Agenda - 09-04-2014 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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52 1 slow or stop if necessary. If the oncoming vehicle is going faster or carrying a heavy load that's 2 hard to slow or stop, or is otherwise preoccupied, this neighborhood road becomes a potential 3 death trap. Now one might argue that school buses and delivery trucks safely use the road, and 4 that's true. But a school bus routinely carries children in and out of residential neighborhoods 5 once a day at predictable times. One busload of children a day, or a delivery truck making its 6 rounds is orders of magnitude different than 3 months of near constant heavy construction traffic 7 with their loads on a road which also serves as our sidewalk. 8 9 The proposed use of Cascade Drive as a construction access point is also dangerous for 10 other reasons. Our neighbors on streets connecting to Cascade have raised concerns about 11 construction vehicles causing road blocks. Remembering that there is no other ingress or 12 egress to the neighborhood, heavy construction vehicles pose dangers to those who might need 13 to enter or exit in a timely fashion. Within the last year, a trailer with one resident's heavy load 14 got stuck on my driveway on that blind curve blocking the road. A handicap neighbor needing 15 dialysis had to be carried by a good Samaritan from one vehicle on one side of the blockage to 16 a waiting vehicle on the other. If there were a house fire, or a lightning strike, or a fire in the 17 solar array, and the egress was blocked, the entire neighborhood could be endangered. If there 18 were an emergency again and construction vehicles were causing delay or blocking the road, 19 there is simply no other way out. 20 21 Falls of New Hope is a residential neighborhood, and logic would dictate that it remain 22 so. Everyone on the eastern side of the New Hope Creek in Falls of New Hop must use 23 Cascade Drive for all of our activities. There is no other way for us. But there are other, safer 24 roads for construction vehicles to access which cause less disruption and eliminate the very 25 dangerous conditions for cars and the constant stream of pedestrians that depend on Cascade 26 Drive for their physical and emotional health. 27 28 This brings me to the second health issue, which is more hidden but no less important. 29 Besides the danger inherent in any construction project, especially one of this size, there are 30 important health issues to consider. As a medical psychologist, I have to speak up for those 31 whose voices go unheard. Our homeowners have sought solace in a quiet part of the country 32 amongst fields, trees and the New Hope Creek. We are veterans and firemen, teachers, 33 scholars, public servants, doctors, nurses and PA's. We are business owners, parents, and 34 retirees. Due to confidentiality and respect for the privacy of personal medical information told 35 to me, I won't reveal names, but I do have permission to use the following data with identities 36 protected. 37 38 In just two weeks, since this notice of this hearing was posted, symptoms of dangerous 39 levels of stress are in evidence. Homeowners have reported to me problems with insomnia, 40 anxiety, and PTSD, which are normal reactions to a perceived threat. There are two residents 41 who have confided in me that for the first time in their lives, they have asked for help from their 42 doctors to manage the symptoms of this stress with prescribed medications. Additionally, there 43 are reports of increased irritability, marital tension, muscle aches, fatigue and distractibility. 44 There are problems with appetite and high blood pressure made worse by this stress. 45 Depressive symptoms of hopelessness and helplessness have been reported to me. This is 46 understandable when one considers the invasion of privacy, prolonged and constant 47 construction noise, the mess and commotion, and many unwanted strangers in view all day 48 long during the months of construction. Homeowners have also told me about their fears of the 49 unknown, specifically the impact of another hurricane on this site, or a tornado. Falls of New 50 Hope was hit hard by Hurricane Fran, and our residents have concerns about panels of glass