Proposed development misses the mark

Marie Wilson's article "312 houses for one of Naperville's final farms gain early approval" raises concerns about the planned development of the Wagner Farm that are broadly relevant for the entire western suburbs. At issue is the question: how do we build resilient communities that promote human health and reduce our contribution to climate change?

In short, the answer is not to continue with suburban planning that has dominated for the last 70 years. Rather we need to shift to developments that minimize energy and water use, enhance walkability and public transit, eliminate chemical-intensive landscaping, support the electrification of transportation, and preserve natural areas that provide habitat for wildlife, stormwater sequestration, and trees for filtering air and cooling neighborhoods.

The planned development for the Wagner Farm appears to entirely miss the mark. There is no plan for parkland, despite an opportunity to link parks north and south of the property. Based on Ms. Wilson's reporting, there appears to be insufficient attention given to potential flooding from storms that are expected to increase in intensity in the coming years. Moreover, community concerns about traffic are not adequately addressed because this plan consists merely of creating more sprawl.

We have to do better. As evidence mounts that our physical health is influenced by the quality of the neighborhoods in which we live, developers must design communities that promote public health. As a city and as a region, we need to reinvent suburban development to build the resilient, health-promoting neighborhoods of the future.

Robert M. Sargis

Naperville