News Interview

Hello Friend,

The purpose of this petition to oppose the Mecklenburg County (NC) Rezoning Petition RZP 2021-264.

Carter Lummber purchased the Greenspace in our community for $2 million in 2017. The company wants to remove our community's only greenspace to expand their lumber yard. They want to take nearly 5 acres of green space and erect 4-6 large storage sheds that would sit on a gravel lot. A Carter Lumber representative said worse could be erected on the lot during the August 16 City Council meeting. We demand something better, that is conducive to a thriving family community, better be erected there. 

Reasons to reject the Rezoning and deny Carter Lumber’s request for expansion is the expansion does not improve or benefit Oakbrooke homeowners, future homeowners (our kids) and renters. Most importantly, the negative externalities associated with Carter Lumber’s expansion has the potential to lead to sickness and death amongst the residents closest to the wood storage site and it will cause a financial hardship for the entire community.

Risk of illness stems from the stocked/finished wood that contains thoracic dust exposure, inhalable resin acids, terpene exposure, and bacteria. Frequent and direct exposure to chemicals and bacteria spores can cause nasal and sino-nasal cancers, possibly lung cancer, skin irritation, allergy, and respiratory symptoms including lung function decline. We would also experience a rat and mouse infestation if they cut the greenspace down. They would come right across the street to our homes.  

Next, urban deforestation because of human activity not only decreases the health and quality of life in our county, city, and neighborhood, but it also worsens the effects of unpredictable changing climate. Carter Lumber’s expansion is a form of urban deforestation since this is really the only green area in our community. 

We already must deal with a significant amount of train noise, vibrations every time the train passes, traffic jams, and lower home values. The expansion will require us to further reduce the price of our property. I certainly would not have moved into a community that has no green space and four big and ugly storage sheds in the front of the community. 

Help us show politicians and big business that wealth does not come before our health. Please sign our petition and help us stop the expansion.

Thank you

 

 

Health Impacts

1.     Stocked/finished wood contains thoracic dust exposure, inhalable resin acids, terpene exposure, and bacteria 

2.     Wood coatings protect wood from environmental influences such as moisture radiation, mechanical and chemical damage, and biological deterioration. However, they contain liquid made up of either organic solvent or water and have potential to emit volatile organic compounds (VOC). VOC such as those containing chlorofluorocarbons are considered a major environmental problem from both air pollution and human health and safety perspectives de Meijer 2001). 

a.     According to a peer reviewed article by the Oxford Chartered Society for Worker Health Protection, frequent and direct Exposure to VOCs, chemicals, and bacteria spores can cause nasal and sino-nasal cancers, possibly lung cancer, skin irritation, allergy, and respiratory symptoms including lung function decline 

b.     The Clean Air Act and other policies demand lower VOC be used in wood coatings, but this is optional, and it still puts us at risk because it lowers the exposure level, but it does not eliminate it. Our health is not a chance worth taking for revenue.

3.     Carter Lumber wishes to remove tree and grass that cleans our air and protects us from the chemicals and bacteria in the air (mostly from their company) with a big gravel lot. One of the most damaging effects of road dust or gravel is its effect on people’s respiratory health, especially that of young children. I have two, the neighbor to the right of me has two and the neighbor to the left of me has one. I would like to have another so let’s say that I have three. That is six children being exposed daily to Carter Lumber’s road dust or gravel. As the report detailed, the dust from gravel roads is often fine enough to pass into the lungs and cause serious irritation or damage. This also has a particularly detrimental effect on people with existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma.

a.     According to the National Library of Medicine à The respiratory system was found to be the most affected system in the human body. Lead, platinum-group elements (platinum, rhodium, and bohrium), aluminum, zinc, vanadium, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were the components of road dust that were most frequently referenced in the articles reviewed. Road dust was found to have harmful effects on the human body, especially on the respiratory system and there will be acres of it directly across the street from my house.

b.     Lowes is a store with isles. Carter Lumber is multiple train cars full of lumber and chemicals 

c.      It is a lie that they do not use chemicals as it is needed to preserve the wood

d.     We live in a wood house that has been aired out and covered drywall and siding 

