Hampshire residents concerned about proposed development along Big Timber Road

Hampshire residents are speaking out against a proposed residential development, saying they believe it will worsen flooding problems, remove too many trees and create environmental concerns in the area.

Community members addressed village officials and representatives from Crown Community Development at Monday's Hampshire plan commission meeting, which served as the first of three public hearings about the site that's located south of Big Timber Road along the eastern edge of Route 20 and would complement the Lakewood Crossing subdivision on the north side of Big Timber.

The final two public hearings will be held on March 9 and March 18.

"We need to see access to the engineering plans because we have to have drainage," nearby resident Lane Burnidge said. "There's been times when I've put a canoe in my front yard. It's pretty bad."

The Oakstead Subdivision would feature 1,013 houses, duplexes and townhouses in addition to an elementary school spread over 559 acres. At the end of Monday's meeting, the plan commission recommended approving annexation of a portion of the property into the village, rezoning the property and approving the entire preliminary development plan.

Although village officials stressed there are many steps before building begins, residents still voiced concerns.

"As you can see, the people that spoke tonight are extremely concerned about the water across their property," nearby resident Barbara Burton said. "I have expensive horses, and water coming across turns my grass sometimes a strange color. What is in that water? When people in the subdivision start using Roundup and things like that, what's going to happen when it starts coming across my property?"

Dan Olsem, vice president of Crown Community Development, said plans include steps to address flooding and trees will be planted to preserve open spaces because "it's the right thing to do" and trees add to property values.

"The flooding that all of you are experiencing right now in a predevelopment state will actually be helped because we are required to detain the stormwater," he said. "And it'll be released at a slower rate. So it won't be a large wash and a big flood that you're experiencing."