Support the Residents of East End and Say No to ANOTHER Dollar General

As concerned neighbors of the East End Community and Saline County, we are opposed to the proposed commercial zoning of the property on North Kaufman Rd and Highway167 (job #19-2597) up for Committee Hearing on June 13, 2019. We respectfully ask for the board to vote no on this commercial zoning, not because we are anti-growth but because we are enthusiastic supporters of smart, planned development and the preservation of private residential areas in our community. Our most compelling reasons include:

1. If approved, this land becoming a commercial lot will not be compatible with surrounding properties and significantly impact the residents that live on N. Kaufman Rd. by increasing traffic on their private gravel road and in return putting the safety and privacy of the residents at risk.

2. Approving this land for commercial usage will increase noise and environmental pollution for the surrounding residential areas.

3. Insufficient road infrastructure- Nearby intersections/roads cannot handle the dramatic increase in traffic that will occur if the and is approved for commercial business. It will increase traffic congestion on highway 167 as people try to turn left onto N Kaufman Rd. and for cars slowing down out of the Woodson Lateral intersection turning right. The gravel road of N Kaufman is too narrow to allow two cars to safely pass and certainly cannot allow for turning lanes. The traffic will already increase significantly on Highway 165 once the new East End Middle School opens down the road in August. Woodson Lateral does not have a turning lane either and traffic will significantly increase on that road as well.

4. No need for another Dollar General- We, the residents of East End and Saline County, do not feel like we need another Dollar General in East End. We have one located close to the proposed location (within 3 miles) in the center of our town on Arch St, another one approximately 6 miles down the road in Ico, and another one 7 miles away in Sardis. We also have a Family Dollar, Edwards Food Giant, and several other locally owned businesses that we support.