Letter: Quality of Life More Important Than a Coffee Shop

Dear Mr. Garrigan, Village President Collins and Village Trustees: 

I attended the Village Board meeting on Monday night with my husband, Ken and my daughter, Mackenzie.  I live at 14928 S. Arnold, which is located at the intersection of Arnold and Oak Streets.  (We are the white house on the corner.) During the board meeting, my husband expressed concern over the possible construction of a Dunkin Donuts plaza on Route 59, Arnold and Oak Street.  As stated at the meeting, there are several (16+)small children who reside on Arnold Street or Oak Street.  This location also happens to be the bus stop for Central Elementary School. In addition, there are many elderly residents who walk everywhere in town. 

I'd like to tell you about the current traffic situation on my corner. We have yield signs on Oak Street, which gives the drivers on Arnold Street the right of way.  Most drivers blow through these yield signs with no regard to possible oncoming traffic. We have witnessed SEVERAL near accidents and quite a few actual collisions. Just yesterday, there was a verbal altercation between two drivers on our corner because one driver did not yield and the vehicles almost collided.  This sort of thing happens on a daily basis.  I cannot imagine how much these incidents would increase with a retail establishment located on the corner.  I understand that this is a quality piece of land. It would make an excellent spot for a professional office, such as a doctor or dentist.  But to bring in a drive-through would truly be a mistake. 

I am asking each of you to actually drive to this location and see what I'm talking about. Come and sit on our front porch and watch the traffic!

I am a native Plainfield resident. I grew up in this house; and I moved back into this home with the hope of providing my daughter with the type of childhood that I had.  I want to live in a safe neighborhood where the children don't have to be afraid to play in the front yard. I want to watch my daughter ride her bike down the sidewalk on Arnold Street without worrying about a car jumping the curb. I don't want to see giant trash dumpsters and neon lights or hear the drive-through speaker when I sit on my front porch.

Please consider voting no on this proposal at the next board meeting. Aren't families and quality of life more important than yet another coffee shop? 

Thank you for your time. 

Susan (Crook) Hurley
Plainfield