The proposed plan for constructing 85 houses near East Burke Middle School and the Carolina Rehabilitation Center has raised serious concerns among local residents, parents, and community members in the Connelly Springs/Icard area of Burke County.

This petition is not about stopping growth or opposing development altogether. We understand that communities grow and housing is needed. However, many residents believe this project, at its current size and location, could create major traffic, infrastructure, and safety concerns for an already busy area.

Traffic congestion around East Burke Middle School is already heavy during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up hours. With multiple schools located nearby, many parents travel through the area and pick up children from more than one school, causing traffic to regularly back up for long periods of time. In addition to school traffic, many residents are also commuting to and from work during the same morning and afternoon hours, creating even more congestion throughout the area. Adding traffic from 85 additional houses could significantly increase delays and raise safety concerns for students, parents, school buses, pedestrians, emergency vehicles, and everyday commuters traveling through the community.

Residents are also concerned about:

• Increased traffic congestion and road safety risks  
• Overcrowded roads and infrastructure strain  
• Drainage and environmental concerns  
• The overall size and density of the proposed project  
• The long-term impact on the surrounding community

Many residents are not opposed to development itself, but believe the community would benefit more from responsible and balanced growth that better fits the surrounding area and existing infrastructure.

We also encourage local officials and developers to consider more affordable housing options that better serve local residents and families in need of housing, rather than large-scale high-density development that may overwhelm existing roads and infrastructure.

We respectfully ask county officials and planning representatives to reconsider or significantly scale back the proposed 85-house development and carefully review the concerns being raised by local residents before moving forward.

Please sign and share this petition to support responsible planning and help ensure community concerns are heard.