To our State Representatives:

I respectfully oppose the petition of certain property owners to de-annex key parcels of land in the Village of Wesley Chapel for the following reasons:

- The petitioners claim they are unable to sell their land under current zoning and so sought help from the state legislature, but none of the petitioners has ever approached the Village Council regarding these concerns nor proposed a solution to the issue.

- The Village of Wesley Chapel has only recently been made aware of the petitioners’ concerns and has not had adequate time to respond.

- Because a state legislator has promised to submit a local bill allowing these petitioners to de-annex, the petitioners have no motivation to work with the Village on a solution.

- Such differences ought to be resolved at the local level, for intervention by the state undermines the authority of the municipal government.

- While one proposed use for these properties includes additional commercial development, this solution would undermine our existing commercial area which presently has vacant buildings and is still under development.

- While another proposed solution is to allow senior housing on these parcels, this only makes sense for one of the parcels, and the Village is already working on this solution so it is not necessary to de-annex to achieve this.

- Many of these de-annexed properties would likely be used for high density housing.

- Increased density will negatively impact the remaining residents of Wesley Chapel by causing a strain on infrastructure, including already crowded school systems and roadway congestion.

- State legislators have made no proposal to ameliorate the effects of this increased density on the remaining homeowners in Wesley Chapel.

- Redistricting due to rampant growth has already caused a material drop in the property value of many Wesley Chapel residents’ homes.

- A mass defection of Wesley Chapel residents will require the remaining residents to pay higher taxes to make up the deficit.

- The proposed de-annexation has encouraged additional land owners to seek de-annexation, causing a snowball effect that will seriously damage Wesley Chapel’s ability to plan for and manage this community.

- Already property owners in other municipalities are seeking de-annexation, duplicating these problems across Union County.

In closing, please do not support a local bill allowing Wesley Chapel residents to de-annex. Due to the impossible timeframe this imposes on the Village of Wesley Chapel, this rash action will damage the property rights of the residents of Wesley Chapel who must remain and attempt to mitigate the aftermath.