Dear Editor,
The new plans for the Exley/New Savannah property create no solutions to the negative impacts on Effingham residents.
While the new plans may help to mitigate adverse impacts on current residents by distancing the industrial activity from the existing residential properties, the addition of 1,350 units within a multi-family zoned area of the property is only creating additional negative impacts from incompatible land uses.
Insufficient buffers between the proposed multi-family residential areas and industrial activity will subject future residents to undesirable living conditions such as excessive lighting, noise and air pollution.
Vibrations from the rail spur would also be an issue given that the estimated distance of rail line (per developers) is 300 feet from residents.
Previous studies from developers stated that it would take 522 feet for the vibrations to completely dissipate.
Potential for industrial accidents/catastrophe still remain — with no restrictions on what may be stored next to residential areas (hazardous chemicals, toxins, combustibles, munitions, etc.)
Previous staff report from the zoning office in April made recommendations aimed at protecting residents (such as only one rail spur allowed 1,000 feet from residents, no storage of hazardous chemicals and munitions within 1,000 feet of residents, limiting hours of use for PA system, no underground storage tanks as this is a groundwater recharge area) — none of which were made in regard to the multi-family units.
The negative impacts on health and quality of life remain — perhaps just for different residents now.
Is this really what we are promoting in Effingham County?
Who will live in the multi-family units? Low-income residents of Effingham County whom cannot afford health care.
Perhaps the rest of the county will pay for the health problems that the industrial activity may cause.
Are poor living conditions and industrial parks what we desire visitors and prospective businesses to see when they enter Effingham County?
If allowed by the county, this will be a very undesirable location to live in. It just doesn’t make sense to put our residents (present or future) in harm’s way.
Wendy Gillespie
