintenance on the faux brick pavers that have also been used in other areas such as Carrollwood and Carrollwood Village.

The Westchase outcome is yet to be determined.

If it wins the fight against the county, Chesney said, "It doesn't preclude us from maintaining them if they are worn."

The CDD doesn't want to be obligated to do so if the contract is, in fact, faulty. I couldn't agree more with it.

Send traffic and transportation info, questions or comments to Jessica Balanza at jbalanza@tampatrib.com or call (727) 451-2342. Follow Jessica on Twitter at www.twitter.com/JessSteers Clear.

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