Construction began on a new housing development in Santee recently but it’s not making some residents happy.
The Castlerock housing development will be located just north of Highway 52, off of Mast Boulevard and across the street from West Hills High School. After years of planning, and an environmental lawsuit, 415 homes will soon go up in the area.
The development will also include 90-acres of open space and a public trail to Mission Trails Park nearby. The project is being headed by Pardee Homes.
However, some residents say they are unhappy because they believe the development will bring the traffic congestion and noise to the area.
“They took away my serenity, my quietness, my feeling, I just really enjoyed it over here. Now, I know it's gonna be way different,” Santee resident Bonnie Tucker said.
The 28-year old lives right next to the development. She said she’s expecting a lot of traffic, noise and chaos once the project picks up.
Another resident told NBC 7, once the housing development is complete, traffic in the area will be a nightmare.
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“It's already bad for us, leaving Mast to go to 52, sometimes I get stopped up at my stoplight and I have to wait two or three turns before I can turn onto Mast,” long-time resident Brad Herring said.
Herring says he plans to make sure crews follow construction times and guidelines.
Pardee Homes is aware of the concerns about traffic and plans to add two additional stoplights to help. But residents believe that will add to the traffic in the area, especially during the school year. The housing development company has scheduled an open house to hear from residents on July 19 at West Hills High School.
The development company also released a statement saying that it's looking forward to being a good neighbor and committed to minimizing impacts to the surrounding area.
The houses are expected to be ready for move-in by late 2017.
