[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Marylynn

He was probably promised that a sound barrier would soon be built along with shopping, restaurants, Medical facilities, and a golf cart path to Brownwood.

If he got a promise would hope for his sake got it in writing.

[coffeebean]

I grew up on Long Island. Every time the family took a trip to the "city" we drove on the Southern State Parkway then on to the Belt Parkway. Even as a young child, I always knew I did not ever want to live close to a main highway. There are houses visible from the parkways and I knew as a child, that living that close was not for me. Our homesite was in a very quiet neighborhood and I knew I liked the peace and quiet.

As I grew older, I realized that my initial impression was the correct one for me. If I knew, as a kid, living close to a parkway, turnpike, expressway or any other kind of main roadway was not a desirable location, any adult should realize there will be a constant traffic drone. If that is not what you want, look elsewhere for your dream home.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by vonbork

We looked at a very nice house in Bridgeport Lake Sumter with a pool but it backed up to Buena Vista. During our two visits we took a while to sit by the pool and could hear the constant drone of the traffic. The RE agent gave it a try "it quiets down around 5 when the traffic lessens" and "after a while you won't even notice it" but we weren't buying it. I remember saying to my wife that when we sat outside we would be continually irritated by the noise. We now live in a house where we hear the train in the distance. Not enough to be troublesome, but my wife insists the agent should have told us. Unless we had visited at odd times, we wouldn't, and didn't notice it. I guess we should have talked to more neighbors. Bottom line, do your research and live with your decisions.

Isn't that what Google Maps is for? We would not consider even looking at a home unless we looked at the site on Google Maps. No surprises that way.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

I grew up on Long Island. Every time the family took a trip to the "city" we drove on the Southern State Parkway then on to the Belt Parkway. Even as a young child, I always knew I did not ever want to live close to a main highway. There are houses visible from the parkways and I knew as a child, that living that close was not for me. Our homesite was in a very quiet neighborhood and I knew I liked the peace and quiet.

As I grew older, I realized that my initial impression was the correct one for me. If I knew, as a kid, living close to a parkway, turnpike, expressway or any other kind of main roadway was not a desirable location, any adult should realize there will be a constant traffic drone. If that is not what you want, look elsewhere for your dream home.

Guess the people signing the petition do not get out much to understand where they are moving.

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by ffresh

In fairness, while in my former profession, I saw MANY cities around the USA (and other countries) where multi-million dollar "noise breaker" walls were constructed to ameliorate road noise in adjacent communities. I have NO idea which entity was responsible, financially or otherwise, for getting the walls constructed, or whether it was before or after the fact. I do not believe taxpayers should be financially responsible to make a developer's product more desirable; I am only pointing out the fact that this is not unheard of and, in fact, fairly common. I wonder who the petitioner wants to finance the construction - is it the developer I would suppose?

Fred

It's federal law if you add a lane to an existing highway, you must add sound mitigation if there are residences adjacent to the roadway.

[NJRICHARD]

We can all come up with the smart aleck phrases and comments. East to do. WHAT responsibility does The Village sales people have in telling the people the TRUTH! They KNEW about the noise when they built these homes so close to the Turnpike and went ahead because it was CHEAPER to jam in as many homes as possible. The reputation of The Villages as 'the friendliest place in America' was one of the reasons most of us bought here and I for one could NOT find one person that had anything to complain about when we bought our 6 year old place between Lake Sumter & Brownwood. Now we have people complaining. When the 20K+ homes eventually are sold, where do you think they will be playing golf? This is the big crack in the dike and if ALL those who took an agent's word for it backed by TV's reputation, now, start complaining, that is a disease spreads like wildfire.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by NJRICHARD

We can all come up with the smart aleck phrases and comments. East to do. WHAT responsibility does The Village sales people have in telling the people the TRUTH! They KNEW about the noise when they built these homes so close to the Turnpike and went ahead because it was CHEAPER to jam in as many homes as possible. The reputation of The Villages as 'the friendliest place in America' was one of the reasons most of us bought here and I for one could NOT find one person that had anything to complain about when we bought our 6 year old place between Lake Sumter & Brownwood. Now we have people complaining. When the 20K+ homes eventually are sold, where do you think they will be playing golf? This is the big crack in the dike and if ALL those who took an agent's word for it backed by TV's reputation, now, start complaining, that is a disease spreads like wildfire.

I believe that most people do their due diligence before buying here. There are people that drink the Kool Aid, hear from the sale agent what they want to hear and don't get it in writing, neglect to read and understand the deed restrictions and think this site is the answer to all questions Villages. The majority of us know what we purchased. The complainers are in the minority and those that do their research will continue to buy with confidence.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by davem4616

Ya have to do your homework....just maybe the wind was always blowing in the opposite direction whenever they looked at the house and never heard the noise from the Turnpike

while they're waiting to hear if a 'noise barrier' will be installed they can always enclose their lanai and invest in a whole house music system

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Amazing how people do not think things thru with making a rather large investment.