4.     It is an eye soar that I did not sign up for, nor did any of our neighbors. Sadly, this can lead to mental health problems such as depression. Time spent on our front porch, running on the cut part of the field in front of our homes and watching the sunset or rise against a field with a high tree line, different types of green and the neighborhood deer bouncing around have a calming and rejuvenating effect on our mental health. 

a.     That is what we purchased along with 8825 Oak Drive. I did not sign up to live directly across the street from four large storage buildings. I especially do not want me children to see that when they look out their bedroom windows.

b.     The blue sky, green field, and trees allow us to relax and enjoy our homes. I do not want to sit on my front porch and stare at the storage buildings, closer electrical lines and poles, wood or people working. I do not want to hear any of the noise associated with the work being done. I definitely do not want it to affect my children when they are sleeping, studying or want to play with their window open. 

5.     We now know that the wood’s chemicals, removing the biggest source of green space in our community and replacing it with a multi acre gravel lot could lead to serious health issues, disease, cancer and even death. The expansion is not worth jeopardizing our health. The opportunity costs are too high. 

Environment Impacts

1.     Automatic increase in air pollution when you remove the green space.

2.     An increase in the need of storage indicates an increase in the amount of wood delivered and shipped from Carter Lumber via the railroad tracks that blocks the main entrance of the community. 

a.     Increase in air pollution from the train and cars waiting for the train. Depending on the train’s timing, there could be at least 20 cars waiting to enter the community from Old Statesville Rd and exit the community from Oak Dr.

              i.      This increases the potential for asthma attacks by 40%. Trains emit an immense level of gaseous waste that is not only detrimental to the environment but also to our health. Given the high quantity of carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide that trains produce excessively, our respiratory system could sustain severe deterioration over the course of us living on Oak Drive.

3.     Urban deforestation because of human activity not only decreases the health and quality of life in our county, city, and neighborhood, but it also worsens the effects of unpredictable changing climate. It would be best to purchase a property that is already ready for this business (meaning a limited number of trees and greenspace would need to be removed because the area is already vacant or even moving to a truly industrial location)

a.     Urban trees reduce pollution, stabilize temperatures, and increase real estate value, so when you remove them, you create an environment that is not only detrimental to our health and happiness but also has long lasting economic impacts.

b.     And like most things, these impacts are not shared equally across society. Urban deforestation creates what is called the green-gray divide between affluent neighborhoods with sufficient tree coverage and less wealthy areas that go without. 

                    i.      It has been said that the number of trees in urban area can be used to assess the relative prosperity of the community and that is true. Drive near Myers Park or King,s Drive and any other affluent neighborhood and you do not see their house you see trees. Evidence also shows that the amount of vegetation, known as ‘greenness’, in densely populated areas, can also be an indicator of the relative wealth of the neighborhood.

                     ii.      Replanting trees are not an option because trees struggle to reach adulthood in urban areas plus it will take decades for them grow to the heights that they are now. Therefore, we will be without trees. Not fair.

4.     Disturb wildlife refuge à all kind of animals live in the field including deer. Where will they go? Our homes, porches, and garages, maybe even vehicles. There will be a pest and rodent infestation when the field is cut down.

a.     The mice, rats and bugs are coming straight across the street to our homes. This will also increase in our chances to contract diseases and get sick as these pest and rodents enter into our homes because theirs was destroyed. Whole will pay for the this. What will an infestation do to our home and our kids? How long will the infestation last and what will be the impacts of it? We do not want to find out?

 

Economic Externalities

As stated in the beginning, the expansion of Carter Lumber enable’s the company to grown annual revenue. It is currently at approximately $106.8 million

1.     Immediate decrease in our community’s property value

a.     Immediate decrease in each home’s rental or retail value

                   i.      Houses next to railway lines can devalue a property by up to 30% which means that houses affected by train noise will be less valuable than other houses in the same area that are away from trains. We know this. 

b.     Expanding Carter Lumber is another aggravating factor that will require us to further reduce the price of our property when selling or renting because it is an  Immediate Eye Soar when entering or exiting the community 

2.     We already discussed an increase in the train’s activity, which leads to an increase in time and gas wasted waiting on the train to move from blocking access to exit or enter the community à this time inconvenience will also cost us money in repairs to our home  

a.     Instead, the noticeable ground-borne vibrations could have the following negative effects:

        i.      Annoyance to humans,

       ii.      Damage to buildings and equipment.

