From a reader. This letter was sent to some Woodlake residents.

Dear Neighbors,

I have taken the liberty of contacting you in the hopes of alerting the Woodlake community to current development in the area. I found your email addresses on the Woodlake website. I live in Woodlake. I have recently been trying to learn more about the Creek Meadow development that is being built between Greens Prairie Road, Greens Prairie Trail, and south of Greens Prairie Trail, adjacent to Woodlake. The city sewer force main for this new development is currently going in through the front lawns of Woodlake homes.

From what I have learned so far, it will include Commercial Development on Greens Prairie Trail, 32 acres of high density student housing (duplexes and the like), and the rest is approx. 5 homes/acre. The master plan is available at the City offices.

This will clearly have a huge impact on our quality of life. Much of this development will be directly adjacent to Woodlake. Traffic congestion is certain, given that the entire development will empty onto two tiny roads - Greens Prairie Trail and Greens Prairie Road (by Turnberry). Greens Prairie Trail, in particular, has at least 25 driveways on it. It was never meant to carry commercial or student traffic. Now that it also carries heavy school traffic, this becomes particularly dangerous for all of us and our children. It is already difficult for us to exit driveways in the mornings as parents rush their children to school.

I have been told that because it is in ETJ, there is no way to control this development. However, I believe that if there is enough community involvement, we may be able to influence it, especially as the developer, Todd Carnes (TC Homes), and his engineer, Rabon Metcalf, live locally, and must interact with us. Todd Carnes' office is in front of Home Depot. Both of these gentlemen have children at Forest Ridge elementary school.

The Planning and Zoning Commission is meeting Thursday night, Dec. 7, at 7:00 pm to accept a preliminary plat for this development. If we can turn out in large numbers, perhaps we can influence this development.

In addition, the plat apparently does not meet County minimum standards, and County variances will be needed. Please encourage your county official, Lloyd Wasserman, not to grant these variances.

I'll also point out, that if traffic on Greens Prairie Trail becomes congested, the city will use this as an argument to extend Woodlake Drive.

Please make your thoughts on these matters known to your local authorities, before the upcoming meeting, and please attend the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Thursday night, Dec. 7, at 7:00 at the College Station City Hall.