Dozens of Horsham residents turned out Monday to comment on
the Navy's environmental impact study for redevelopment of the former Naval Air
Station at Willow Grove.
Most residents were concerned with traffic, noise, and other
impacts during and after construction.
Activists also submitted comments and distributed leaflets
opposing the drone command center at the Horsham Air Guard Base, which is
adjacent but unrelated to the naval base redevelopment.
Troops at the Air Guard base are training to remotely
operate MQ-9 Reaper drones to conduct strikes and surveillance overseas as part
of the U.S. counterterrorism program.
The program has drawn protest from two dozen local
religious, political, veterans, and antiwar groups.
Robert Smith of the Brandywine Peace Community said he
feared the drone program could make Horsham "a viable target" for
terrorists.
"The drone strikes have involved the destruction of
targets - people. The killing of people, including children," he said.
"The reality of war is that the violence that is done to your enemy
returns to you."
Bud Smith, a longtime Horsham resident, laughed off the
concern about terrorist retribution.
"We can handle them," he said, adding that after
the redevelopment, "they'll be stuck in traffic like the rest of us."
The development plan preferred by local officials and
residents would add an estimated 3,355 residents and nearly 500 acres of
retail, office, and entertainment space.
"It's mind-boggling, the amount of traffic it's going
to bring," said Jean Caputo.
Keith Grimes of Hatboro was concerned about environmental
remediation, recalling that the Navy Yard cleanup in Philadelphia "ended
up being far more expensive than they ever anticipated."
"But that was 15 or 20 years ago, so maybe they've
learned a thing or two since then," he added.
Source: Philly.com
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