As lawn signs across the country proclaim affection for different political candidates, the signs adorning the neighborhoods east of Binghamton’s campus are addressing a different issue. Our neighbors are protesting the expansion of Hayes Student Living.

Jeff Feinberg, the owner of the Hayes Manor Housing Complex, plans to expand the 185-unit development by adding an additional 224 units. To make this possible, Feinberg requested special permits and variances that would allow units to be built significantly smaller than allowed by the Town of Vestal’s code. The appeal also requests that the units be constructed with fewer and smaller parking spaces than code permits.

At a Sept. 28 meeting of the Vestal Town Board, residents of the neighborhood expressed strong opposition to the development. They were concerned that it would increase both vehicular and foot traffic within the area, which lacks sidewalks. The new complex would put up three-story buildings in the backyards of existing houses and decrease the overall quality of living.

We are sympathetic with the concerns of the Vestal residents. It is important to respect the character and culture of any neighborhood; when new developments are proposed, their developers should respect existing zoning laws and carefully consider their impact on neighboring residents. Currently, the Hayes proposal does not do so.

It is our hope that Binghamton University will impact the region in a positive fashion. As the University rapidly expands, it should aim to add to the area, not subtract from it. While the Hayes conflict is primarily between private homeowners and developers, if the plans continue as proposed, there will certainly be negative consequences in terms of how locals view University students.

Student housing has already caused a number different conflicts throughout the surrounding area. Last month, we wrote about residential complaints about the OCCT blue buses on Leroy Street. In 2015, the group CNY Fair Housing reported that student housing was a major impediment to fair housing in the city of Binghamton.

If left unaddressed, many of these issues will only get worse. New ones will arise, perhaps of greater scale and impact than the current ones. If the University is truly concerned with creating positive social change, it must be aware of its effect on the surrounding community. It cannot stay silent when problems arise.

It won’t be easy to remedy these problems, but a first step is for us as a school is to take responsibility for our part in causing these issues. To thoroughly address BU’s current and future impact, the administration should take the initiative to reach out to other players in the area and start an open and thoughtful dialogue regarding growth. Likewise, students should take the initiative to act as a check on these forces; they shouldn’t take housing for granted and should be cognizant of their impact.

We would like to see a coalition of developers, local residents, students, city, town and University officials, private landowners, landlords, nonprofit groups and commercial businesses work together toward positive solutions to these budding problems.

Whatever solution arises, it must be one that the community establishes together. We can only benefit from increased communication between the agents mentioned.