Letter: Defends BrightKeys

Dear Editor,

Heritage Greens must add more neighborhood-friendly commercial to keep going. Through discussions with city officials and neighbors, BrightKeys has built support. They have limited commercial uses, moved commercial away from residential, and lowered building heights. Still, a small group misrepresents BrightKeys as big business here to harm Hudson. You are entitled to your own opinions but not to your own facts.

Here are the stark facts. In May, home values in the Twin Cities fell 9.9 percent year over year while new housing permits dropped by 52 percent. Martin Farms in Wright County is being sold off by the bank as big pieces of the development stand vacant. This scenario is playing out across the country. For residents of Heritage Greens, it’s playing out in our back yards. We must choose a path that protects our neighborhood.

BrightKeys has a solution. Why? They are in business and want to be successful. Don’t forget they are also a regional developer with strong ties to Hudson and are proud of what they are trying to accomplish for our city.

However, if their current plan does not get approved they tell us that Heritage Greens will be handed over to the bank. The facts support this terrible risk. A big developer will look at Heritage Greens as a balance sheet, not as a great place to live and raise children. They will not be closely tied to Hudson, and it will become a discussion with lawyers not neighbors.

The facts support expanding commercial to keep Heritage Greens going. These changes will set our community apart, bring money into our development, and drive interest from prospective homeowners and builders. On the other hand, a new developer poses financial risk. What corners will they cut? How will they value the property?

This shrinking group of people stands in the way of BrightKeys. I worry that we’ve given you an inch and you think you are a ruler. You are playing a dangerous game with property values in Heritage Greens and it’s time to stop.

Let’s return to common sense. BrightKeys has demonstrated they are committed to us. It’s time that the Plan commission, the city and the residents of Hudson return the favor.

Please support the conditional use permit amendment in Site Plan 10. Heritage Greens must weather these tough times and come out as a vibrant neighborhood in a great city.

Joe Allen, Hudson

Heritage Greens Resident

Tags: opinion, hudson, letter, heritage_greens, development