Letter: Consider effect of zoning change on nearby residents

I am writing to provide an update to your article published March 3, "Annexation and zoning request for 316 acres near Hampshire put on hold." The village of Hampshire is considering a new application to annex and rezone the 277 acres on the north and south sides of Dietrich Road for M2 General Industrial Use. The proposed industrial megasite will sit behind homes like mine in Huntley.

The development will have room for 1,700-plus semi-trucks. As a health care professional, I know that people living near warehouse distribution centers and heavy freight traffic corridors have higher asthma rates and cancer risk, making these areas "diesel death zones."

Sadly, many residents of Hampshire don't care about a diesel death zone in my back yard - as long as it's not in theirs. Some Hampshire officials don't count my concerns because I am not a Hampshire voter. The village of Huntley is silent on the issue, even though a portion of the land is in unincorporated Huntley.

My neighbors and I will have to live every day - and night - with the light, noise, air and water pollution from thousands more diesel trucks in our community.

There will be a Public Hearing about it on May 8 at the Hampshire Middle School. I hope people will turn out and demand safe and sustainable development - not M2 zoning so close to homes. I ask the village of Hampshire to listen to the people whose lives will be negatively impacted.

Cynthia Rafkind

Huntley