Dear City of Pelham Elected Officials and Commission members, 

We are concerned citizens and property owners residing in the Ballantrae neighborhood, surrounding neighborhoods, and within the City of Pelham. We understand on September 12th there is a scheduled public hearing to determine whether to annex and rezone a plat neighboring the Ballantrae Information Center and behind the Lauchlin section of Ballantrae for residential garden homes. We oppose this outright and have come to further oppose this with greater fervor upon learning DR Horton is the proposed builder. We stand with the citizens of Helena, who urged their City to deny a similar proposal: https://abc3340.com/amp/news/local/dr-horton-pulls-proposal-for-shelby-county-land-after-helena-city-council-votes-to-annex-alabama-highway-13-puckett-subdivision-the-haven-at-cahaba-river?fbclid=IwY2xjawFHDihleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHaShtFFq9c8slX6C0lirtcUWooFw4H_-hGKs56uy4T88Ut6Ar4hikHEGMw_aem_XXzkZDzl7oT_xpYSn04NFw   

We oppose this rezoning and development on several critically important grounds. First, building garden homes will lower the economic value of the neighboring properties. Devaluing the properties of the Ballantrae neighborhood will result in citizens moving away and not into Ballantrae, which is still working after 21 years to complete the neighborhood, thereby finally allowing property owners the ability to have their own HOA. Driving property values down is not needed and placing a multitude of garden homes squeezed together is unsightly and does not fit with the rest of Ballantrae’s beautiful, naturally landscaped, and tucked-away charm.  

Second, the traffic impact for motorists will increase volume and the already dangerous intersections where the Kinross and Lauchlin sections of Ballantrae exit and enter Ballantrae Parkway. Garden homes can be built in greater numbers, increasing the number of people driving to and from the sole entrance and from Ballantrae and Weatherly to Pelham. Motorists heading to and from work encounter the steep incline of Double Mountain and generally travel fast (whether purposely or inadvertently) where the proposed development will enter Ballantrae Parkway/Weatherly Club Drive. Adding further traffic entering from this new section will only increase the risk of a wreck, potentially fatal, and certainly exacerbate an already congested neighborhood with only one entrance and exit towards Alabaster and Pelham. Blockage of this main thoroughfare could further jeopardize the ability of police, ambulance, and fire response. 

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the environmental impact will be great. The natural wildlife, fauna, and vegetation we enjoy (and why we chose Ballantrae) will be permanently destroyed, altered, and impact natural water drainage. Existing publicly available flood maps demonstrate that building any homes on this plat is unwise as drainage off Double Mountain will change, thereby putting existing homes at risk. Likewise, until a third party performs an environmental impact assessment, the resulting construction’s lifelong impact on this flood zone and the houses and golf course downstream from South Fork Yellowleaf Creek is unknown. The property proposed for annexation includes South Fork Yellowleaf Creek and possibly an unnamed stream that meets South Fork Yellowleaf Creek and creates a flood plain. Our neighbors in other sections of Ballantrae might need redesignation as existing in a flood zone due to the environmental impact of affected water flow, drainage, and potential flooding of South Fork Yellowleaf Creek. Notably, South Fork Yellowleaf Creek runs past, near, and through a portion of the Ballantrae Golf Course, an economic engine for the City of Pelham. Furthermore, enjoying the abundant wildlife in our neighborhoods is one of the many blessings of where we live. We do not want to see the natural habit destroyed. Before considering any rezoning, an environmental assessment from a third party involving relevant state and federal stakeholders (U.S. Wildlife Fish & Wildlife Service, FEMA, etc.) makes sense from a property value perspective in addition to concern for the natural environment. 

We respectfully and emphatically ask that the annexation and rezoning be denied. 
 
Sincerely, 
Concerned Citizens of Pelham Signed Below