I really wonder how these people have enough intelligence to even get out of bed in the morning.....

[cmbrown915@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by WhiteToast

I believe OP referred to news article on another site that reported a home owner in Monarch Grove is circulating a petition to neighbors asking TV to build a wall or do something to negate the noise of the Florida Turnpike and now he wants to create an issue because of his decision.

When we were looking for a house in Monarch Grove there was an amazing deal (thanks to the turnpike behind it!) on a house we LOVED. We passed and got another one without a deal and without the noise! We’re so happy where we are 😊!

[Stu from NYC]

We rented a house and spent a month here learning the area and talking to as many people as we could before deciding where we might want to live and where we would not.

Did not have the time to build so Fenney and the new areas were out very quickly and thought we would want to be reasonably close to the squares and shopping and restaurants on 27/441.

Wish my crystal ball would have told us about the virus but cannot have everything.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I don't think it's reasonable to make demands for something like a sound barrier. However I do think it's a reasonable request. Or at the very least, that the ARC and whoever is responsible for the deed restrictions at those particular residents with yards that back to the highway, be granted exemptions to the "no fence" rule, as long as the fencing is a sound barrier, and is placed between the yard and the highway (and not a next door neighbor's yard).

In other words - allow the residents to pay for and have constructed their own sound barriers between themselves and the highway, if they so choose. The town zoning commission (or county or whoever runs stuff down there) should also exempt the height restriction, if there is one. Where I came from it as a 6-foot height in the back yards, and 4' in the front. If you're creating a sound barrier you might want to go up to 10 feet in the back. I think it's a reasonable request, but it should be at the homeowner's expense.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by NJRICHARD

We can all come up with the smart aleck phrases and comments. East to do. WHAT responsibility does The Village sales people have in telling the people the TRUTH! They KNEW about the noise when they built these homes so close to the Turnpike and went ahead because it was CHEAPER to jam in as many homes as possible. The reputation of The Villages as 'the friendliest place in America' was one of the reasons most of us bought here and I for one could NOT find one person that had anything to complain about when we bought our 6 year old place between Lake Sumter & Brownwood. Now we have people complaining. When the 20K+ homes eventually are sold, where do you think they will be playing golf? This is the big crack in the dike and if ALL those who took an agent's word for it backed by TV's reputation, now, start complaining, that is a disease spreads like wildfire.

This one actually made me laugh.

[valuemkt]

Originally Posted by DeanFL

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Personally I understand their plight and issue - BUT they bought there, hopefully with the knowledge of exact location and environment. Another BUT - one would think that TV would have installed sound barrier walls as we see in many communities near highways etc, esp the Turnpike on the way to airport. One of those 'buyer beware' matters. As said before by others here, a #1 on list for us when we were considering TV lots was QUIET - no pickleball, main streets, back cart paths close to rear, etc etc.

to add some clarity - from the 'online news site'>

Villager launches petition drive over ‘unbearable’ noise from Florida Turnpike
July 22, 2020

Meta Minton
A Villager has launched a petition effort over noise from the Florida Turnpike.

Harold Meyer of the Village of Monarch Grove earlier this month took his complaint about noise from the Turnpike before the Project Wide Advisory Committee. He said the noise at his home at 5752 Hickey Way has become “unbearable.” Meyer suggested that more landscaping could be added, or perhaps even a wall. However, PWAC was not receptive to his plight.
Undeterred, Meyer has launched a petition effort in a quest to gain the support of his neighbors in the Village of Monarch Grove.

“I am spearheading a petition to ask the Developers of our community to deal with the road noise created by the Florida Turnpike,” Meyer said.

Thus far, he has collected 140 signatures.

“While the noise level is noticeable east of Corbin Trail, I have spoken to Zientara Loop residents west of Corbin Trail that also hear road noise. This issue impacts property values as well as the quality of life in and outside the home,” he said.

Meyer purchased his home in May 2019 for $231,500. At least a dozen homes remain unsold on Hickey Way.
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I live in Monarch Grove and would NOT sign a petition. Do some searches and you will find that noise barrier walls deflect noise down wind .. either impacting other people, or increasing any issues that exist for some owners.. The sometimes "white noise" from the Turnpike is acceptable.., certainly nothing compared to barking dogs in kissing lanai's .. Should you be successful in getting what you think may solve YOUR problem, you could easily become a victim of the Law of Unintended Consequences.

[curtmcgee]

Caveat Emptor is Latin for "No Turnpike"

[rugbyjohn]

Hmmm. Logic!