Minutes 05-27-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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