We are building a home in the Kendall Mills subdivision (373 Wayside Mill Ln), which will be impacted by the proposed boundary adjustment with the Town of Middletown, in the Opequon district. We are concerned about the increase in traffic at the I-81 interchange if this area is not carefully developed. Currently, there are 2 gas stations at this intersection, and a Sheetz truck stop is planned on the east side of the interstate. Reliance Road is a small road that is load restricted, partially in Warren County, and is not suitable for large truck traffic.
We are concerned that, although our daily life will be impacted by this development, we will have no voice in Middletown's decisions as we remain outside the proposed boundaries. Residents of the surrounding areas will become political orphans.
While it makes perfect sense for the town to annex Areas A and B that have contiguous borders with the town, it does not make sense for Middletown to annex areas east of I-81 that have not historically been part of the town. By annexing Area C, Middletown will more than double its current area. The hope of property owners that Middletown will provide water and sewer service to this area doesn't seem feasible given the proposed size of the town's area.
This is a rural area with a unique history. Any changes to land use and boundaries should be very carefully considered, and local residents' concerns should be a major part of any decision made. We do not want to create a disaster like the one currently being adjusted at the Stephens City I-81 exit. Without careful planning and limited development, this Reliance Road/Middletown exit area will soon have the same problems as Stephens City. The long range plan for that interchange includes moving it - would that also be the plan if the Reliance Road area becomes similarly congested? I hope the Board will take the lessons learned from the Stephens City area and not allow Middletown to become its clone.
We are building a home in the Kendall Mills subdivision (373 Wayside Mill Ln), which will be impacted by the proposed boundary adjustment with the Town of Middletown, in the Opequon district. We are concerned about the increase in traffic at the I-81 interchange if this area is not carefully developed. Currently, there are 2 gas stations at this intersection, and a Sheetz truck stop is planned on the east side of the interstate. Reliance Road is a small road that is load restricted, partially in Warren County, and is not suitable for large truck traffic.
We are concerned that, although our daily life will be impacted by this development, we will have no voice in Middletown's decisions as we remain outside the proposed boundaries. Residents of the surrounding areas will become political orphans.
While it makes perfect sense for the town to annex Areas A and B that have contiguous borders with the town, it does not make sense for Middletown to annex areas east of I-81 that have not historically been part of the town. By annexing Area C, Middletown will more than double its current area. The hope of property owners that Middletown will provide water and sewer service to this area doesn't seem feasible given the proposed size of the town's area.
This is a rural area with a unique history. Any changes to land use and boundaries should be very carefully considered, and local residents' concerns should be a major part of any decision made. We do not want to create a disaster like the one currently being adjusted at the Stephens City I-81 exit. Without careful planning and limited development, this Reliance Road/Middletown exit area will soon have the same problems as Stephens City. The long range plan for that interchange includes moving it - would that also be the plan if the Reliance Road area becomes similarly congested? I hope the Board will take the lessons learned from the Stephens City area and not allow Middletown to become its clone.