Letter: PZA decision ignored Hydro's noise

Letter: PZA decision ignored Hydro's noise



Tom Phillips
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 11/21/08


Editor: Each member of the St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Agency emphatically agreed that the situation with Hydro Aluminum operating within a residential plan at the St. Augustine Shores was "just a mess." They all lamented the carelessness of past planners and commissioners which allowed this to happen.

The major problem is noise; periodic crashes of aluminum scrap onto concrete or metal floors at any time of night or day, exceeding county noise code.

Then, the agency approved, on a 5-2 vote, Hydro's request to expand its physical footprint by 85 percent and personnel employment by 71 percent, in order to significantly increase production. Two members voted down the proposal because, to begin with, this operation was incompatible with a residential zone.

Of the other five, one said, "They were there first (the factory), so that's that." The other four basically concurred that, "Since they're already there, why not?" In other words, "What's a little more noise?"

Not one of these members asked the factory representatives if, along with the anticipated increase in production, there would be an accompanying increase in noise. Not one.

Tom Phillips

St. Augustine

(Phillips says he represents CAN-IT, a group of more than 100 residents of the Tuscany development in St. Augustine Shores.)


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