PETITION TO STOP SAWMILL/FIREWOOD PROCESSING CENTER FROM OPENING IN DARLINGTON, MD

           Public Hearing of this issue on Wednesday, April 29th at 6:30PM

             at Council Chambers 212 South Bond Street, Bel Air MD 21014

To: Harford County Planning & Zoning Department, Harford County Council, and relevant authorities

Subject: Opposition to  Sawmill/Firewood Processing Center to open at 3740 Smith Road, Darlington, MD

We, the undersigned residents of Darlington and surrounding communities, strongly oppose the Sawmill/Firewood Processing Center for the following reasons:

Noise Pollution: Industrial-grade equipment (log tumblers, woodchippers, front loaders, backhoes, semitrucks and trailers, chainsaws) will produce continuous, high-decibel noise that disrupts the peace and quiet of our residential neighborhood even from over a mile away.

Traffic & Safety Risks: Increased heavy truck traffic on rural roads poses dangers to rural traffic, pedestrians, school buses, and local families. Not to mention inflict more wear and tare on the roads our taxes pay for!

Environmental & Health Concerns: Smoke, sawdust, and runoff from constant operations threaten air quality and local ecosystems.

Property Value Impact: Industrial activity in a residential area will negatively affect all home values and quality of life in Harford County, with an average decrease of 10%-20% (https://www.jstor.org/stable/43192118  
 
We urge Harford County to:
Deny any permits, special exceptions or approvals for opening this sawmill/firewood processing center. This proposed high intensity commercial business is outside of the Development Envelope tagged for increased development activities and is within the Harford County Priority Preservation area. So let's preserve our farming and agricultural land for that purpose, instead of giving commercial businesses our precious farmland.

Enforce existing zoning laws to protect residential and agricultural communities.

Require industrial and commercial operations to be located in properly zoned areas—not in quiet, rural neighborhoods.
 

Sign this petition to protect Darlington’s peace, safety, and property values. Together, we can make a difference!

To make an even BIGGER Difference please attend the Public Hearing of this issue on Wednesday, April 29th at 6:30PM

at Council Chambers 212 South Bond Street, Bel Air MD 21014

Or else we will have this to look forward to...