Controversy brewing in neighborhood

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Tags:

local/state

FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- A developer in Fayetteville wants to replace older World War II era homes with more modern ones. And some residents are upset about the plan.

One homeowner placed signs in his yard protesting the proposed zoning change that would allow multi-family dwellings. And neighbors back the homeowner's fight.

"I think it's going to ruin Haymont," neighbor Joan Phillips said. "Haymont is historical you put in condos in here that's not very historical I think they need to leave the homes alone."

Developer Tommy Bradford is currently building a huge retail and residential complex near Hope Mills.

That like many of his projects has reshaped neighborhood character.

Bradford wants to replace some of the World War II era built homes along Pinecrest Drive with modern duplexes.

And someone else has already built new townhouses on same road.

Residents say the street is already clogged with traffic and it's been that way for years. It's being used as a shortcut between Raeford and Morganton roads.

Homeowners worry more homes and more people will just make the problem worse.

"You get horns beeped at you, you got people that don't even let you back out of your own driveway, you're there sometimes 10 minutes just trying to back out," Phillips said.

But residents like Chris Fletcher know change is inevitable, but he doesn't want it to destroy his neighborhood.

"So we are kind of concerned that care is given when the property is put up to consider other people around you know," Fletcher said.

The question of progress verses preservation will be argued at public hearing before the zoning commission Tuesday night.