During a recent government meeting, community members voiced their concerns regarding proposed high-density housing developments in their neighborhoods. The discussions highlighted the potential impact on local residents, particularly vulnerable populations such as seniors.
Alexander Barajas spoke on behalf of his grandparents, who live near a proposed site for three-story townhomes at 431 West Baseline Road. He expressed their worries about losing privacy and safety, emphasizing that the new construction would be just a few feet from their backyard, contrasting sharply with the previous one-story commercial building that had a significant setback. Barajas urged the commission to consider the implications for his grandparents and other residents, asking what measures would be taken to address their concerns about safety and privacy.
Peter Yao, a resident of the northeast Clermont area, also raised issues regarding a proposed development on an empty lot near his home on Yankton Avenue. He criticized the plan to subdivide the lot into three separate parcels for new construction, questioning how this would affect the character of their small neighborhood, which currently consists of six homes and a limited number of vehicles. Yao's comments reflected a broader concern among residents about maintaining the integrity of their community amidst increasing development pressures.
The meeting underscored the tension between the need for high-density housing and the preservation of existing neighborhood dynamics, as residents called for more consideration of their concerns in the planning process.