Dear Editor:

Penn Forest Township has openly admitted at their meeting that they have the power to allow an R-2 Development to be changed and allow an amusement park to be put in place. All people of Penn Forest Township, whether you are in a development or not, should attend the Planning Meeting on Oct. 22 and any other meetings regarding this issue to voice their opposition to such a bullying of their residents.Why would anyone want to build in Penn Forest Township when the elected officials can just change zoning for their own benefit?Penn Forest Township just recently had an "Amusement Tax" meeting. Coincidence or not? You be the judge. A $1 million bridge (built with taxpayer's money) was just completed in Meckesville....three houses and Skirmish benefit. What's next - a new bridge at Bear Creek Dairy and an amusement park? It seems our elected officials are going to benefit from allowing such an amusement park.The proposed amusement park is at Little Bear and Bear Creek creeks. Ziplines, ATV trails, parking lots, buildings, underground power and utilities are just some of what is proposed with the 200 acre amusement park. The total acreage of the Scott Deitrich property is 416 plus acres. It could balloon out to more than 200 acres, partners or neighbors or such a park could expand larger and larger once the genie is out of the bottle. Marty Axeman, Sunrise Ridge and of course the red headed stepchild Bear View will have no privacy, lower property values, traffic, pollution, noise, ecological loss, animals and fish driven out of our PRIVATE development. Also, a school bus stop at this intersection and a one lane bridge.Yes, we need jobs. However, not at the expense of our privacy and property values plummeting, employees, sanitation trucks, construction vehicles, vending suppliers, constantly coming and going and of course, people screaming as they fly through the forests.People move to quiet. private developments to have it that way. Remember these Penn Forest officials when voting. Do some of these people have something to gain?Scott Deitrich has cut a road through the forest and has driven his Pinzsaur Tour Trucks, (located at Pocono Whitewater) through Bear View, Marty Axeman, Sunrise Ridge and a pristine trout stream called Bear Creek which flows into the Lehigh River. He did this without permits. We had him stopped.What's next, more skirmish, killing trees and waterways? Go Zipline and Whitewater Rafting together? State Game Lands will have to apply a Safety Zone because of the screaming ziplines, ATV riders located only feet away. This would be a Jerry Sandusky of our forests. Loss of hunting rights.Scott Deitrich knew he purchased R-2. So help keep Bear View and your development R-2 and not have a second "Highway to Adventure" on Behrens Road.Along Bear View Drive there are several ponds (some seen, some not). Bald eagles, blue herons, black bear, ducks all feed and travel with their young along this road. We would like to keep them here.Keep Penn Forest just that ......Penn FOREST.The road proposed is a very narrow dirt road with houses only 15 feet from the road. Our lives are at risk. People who are enjoying their retirement days ride golf carts on these roads as they watch and enjoy the abundant wildlife.Remember ALL of these officials.If the cork is popped in Bear View, your development is next.Attend meetings, call our Senator's office, call our Representative's office. Tell a friend who cares. Sign our petition on Oct. 22, 6 p.m. at Penn Forest Township.HELP US, HELP YOURSELF.This is my opinion.Darren ReinartJim Thorpe and Penn Forest property owner