Town of Algoma residents oppose potential change to land use plan

I read with interest the article in the June 7th Oshkosh Herald on the Jones Farm development proposal, and was moved to respond to what I perceive to be a biased representation of what this new development actually is. For many reasons, my neighbors and I strongly oppose the change in zoning necessary to this development.
First, this proposed change to high-density housing from the current land use map, created for the township and adopted by the county, wherein Jones field is completely zoned as low-density residential (single-family homes), is unprecedented in Oshkosh and unnecessary. There are no comparative neighborhoods in Oshkosh that have high/medium density housing together in the same area in an established single family neighborhood. Medium and high-density residential zoning (apartments) already exists along Hwy 21, which is a travel corridor that has the space to handle the corresponding increased traffic associated with apartments as well as the likely necessary public transportation vehicles and infrastructure. There is, then, no need for more medium-density residential development.
Second, Oakwood School is already at capacity to the point that “open concept” classrooms have been created from bookshelves in the library. School boundaries will potentially require revision due to this development, causing existing, long-time, and active Algoma residents to be forced to change schools with a likely transient, less-community-invested population of renters taking their places. The current boundaries were drawn with the original zoning in mind. A change from low to high-density zoning changes those calculations and is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan of the town.
Third, Leonard Point Road is already dangerous due to excessive traffic, the curve by Leonard Point Lane and the current width of the road itself. The addition of potentially two 50-unit apartment buildings will significantly increase traffic and will likely necessitate the installation of public transportation stops.
Finally, we built our forever homes in our Algoma neighborhood after researching the great schools in the area, studying and relying upon the future land use map to assure the future of our low-density housing neighborhood, and looking forward to the planned (and beautiful) Jones Park that is finally coming to fruition. The idea of adding apartments to this well-established neighborhood should not be pushed forward merely for the financial gain of the developer and the potential financial gains in tax revenue by the town, especially when those gains come with potential losses to our home values (and the decreased tax base that creates) and sense of community, among other costs.
Please consider our expectations when we built homes here and became an active part of the Algoma community. My and my neighbors’ reaction to this proposal is not an emotional response based on ill-will toward renters. Everyone deserves affordable housing, and that is available in the Algoma area. We built here, in this rural, open, and low-density setting purposefully though, and large apartment complexes will drastically change the character of our neighborhood and those nearby. We oppose this potential change to the land use plan of the Town of Algoma.
Sincerely,
Benesh Family, Purdy Family, Epprecht Family, Sullivan Family, Tritt Family, Clark Family, Barnett Family, Smithson Family, Rintamaki Family, Becktold Family, Geiger Family, Miller Family, Nelson Family, Skroski Family, O’Halloran Family, Tomasiewicz Family, Williams Family, Barrett Family, Ulrich Family, Gamble Family, Tercha Family, Wright Family, Weeks Family, Potter Family, Reepsdorf Family, Ball Family, Kieckhafer Family, Neitzel Family, Marquardt Family, Horejs Family, Olk Family, Berger Family, Lane Family, Hielsberg Family, Donner Family, Bostrack Family, Lundquist Family, Stubbs Family, Reiland Family, Reigh Family, Gruetzmacher Family, Antti Family, Heun Family, Kuerschner Family, Dewhurst Family