Backyard Buzz – November 22

Backyard Buzz - November 22

Why did The Landings Association allow Chatham County to install advance warning rumble strips (thermoplastic) on Diamond Causeway, McWhorter Drive, and Green Island Road?

Chatham County manages these roads, not TLA. Therefore, The Landings Association did not have the final say on the safety improvements implemented by Chatham County. However, as previously reported, the Association objected to the use of rumble strips due to the potential noise. Some residents have reported that when they call Chatham County to complain about the noise, they are told TLA’s Board approved the rumble strips. This statement is not accurate.

Since the installation of the rumble strips earlier this week, some residents have expressed their concern with the County’s decision and want to know what can be done to have the rumble strips removed.

If you wish to voice your concerns regarding the rumble strips, please call Chatham County’s Engineering Department (912-652-7800). You also can submit feedback to the County’s Department of Engineering by clicking here.

Safety Improvements Background:

• Several years ago, Chatham County proposed a Roundabout at this intersection due to continuing calls for action. At that time, residents resoundingly spoke out against a roundabout. Chatham County recently expressed an interested in revisiting that issue with some redesigned plans. The Landings Association submitted a request to view these plans and to date have not received them but will keep the community informed.
• After conducting an initial traffic study, Chatham County determined that traffic counts are not met at that location for a full traffic light. However, The Landings Association continued to request safety be addressed at this location, perhaps in the form of flashing lights. The County agreed to install the flashing lights.
• The County said it wanted to install rumble strips. However, the Association objected to the use of rumble strips due to the potential of noise pollution, as noted in the General Manager’s Update that was published in the August 2019 edition of The Landings Journal, where General Manager/COO Shari Haldeman shares the County’s response to the Association’s opposition to rumble strips.

Does Landings Security have the authority to run radar? Don’t you have to have a license from the state to run radar?

Landings Security can run RADAR or L.I.D.A.R. without a license from the State because The Landings is governed by Covenants and Rules and Regulations that Security can enforce per the community’s 2015 Covenant Modernization Vote. Although Security can run RADAR or L.I.D.A.R. (Light Detection and Ranging), their citations are Rules violations and do not result in points against your license like tickets issued by law enforcement officers.

In 2017, Landings Security purchased a LaserCam4 L.I.D.A.R. unit to enforce speed limits similar to other Rules and Regulations violations. In short, L.I.D.A.R replaced the older RADAR unit used to assist in traffic safety. How the system works is pulse laser detection sends out a predetermined series of light pulses with a known time interval between each pulse to a target. Through an averaging process, a time over distance calculation can measure the time of flight between the transmit and receive sensors, resulting in an accurate speed and range. Speed limits within the community are 30 MPH unless otherwise posted (please see Rules and Regulations, Section F.2 on page 41 of the 2019 Landings Residential Directory).

To read articles written by Security Director Tim Cook when his team first began using the L.I.D.A.R unit, please click here and here.  To read an article written by General Manager/COO Shari Haldeman when L.I.D.A.R. first was implemented, please click here.