To the Editor:

As with most newly proposed developments everywhere, all the standard comments come out in newspapers and town meetings, pro and con: “meets community needs;” “NIMBY (not in my back yard);” “increased tax revenue;” “increased traffic and safety issues;” “school overload;” “we can do what we want with our land;” etc. And the list goes on and on. 

Then after all that, the town/county leaders appear to ignore all comments and do what they want — typically siding with the developer presumably because the potential increased tax revenue seems too sweet to pass up. 

In the case of the proposed apartment complex on Plott Creek Road, there is a real risk that project will go the same path at the expense of the neighboring properties and Hazelwood as a whole. Practically all residents near the proposed development do not support this business venture simply because it is not in concert with the community as a whole. 

Towns like Charleston have enacted ordnances that limit the height of buildings in the city; homeowner associations all over the U.S. limit residents from erecting structures that do not fit the neighborhood — all in an effort to maintain a sense of community where a relatively high density of neighbors exist.

Hazelwood and the neighboring streets are essentially single-family dwellings (typically one story) and in the case of the Plott Creek community, relatively low-density. For the land where the three-story apartment complex is proposed, low-density single-family housing (houses with acreage) would probably be welcomed by the neighboring residents and would fit the community needs. A multi-story, multi-building complex does not fit that mold. The single-family home option is most likely less appealing to developers, but in the end what we get should be more about community needs than lining developers’ pockets. 

Those near the proposed project hope the community leaders will look beyond the potential tax revenue and develop the area more in line with the needs/wishes of the community as a whole. We highly recommend not approving this apartment complex as proposed and counter with something that is more in line with the Hazelwood and Plott Creek communities. The residents in and around the area will appreciate it and the community-friendly precedent will be set for all other proposals going forward.

Steven Winchester

Waynesville