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Redington Beach tells neighbors to solve dispute
By BOB MACPHERSON
Article published on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 |
REDINGTON BEACH – A Gulf Boulevard resident and his neighbor have decided to sit down and work out differences over the location of a standby generator.
Luis Dobon wants to place a generator on the side of his home at 15572 Gulf Blvd., requiring a reduction of his home’s south setback from 7.5 feet to 4 feet, 4 inches.
On Feb. 21 Dobon filed an application to the town seeking approval. Subsequently, on Feb. 29, John Kostreles of the Pinellas County Building Department, which reviews such applications for the town, said in a letter to the town that Dobon’s proposal is unacceptable and he would need a variance from the town for its approval.
On April 17 the Board of Adjustment granted Dobon a variance allowing him to place the generator at his proposed location.
The Board of Adjustment’s finding was appealed April 30 by Dobon’s neighbor Lenka Malkova, 15612 Gulf Blvd., who alleged that the placement of the generator at the proposed location would create too much noise, emit carbon monoxide and be an eyesore both to her and to people traveling on Gulf Boulevard.
A public hearing was then held on May 6 to hear Malkova’s appeal. The hearing resulted in a no decision by the Town Commission.
After a lengthy give-and-take by Dobon and Malkova’s attorney Peter Meros, Mayor Nick Simons asked if Dobon and Malkova would be willing to sit down to work out a solution without having the town or possibly the courts decide the outcome. Both agreed to do so.
During the hearing, Meros had three witnesses testify on behalf of the Malkova appeal. They were Malkova, generator expert Peter Sturgis and licensed contractor Phil Sheehan.
Sheehan said regulations require a generator to be at least 5 feet from combustible material. Dobon’s proposed location for his generator is closer than the 5-foot standard and would thereby create a hazard, officials said.
Sheehan said in review of Dobon’s property “the generator could be placed at a more suitable spot.” He said Jack Tipton of the Pinellas County Building Department recommended putting the generator on the roof.
Sturgis, a mechanical engineer, gave a complex discussion of the impact of decibels levels at various distances. He compared the generator to the engine of a compact automobile and said the walls of a house can cause a significant reflection of the noise creating an even louder effect. The noise reflection of Dobon’s generator, he said, would be directed toward Malkova’s house.
Dobon energetically countered Malkova’s position.
“I know something about generators,” Dobon said. “I sold 1,500 generators in the last several years.
“Two houses nearby didn’t complain. It is not in visual contact with Ms. Malkova’s home. The only other place is 18 feet from my neighbor’s window. I’m going to have to get a 40-kv generator. But I don’t want to locate it 13 feet on a platform.”
At 13 feet base flood level the generator would be located only 8 feet from ground level since the property’s base flood level is 5 feet. Dobon also maintained that the generator would be 46 feet from Malkova’s bedroom window.
Town Attorney Greg Salzmann told the commission it could accept the decision of the board of adjustment, overrule it or require another hearing to sort out all the facts.
Simon’s had a different idea. Dobon and Malkova agreed to his suggestion to sit down and attempt a solution without another hearing or a court settlement.
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Article published on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
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