HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #06 Geri Sawada
Butler, Bric
From:Geri Sawada <geri.sawada@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, August 20, 2024 5:19 PM
To:Butler, Bric
Cc:Noel Sawada
Subject:proposed Lennar development at 146th St and Towne Rd
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
I am writing to express my concern about yet another high-density housing development out on the
northwest corner of Carmel. Many of us bought homes in this area when it was sparsely developed. We
intentionally sacrificed the convenience of town center shopping, schools, infrastructure, etc. for the
peaceful and natural setting of a horse farm. While it is understandable the #1 city in the US would want
to grow, packing hundreds of households into small acreage as you have been doing over the last few
years is absolutely destroying the quality of life Carmel so proudly claims. This once stable, country-like
neighborhood setting, with long-term, established families is quickly turning into a rental district, and we
are beginning to experience many of the negative impacts of living in a transient downtown area--noise,
traffic too heavy for the single lane roads, declining property values, etc.
In addition to the personal quality of life impact of the sudden addition of high density housing, there is
also an environmental burden. There has been a significant decline in songbird population in the area
over the past couple of summers. Last year I had at least 6 pair of Eastern bluebirds visiting my yard on a
regular basis, along with hundreds of finches, wrens, hummingbirds, orioles, migratory birds and diving
ducks. Many of these birds have vanished from the area with the ongoing construction at
Ambleside. Adding another, even higher density development will destroy anything that is left!
Over the past 8-10 years, we have had a bald eagle (or two) visiting the Chariots Whisper pond most
evenings. Two days ago I saw one with the coloring of a 4-5 year old. This means we have at least one
nesting pair in the area. As Ambleside developers continue to destroy tree stands (which were supposed
to remain) wildlife have been displaced, and our bald eagles will likely disappear. Coyotes and foxes
have been pushed into the neighborhood, endangering children and pets. I have avoided hitting deer on
our neighborhood street in the early morning.
Development of our city is probably necessary, but overdevelopment is not. You are turning a once
serene family neighborhood into a busy downtown-like area. I stand strongly against more high-density
development in this area.
Sincerely,
Geri Sawada
Saddle Creek resident on Chariots Whisper Drive.
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