To the Editor:

A few weeks ago, I attended the Planning & Zoning Commissions meeting at the Community Center. I was interested to hear more about the proposed mega warehouse to be potentially built near the exit 9 I-84 exit.

Wharton Equity Partners gave a seemingly reasonable presentation. The building would be far from the road, not very visible from the street. Catch basins set in place to treat runoff from the highway. Sound barriers installed. Erosion and sedimentary controls to protect existing wetlands put in place. No endangered species would be threatened. A minimal uptick in traffic may occur according to their traffic study. All sounded reasonable enough.

However, the rebuttal put the local effect in perspective. Neighborhoods, including two retirement communities, as well as two day schools in the vicinity having to contend with the proposed site. A 24/7 distribution hub, accommodating 87 loading bays that would have 80 ton trucks traveling in and out of the facility at all hours. Undetermined waiting times for the trucks cued up to be loaded therefore having to idle by the entrance or circulating around the streets until it was their turn to go in and load.

“How much pollution will the neighborhoods, the elderly and the kids endure?” was a question that was raised. Lights equal to those in a football field being kept on all night year-round as well as noise at all hours.

A resident with a background in local land use challenged the runoff system as inadequate and the entire venture as pollution generating. I strongly encourage your readers to go over his comprehensive report submitted as evidence in the Planning and Zoning minutes for April 7. It is attached to the meeting minutes.

It raises legitimate concerns. The traffic study also came under scrutiny for unrealistic traffic projections. Done during a COVID year (2021) when there was lower traffic volume than during a normal year. On that regard, a gentleman I was speaking with injected some common sense by wondering out loud, “What happens to the trucks that have to go to Bridgeport, at best they get off at exit 11 and take Wasserman Way, or at worst go right down Main Street?”

Our neighbors that took this plan to task are not against building on the commercial space, but they do object to the use that it is being built for. Can’t a less noxious venture be found? There are economic gains but at what costs? There are quality of life as well as environmental impacts that we as members of this town need to fully consider.

The meeting raised several red flags. Even though I live on the other side of town, I realized that I am affected — we are all affected. We need to put some thought into whether or not this is something we are all willing to bring into town and voice any concerns at the next P & Z meeting on May 5.

Alex Villamil

Sandy Hook

Editor’s Note: A second and more recent traffic study was commissioned by the town, and is available for review at the Land Use Offices.