1.     This is damage beyond what others in our community and communities like ours experience because the train moves back and forth serval times while loading/unloading rather than maintaining a steady speed and traveling one direction causing only one earthquake like tremble.

       iii.      Damage to buildings caused by railway induced vibrations are of secondary importance, and in case of occurrence causes mostly cosmetic damages (and rarely structural ones), these types of effects are taken into account for example by British Standard BS 7385-2 Code [73].

        iv.      Expedite damage from the increase in train activity regardless of if Carter Lumber increases the number of trains operating or the length of time that it spends loading/unloading à the train shakes everyone’s property every time it comes and goes (not to mention it moves back and forth once it arrives making matters worse) to service Carter Lumber à they are increasing revenue and we are losing à please fight for us and do not approve this expansion

3.     Increase in pre-existing drawbacks to purchasing or residing in Oakbrooke à as long as the tree line between Carter Lumber and the community existed, I would not detest a starbucks, a theater, a boutique, a strip mall, park, multi-family complex or even additional houses because these thing bring value to our neighborhood and are conducive to friendly environment for families. This Carter Lumber expansion does not. 

a.     We already must deal with a significant amount of train noise, vibrations every time the train passes, traffic jams, and lower home values. 

5.     Increase in the trains frequency or length of loading/unloading time plus the four large storage sheds will cause homeowners to reduce the cost of their home or rental rate 

6.     Increase in noise pollution from the Carter Lumber’s train à it is already a noise nuisance, working from home was difficult due to the train’s horn (breaks, engine and wheels squealing), it ruins sleep and wakes up babies, it’s hard to have conversations, and sitting on the porch to enjoy our homes is ruined by the train

a.     https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40534-021-00264-9

b.     Both vibration and noise have been a subject of serious concern in public opinion due to the caused annoyance that influences the daily life of the exposed people (e.g., sleep, communication, etc.) [15, 16].

c.      Recent studies and investigations have highlighted in addition to the annoyance, some permanent effects on the health of the exposed people. For example, the investigation made in 2013 by Croy et al. [19] have demonstrated that in some circumstance the passage of trains provokes acceleration of the heart rate during sleep up to 3 bpm, and this in long term may affect cardiovascular functioning of persons living close to railways. Whereas, the interview study done by Maclachlan et al. in 2017 [20] have demonstrated that vibrations from rail transport for those living in proximity to the source, have negative repercussions for restoration all-day-long and that this exposure may have long-term health effects, as a result of disruption to the body’s normal homeostatic stress response.

              i.      We do not need to add on to this with the expansion. 

In addition to the economic, health and environmental externalities associated with the expansion of Carter Lumber, there are also other externalities to consider.

Misc Externalities

1.     The train blocks the neighborhood main entrance/exit. Increase in possibility for traffic accidents due to the number of vehicles waiting to enter and exit the community caused by the train (there are only two lanes on old Statesville rd and our neighborhood will completely stop traffic waiting for the train. This is dangerous. 

b.     There have been 10-minute waits plus for the train and this causes residents to be late to pick up kids from school, go to work or a doctor’s appointment or rush in the house to use the restroom after the commute

c.      In total, I have waited hours and wasted gallon of gas waiting for the train to pass or traveling around the neighborhood to enter/exit through another entrance wasting gas, time and money. 

2.     Increase in possibility of delaying emergency services vehicles entering and exiting the community due to the train’s presence

3.     Construction noise, traffic, electricity (speaking of electricity, how close are the poles and lines going to be moved to our front doors because this too will decrease our property value more) and internet disruptions, and its immediate visual degradation to the neighborhood

4.     Disturb wildlife refuge à all kind of animals live in the field including deer. Where will they go? Our homes, porches, and garages, maybe even vehicles. There will be a pest and rodent infestation when the field is cut down.

a.     The mice, rats and bugs are coming straight across the street to our homes. This will also increase in our chances to contract diseases and get sick as these pest and rodents enter into our homes because theirs was destroyed. Whole will pay for the this. What will an infestation do to our home and our kids? How long will the infestation last and what will be the impacts of it? We do not want to find out?