Residents raise flooding, setback and safety concerns at Salem Hills conceptual plan

Dozens of residents told the Village of Salem Lakes Village Board on Aug. 19 they oppose a conceptual 11‑lot plan for the Salem Hills addition by Behr Development, chiefly over a proposed access road that neighbors say would sit too close to existing homes and could worsen flooding. The concerns came during the board’s public‑comment period and in a subsequent concept presentation by developer Jonah Hetland. Residents said the proposed private road would run between existing lots, expose home windows and wells to headlights and runoff, and bring construction‑period and long‑term traffic that would change neighborhood character. The developer, Jonah Hetland of Behr Development, said the 40‑acre parcel abuts the existing Salem Hills subdivision and the concept shows an average lot size of about 3.5 acres (the smallest about 1.5 acres and the largest about 12 acres). Ten lots would take access from a new private road connecting through the existing subdivision; one large lot would use an existing driveway onto Highway 50.…