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As a homeowner on Coldbrook Road in Hermon, I oppose the proposed rezoning of 861 Coldbrook Road from Residential B to Commercial. MadMax LLC proposes a trucking terminal with a garage, office space and equipment yard.
My greatest concern is safety. Traffic on Coldbrook Road has increased substantially over the past decade, making it increasingly difficult to cross.
My mailbox is across the road from my home. Like my neighbors on the same side, I must cross Coldbrook Road simply to retrieve my mail. This is an everyday necessity, not an occasional inconvenience.
Before allowing additional heavy truck traffic, I believe Hermon should commission an independent study of existing traffic conditions and roadway safety, including traffic volumes, vehicle speeds, crash history and pedestrian crossing conditions.
Residents also deserve answers about noise, operating hours and what other commercial uses could be permitted after rezoning.
Hermon has established industrial development areas, including Coldbrook, Freedom and Pinewood business parks. Have suitable alternatives been evaluated?
I support responsible economic development, but decisions affecting residential neighborhoods should be based on adequate information.
I ask the Planning Board to deny the application as submitted or postpone its recommendation until these questions are answered.
The public hearing is Oct. 20. I encourage residents to attend and make their views known.
Dave Sleeper
Hermon