Editor, The Smithfield Times:

This letter is specifically intended for the Smithfield Planning Commission and Town Council. The community of Moonefield is a quiet community and we wish to keep it that way. 

Many residents have recently seen the public notice about a Planning Commission meeting to consider allowing the operation of an “Event Center” at 54 Faye Drive in the community of Moonefield. I, for one, am completely against this rezoning for several reasons, a few of which I will explain here.

An event center will dramatically increase traffic throughout the entire community. 54 Faye Drive is located in the back of the subdivision, so vehicles traveling to and from an event would need to traverse the entire community. Many residents of Moonefield walk, run or ride bicycles (including children) and would have to deal with increased danger.

An event center will presumably hold nighttime public/social gatherings that will increase noise levels and outside lighting issues. These issues may infringe on the rights of neighbors who may have specifically moved into Moonefield because it is a relatively quiet and peaceful neighborhood.

I am aware that there are subdivisions in Smithfield/Isle of Wight that include clubhouses where events are held similar to those that would be held at 54 Faye Drive. However, potential homeowners in those subdivisions would have been aware of such events before they purchased their homes. Residents of Moonefield had no such awareness of this facility before purchasing their homes.

Thank you to the Planning Commission and Town Council for your attention to this matter.

 

Karen Foster

Smithfield