Letter: Proposed rezoning would hurt village

I am writing to bring attention to an issue regarding potential rezoning in our community. The parcels in question lay at the corner of U.S. Route 20 and Higgins Road. A portion of the property is in the village of Hampshire, and the other parcels are under county jurisdiction. The owners of these parcels are asking Hampshire to annex the county's parcels and rezone the entire property M-2 General Industrial.

My family lives directly adjacent to this property, and we want to bring awareness to how this would negatively impact us and the community at large. I believe the rezoning and proposed development are in direct violation of the language describing appropriate M-2 zoning in the Hampshire village code.

The owners suggest installing hundreds of truck and trailer stalls in our backyard. The air, noise and sound pollution would impact the health, well-being and property values of us and our neighbors. Kane County has designated parts of this area as a wetland above an aquifer, meaning this development would threaten the surrounding wetlands and our water supply.

Finally, this development would likely increase the tax burden on Hampshire residents as the intersections of Higgins Rd and U.S. Route 20 and Higgins and Widmeyer roads would require renovation to accommodate heavy truck traffic.

We hope you agree this proposed rezoning and development would be to the detriment of the community. It will not bring significant jobs, tax dollars or people to Hampshire.

Let's support growth that works for everyone, not just out-of-town developers with no long-term connection to our community. Please express your concerns to a Hampshire trustee, a member of the zoning and planning commission or come to the meeting on Feb. 27 in Hampshire.

Mallory Anderson

Hampshire