Letter: Council should hear concerns about proposal

I am writing to protest the decision by the Elgin Planning Commission to approve the proposed 2100 Big Timber Road project. The commission voted to approve it despite numerous objections from scores of area residents at the planning meeting.

Reasons not to approve this project:

1. Elgin's long range plan was for farming and single residential in this area. There are no apartment complexes in this area and it does not fit in the city's plan.

2. Water problems are numerous. Most homes in Century Oaks within two blocks of the project are already having water problems. There are springs in those woods and the water will go somewhere - downhill. Once the plan is approved, is there recourse for flooded basements? Can we send the bill to the Planning Commission?

3. The Burton foundation has not provided any evidence for the need of this project, since Elgin already has 50% affordable housing and the federal minimum is only 10%.

4. The Burton foundation has provided no evidence of an impact statement, how a project like this may negatively affect the area. (traffic is not the only concern - what about enough schools, crime, property values, safety, sound, wildlife and light pollution?) There are many homes within 100 feet of this project.

5. It seems the project has an unusual budget. Why is a 36 unit apartment complex costing over $20 million? $555,000 to build each apartment? Why not build luxury homes along Randall for that kind of money?

I trust that our elected officials see the value of voting against this project, though the planning board (nonelected) does not have to face reelection and do not have this project in their own back yard.

Steve Szwarga

Elgin