Subdivision residents still oppose trail

Bill Grimes

EFFINGHAM — In what appears to be a classic example of the NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) Syndrome, a group of homeowners northwest of Effingham are questioning the wisdom of using their subdivision to complete a loop of a proposed multi-use trail.

Gary Miller, who lives on Kingwood Drive, said none of his neighbors are against the efforts of Trail Recreation Effingham County (TREC) to develop a county-wide trail system. But several Kingwood subdivision residents believe the trail could be developed without using Kingwood Drive and Kepley Lane as links between the segments of TREC’s proposed Phase III.

“We’re all for the TREC project, but we just don’t want it running through our subdivision,” Miller said. “It seems like you’re a hypocrite when you say that, but we just think there’s a better way.”

Miller, and others, believe that “better way” would be to route the trail east and south of the subdivision in a wooded area. Mel Hebert, who lives down the street from Miller, said there’s a variety of reasons why folks on his block don’t want the trail in front of them. They include:

• Fear of decreased property values.

• An increase in litter.

• Increased danger of property damage and theft.

• Traffic and parking concerns along their one-lane street.

• Danger to children exposed to criminal activity.

Hebert said the Bloomington City Council listened to homeowner concerns in 1991 when it nixed a trail expansion that would have run past a subdivision.

But Cole Runge, principal planner for the Brown County Planning Commission in eastern Wisconsin, said a 2001 study showed the Fox River Trail

actually increased property values along the route of the trail. Moreover, Runge said, real estate agents use the trail as a selling point.

“Only a handful of homes along or near the Fox River Trail have been placed on the market since the trail opened, but nearly every advertisement for these homes has mentioned the trail as an amenity,” Runge said. “The real estate agents who have listed properties along and near the trail have learned that trails enhance property values and enable them to sell lots and homes quickly.”

TREC opponents don’t believe the Fox River Trail experience would be replicated in Kingwood subdivision.

“It’s a beautiful neighborhood — a safe and secure neighborhood,” said resident Jim Hutchison. “But I wouldn’t even think about moving here if there was a walking trail.

“It’s an ideal place to live,” Hebert said. “But it won’t be if this happens.”

A group of Kingwood residents met July 27 with TREC proponents Frank Brummer and Frank Kabbes. Brummer said Friday it might be possible to move the trail along the south boundary of Kingwood subdivision, if property owners would grant easements.

“I told them if they had easements, we’d be glad to look at them,” Brummer said. “We’re more than willing to look at any other options.”

Brummer claimed Kingwood subdivision residents are in the minority in their opposition to the link, even among others who live near Lake Sara.

“As vocal as they have been, we’ve had a ton of support from many people in the Lake Sara area who want to make sure we don’t take trail access away from them,” he said.

Brummer said re-routing the trail to the ridge line behind Kingwood Drive homes would nearly double the estimated $400,000 cost of Phase III. Moreover, he said, the amount of environmental mitigation needed for a trail to run through that heavily wooded area would be prohibitive.

“We wouldn’t want to wipe out 30 feet of trees,” he said. “It would be hard to get grants for a trail that involved cutting down hundreds of trees.”

Brummer is confident that Kingwood residents will see the value of a trail running through their neighborhood.

“At the end of the day, they are going to be happy with it,” he said.

But they’re not happy right now.

Thirty-three Kingwood subdivision residents signed an Oct. 2 letter to Bill Austin, chairman of the TREC planning committee, asking that the link through their subdivision be reconsidered.

The letter signers — including Hebert, Hutchison and Miller — complained the process might have gone more smoothly with resident input before plans were announced. Hebert said the group wants to see how TREC board members respond to the letter before contemplating legal action.

“Hopefully, it won’t come to that,” Hebert said.

Not every Kingwood resident is against the proposed routing. Dean Samuel, who lives on the cul-de-sac at the east end of Kingwood Drive, said he believes he made the right decision to grant TREC an easement through his property to reach Kingwood Drive.

“I feel TREC is a tremendous opportunity for Effingham, myself and all my neighbors,” Samuel said. “I’m still kind of baffled why people are so strongly against it.

“But I feel very strongly that TREC will be a blessing to the entire county.”

Bill Grimes can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 132 or bill.grimes@effinghamdailynews.com.

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