Dear Fellow Residents and Neighbors, 

 

 

 

 I am writing to bring your attention to a proposed housing development planned behind our community of Hatheway Lake off McMillon Road. While growth can sometimes bring benefits, I believe we need to carefully consider the potential negative impacts this project could have on our small town, especially given that there are no corresponding plans to expand our schools, roads, or emergency services to accommodate the additional population. Additionally, the clearing of the wooded land behind us raises serious concerns about aesthetics and wildlife that we should not ignore.

 

As many of you know, our community thrives on its tight-knit feel, manageable traffic, and the ability of our local services to meet our needs effectively. However, adding a significant number of new homes could strain these resources in ways that affect us all. For example, our schools are already operating near capacity. Without plans to build new facilities or hire additional staff, class sizes could increase, potentially compromising the quality of education our children receive.

 

Our roads, too, are not designed for a sudden surge in traffic. More residents mean more vehicles, which would lead to additional congestion, longer commutes, and increased wear on road infrastructure that isn’t scheduled for upgrades. This could also make it harder for emergency services—like police, fire, and medical responders—to reach us quickly. With no proportional investment in these critical services, response times could slow, putting our safety at risk during emergencies. 

 

Beyond these practical concerns, the plan to clear the wooded land for this development poses its own set of problems. Those trees and natural spaces are part of what makes our community beautiful—replacing them with rows of houses will drastically alter the aesthetics of our community, stripping away the views we all enjoy. Moreover, this wooded area is home to local wildlife, from birds to deer and other smaller creatures that depend on it for survival. Clearing it would disrupt their habitats, potentially driving them out or reducing biodiversity in our area, which could have ripple effects on our ecosystem.

 

Another critical issue is the impact on our property values and ability to sell our homes. The influx of new housing could oversaturate the market, driving down the value of our existing properties as buyers opt for newer, potentially cheaper homes in the development. This could also lead to slower sales for those of us looking to move, as the competition from new construction might make it harder to attract buyers to our established homes—especially if the charm and tranquility of our area are diminished by overcrowding and the loss of natural surroundings. 

 

I encourage you to join me in raising these concerns with our local officials. There is a meeting set on April 10th at 9 am. We deserve a clear plan to ensure that any development benefits our community without overwhelming it, sacrificing its natural beauty and wildlife, or jeopardizing our financial investments. Together, we can advocate for a future that preserves the quality of life we cherish here. 

 

 

 

Please feel free to reach out if you’d like to discuss this further or get involved. Together, we can make our voices heard. 

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Lindsay Cook

 

Hatheway Lake Resident

 

Call to Action: We urge our local authorities to halt this development unless a comprehensive plan is presented to ensure our infrastructure can support such growth without compromising the well-being of current residents. Sign below to protect our community from unchecked development.