Petition addressed to: All those directly impacted

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED RESIDENTS, respectfully petition the Oconee County Council and Seneca City Council to:
1.  Enact a Temporary Moratorium: Immediately suspend approvals for new residential and commercial developments in Seneca until Garrison Farms, Cascade Point, and Seneca Falls are fully built out and occupied.
2.  Conduct a Comprehensive Impact Assessment: Commission a publicly accessible study within [e.g., 90 days] evaluating:
•  Traffic impacts on Rochester Highway, Wells Highway, and Joe Lewis Road. he Oconee County Planning Commission is tasked with ensuring sustainable growth, which includes traffic considerations, but without completed developments, any studies would rely on projections that may underestimate real-world pressures. Residents have raised concerns about traffic congestion, particularly during school hours, yet no specific pre-session or peak-hour studies are documented to address these issues for the current projects. This suggests a need for delaying new approvals, such as Carver Park, until existing developments are built out and comprehensive traffic impact assessments can be conducted under operational conditions.
•  Emergency services capacity (fire, police, EMS) for new residents.
•  School capacity at Seneca High School, Seneca Middle School, and elementary schools, including student-to-teacher ratios and facility needs.
•  Sewer system capacity at the Coneross Creek Water Reclamation Facility, with measures to prevent repeats of the 2019, 2020, and May 20, 2025, sewage spills and address chronic sewer smells, as discussed at the May 21, 2025, OJRSA meeting.
•  Wildlife displacement, particularly black bears, coyotes, owls, herds of deer, raccoons, skunks, possums, and large flocks of birds, with mitigation plans to protect habitats and reduce human-wildlife conflicts.
•  Flooding risks along Coneross Creek, incorporating data from 2019, 2020, and 2025 events, with mitigation strategies to protect infrastructure and ecosystems.
•  Environmental impacts on Lake Keowee, including runoff, erosion, and pollution risks from development, with measures to protect water quality and aquatic life.
•  Economic sustainability, including employment opportunities and demand for new housing, to ensure developments align with Seneca’s workforce and population needs.
3.  Verify Market and Infrastructure Readiness: Require data-driven evidence that the housing market can absorb new units without depressing property values, that sufficient employment opportunities exist to support new residents, and that infrastructure, schools, sewer systems, flood defenses, and Lake Keowee’s ecosystem are adequate before approving new projects.
4.  Hold a Public Hearing: Schedule a public hearing within [e.g., 30 days] to address resident concerns, including sewer smells, flooding, Lake Keowee impacts, and housing market oversaturation, present assessment progress, and discuss the moratorium.
This petition reflects our commitment to responsible growth, ensuring that Seneca’s infrastructure, schools, sewer systems, economic stability, and natural environment—including Coneross Creek, Lake Keowee, and wildlife - can support current and future residents without compromising safety, education, or ecological health in the face of frequent flooding, chronic sewer issues, and insufficient employment. We urge the Councils to act promptly to protect our community.
Signed,