Residents of the Town of Milo and the Village of Penn Yan are being asked to accept a major development proposal involving the annexation of approximately 72 acres of land at 2442 Old Route 14A — formerly the McFetridge farm — for a large-scale residential housing project. While housing needs and economic growth are important conversations for any community, this proposal raises serious and legitimate questions that deserve broader public attention before irreversible decisions are made.

The project, which could introduce between 250 and 500 new housing units, represents a development of a scale that would fundamentally alter the character, infrastructure demands, and long-term fiscal obligations of both municipalities. Yet residents have been asked to evaluate this proposal without access to the most basic analyses typically required for developments of this size.

First, traffic impacts remain largely unexamined. Old Route 14A and surrounding roads already experience congestion, seasonal tourism traffic, and agricultural and commercial use. A development of this magnitude will add hundreds — if not thousands — of daily vehicle trips. To date, no comprehensive traffic impact study has been publicly presented addressing peak-hour congestion, emergency vehicle access, school bus routes, pedestrian safety, or long-term road maintenance costs. Without this information, it is impossible to determine whether existing roadways can safely and efficiently handle the additional burden.

Second, sewer and water infrastructure capacity has not been clearly demonstrated. The proposed development would likely require connection to the Village of Penn Yan’s wastewater treatment........

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