Privacy prompts Riva Trace decision

R

iva Trace resident Barry Cox captured the picture that tells a thousand words.

On his cell phone, Cox has a photo of a moving truck traveling through the gate adjacent to his house, where Meeting Street and San Miguel Cove connect.

Those who live in Riva Trace know thousands of words have been used to argue the necessity of an emergency vehicle access gate to their community, located at that point. While the gate is supposed to be for first responders only, Cox's photo supports the argument that the gate is used by others.

Many residents have wanted to see the gate go away.

In 90 days, they will get their wish.

Riva Trace’s developer, Medallion Home, will close the gate permanently, tearing up a section of the road, installing a permanent fence and adding landscaping on Riva Trace’s side, a proposal approved Dec. 1 by Manatee County officials.

Cox and his wife, Debbie Cox, like the change.

They regularly watch service vehicles open and close the unlocked gate to pass through, or regular traffic drive through when wind blows the gate open.

“The only reason the gate isn’t lying on the ground is because I put a chain on it,” Barry Cox said.

His wife added, “It’s been a bone of contention. We’re always picking it up.”

Although Riva Trace is a private, gated community, when the development was approved in 2006, Manatee County required a roadway connection with its southern neighbor, University Place. 

A community development district, University Place has public roads. A chain-locked gate stood as the only barrier between the two neighborhoods.

Fifty-four Riva Trace homeowners (63%) supported eliminating the emergency-only access, according to a petition circulated throughout the neighborhood.

Resident Beth Noppenberg, who organized the petition during the summer, said the homeowners' association has incurred costs related to repairs to the community’s main entrance gate. 

Many homeowners worry about the costs of maintaining and repairing the secondary gate. Removing the gate also will provide more security for the private neighborhood.

“It will complete the community,” Noppenberg said. “We’re not part of that community (University Place).”

University Place CDD officials also commend the change, saying  it will provide greater security in their neighborhood.

“We want to be in a position to control exit and entrance into our community,” CDD Chairman Richard Romanoff said. “I thought, ultimately, the county did what they should have done several years ago.”

Not everyone agrees.

Noppenberg's neighbor, Bob Bolus, argued safety must come first. A 30-year volunteer firefighter in Pennsylvania, he called the change “ignorant.”

“When you remove an emergency access for no just cause, it’s a stupid move,” he said.

Connie Timmons of Riva Trace agreed. 

“I definitely think it’s a necessity to keep a second gate of egress,” she said. “We do not think it’s wise to compromise public safety. There are 86 homes in the community. It’s a long stretch from end to end. There’s really no reason to eliminate the gate.”

Supporters of the gate removal, however, say with the Southern Manatee Fire Rescue District 5 Station next door, response times are immediate.

Manatee County public safety officials said they drove Riva Trace’s streets with emergency vehicles and approved the proposed change.

“The gate issue has been very divisive in Riva Trace,” Noppenberg said. “Now that a decision has been made by the county, I would hope that the community will come together and put this behind us.”