SAY NO TO FIELDEN

TO: The Auburn City Planning Commission, Auburn City Manager, Auburn City Planning Director, Lee County Commission, Lee County Engineer, Lee County Probate Judge: 

I strongly oppose the proposed Fielden development in unincorporated Lee County between Auburn and Waverly. Although marketed as an “agrihood,” the plan functions as a high-density subdivision — initially 254 homes, with indications it could reach 300, potentially including townhomes and lots as small as 1/8 acre. The landowner also holds 450 adjacent acres that could add hundreds more high-density homes in future phases.

Because the site lies outside the city of Auburn’s optimal boundary and is not eligible for annexation, Fielden would lack the necessary city services. The entire project would rely on a shared septic system and fall within the Loachapoka School District, while contributing no tax revenue to Auburn to support needed west-side infrastructure improvements.

Additionally, the lead developers have no prior experience undertaking a subdivision of this scale or enacting the land-conservation practices they are promoting as a core feature of the project. Their lack of experience and absence of comparable projects in their portfolio erodes our confidence in their ability to deliver a successful outcome for the community.

Approval would place a heavy traffic burden on Farmville Road/County Road 72, permanently strain rural infrastructure, and set a precedent inviting further high-density projects in unincorporated areas. For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to deny the Fielden proposal.