LAGUNA HILLS : City to Help Mediate Toll Road Complaints

City officials have agreed to meet with Transportation Corridor Agency engineers next week to help mediate complaints from residents about construction of the San Joaquin Hills toll road.

Homeowners in the exclusive Nellie Gail Ranch community complained at Tuesday’s City Council meeting that TCA officials have repeatedly promised to install a sound barrier to muffle freeway noise. Instead of the promised berm, residents say, the TCA allowed the construction of a pit to collect waste runoff from the tollway.

“The point of the berm is not just for sound mitigation but for visual mitigation,” said Andrew Ulich, representing the Nellie Gail Ranch Homeowners Assn.

Residents say the TCA agreed in December to install the berms but changed its plans. The transportation agency then implemented an information blackout by rarely returning phone calls, homeowners said.

At Tuesday’s meeting, TCA officials said the plans shown to residents last year were never intended to be an actual blueprint.

“How far can you rely on plans, no matter how far along they are, if they aren’t the final plans?” asked Gregory Hank, TCA vice president of design.

The agency is using a “design as you build” method for constructing the toll road, rather than mapping out the whole project ahead of time. The process is intended to save time.

Hanks said the TCA could have done a better job of communication: “We certainly didn’t hit the level that we should have.”

Hanks assured the council and homeowners that by Friday he will have a final answer about whether the TCA will remove the waste pit and install a permanent sound berm.

Also, a meeting of city officials, TCA representatives and homeowners will be scheduled for next week.