HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #038 Ron Browning
Shestak, Joe
From:Ron <thebrowning4@sbcglobal.net>
Sent:Sunday, July 12, 2020 5:59 PM
To:Shestak, Joe
Subject:Ambleside Point development
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Completed
**** This is an EXTERNAL email. Please exercise caution and Do Not open attachments or click links from unknown
senders or unexpected email. ****
Mr. Shestak,
My name is Ron Browning. I live at 14389 Chariots Whisper Drive in the Saddle Creek subdivision.
I am writing today to express concerns about the Ambleside Point development planned for the parcel along 146th
Street adjacent to my home.
I am not opposed to development. I understand something will eventually go on that parcel as it is zoned S-1. My
concern is the density of the proposed project and its impact on the wildlife in the area.
The proposal calls for 265 lots on a 56.5-acre parcel. This will require a variance that allows for density that far exceeds
what is allowed for an S-1 zoning.
I’m most concerned about the woodland and wildlife in that location.
The east side of my lot is bordered by a sizable wooded area. That area would comprise much of the western border of
the proposed Ambleside Point development.
The developers, Hoffman Developer LLC, claim they plan to conserve that wooded area, which will contain most of the
greenspace in the proposal.
However, drawings provided by the developer show lots being built into that wooded area. The way it looks on the
drawing, about a third of the trees in that woods would be lost. The drawing also shows a proposed walking path
through the middle of the woods.
At a meeting with Saddle Creek residents on July 9, Hoffman representatives could not say what percentage of the trees
in that woods would be cut down. Furthermore, during the meeting, they suggested a dog park and/or a playground
might go in that area, meaning even more trees would be cut.
Thinning that wooded area would have a serious impact on wildlife in the area. That woods is one of the largest wooded
spaces in this area.
It is home to large numbers of coyotes, raccoons, rabbits and squirrels. Deer, fox and beaver are also seen in those
woods. I fear that if those woods are thinned, we’ll see a lot more coyotes roaming the streets of Saddle Creek and
surrounding neighborhoods.
1
The biggest impact would be on the birds. I spend a lot of time observing those trees as they are essentially “my
backyard.” There are many large old oak trees in the woods, some are probably more than 150 years old.
In those trees I regularly see bald eagles, owls, wild turkey, cardinals, blue jays, red tail hawks, blue herron, red winged
blackbirds, wrens and more. I have video of hawks and bald eagles confronting one another in those trees. If that woods
is thinned considerably, I fear the bald eagles will never return to this area.
Once again, I am not opposed to a development on that parcel. I am concerned about the density of the proposal, the
lack of greenspace in the proposal and its impact on one of the only wooded areas around here.
Thank you,
Ron Browning
Sent from my iPhone
2