Letters

For all those who haven’t heard, there is a proposal to build a 120-unit condo development in North Sea [“North Sea Condo Plan Draws Ardent Opposition From Community Members,” 27east.com, November 17]. This project would have a seriously negative impact on the neighborhoods surrounding the proposed condos.

If approved, we would see an additional 250-plus people, excluding guests, and at least 150 parking spaces, all in a confined area surrounded by single-family homes on all sides. Straight Path, a quiet neighborhood to the west, would take the brunt of the dramatic increase in traffic.

The developer’s legal counsel has said that the occupants would be primarily city people, as if that is somehow a good result. In that case, our small neighborhoods would be inundated with just what we don’t need — more summer and weekend people, more congestion, and greater safety issues for local people walking their dogs or pushing baby carriages, as well as kids on bikes.

According to the lawyer for the developer, the condos are the only option for developing the tract: single-family homes just wouldn’t be profitable enough for them. It’s the old “profit before community good” argument — and it’s pure nonsense.

We are a community of single-family homes, and collectively we have invested tens of millions of dollars to build, buy, improve and maintain our homes and create our community. Further, we also have every right to protect our investments and preserve our financial well-being.

A huge condo complex in our backyards (“literally,” for the folks on Spinnaker Drive and Straight Path) certainly will make our area less attractive for future buyers. This development would change the very nature of our lifestyle forever.

The developer’s lawyer has used aggressive tactics in trying to push this project through to approval. But his attempt to limit the time for evaluation of impact and to suppress community input has not worked. A groundswell of community opposition and outrage has ensued.

To the credit of the Town Zoning Board of Appeal and the Town Board, both groups have listened to concerns from residents and, to this point, have not allowed the developer to exert unreasonable pressure. However, the proposal will not die unless more local people come forward to express their strong opposition.

Let’s make the property owner explore more acceptable options for this land, like the single-family homes that define our neighborhood and our way of life, or maybe the tree farm for which a certificate of occupancy was originally granted.

Speak up now while there is still time. Make your voice heard and help stop this ill-advised condo development that will damage life in North Sea.

Dave Johns

North Sea