To the Editor:

I understand this proposal is for a warehouse yet everything I’ve heard in the description of the operations associated with building it should be called a truck terminal with close to 600 tractor trailer trucks moving in and out everyday 24/7. This property is not zoned for a truck terminal. The private equity firm is labeling it a warehouse only to fool the Newtown P&Z Commission and get around the zoning restrictions on the property.

The legal definition of what is a warehouse versus a truck depot shouldn’t be determined on how many truck bays it has or where they are located in the building. The definition should be determined by the operations surrounding the building and its impact on the surrounding areas. So my first question is:

1. Why are we not calling this what it is … a truck terminal?

2. Has the P&Z Commission received, or will they ask for a report from the assessor’s office on how this project will impact the assessed values of all the properties in the Taunton area and how that reduction in assessed values will impact the tax base?

3. Has the P&Z Commission received a report from the Newtown Highway Department as to the increase in cost to Newtown taxpayers on the incremental wear and tear on our roads?

4. Based on what I’ve heard it seems like there is an assumption that only exit 9 off of 84 will be used by all of these trucks coming and going (580/DAY). When there is a snag on 84 between exits 8 and 11 will trucks be allowed to get off exit 8? Likewise, will trucks be permitted to use exit 10 or 11 to get to this truck terminal if there is a snag on 84 going the other way? Will we need to hire and budget for more police to direct traffic at the flagpole?

5. I think the citizens of Newtown are entitled to know exactly what the net revenue or net cost is to the town’s taxpayers. Has the P&Z Commission or local politicians asked for an analysis from an independent CPA firm working with the assessor’s office to determine exactly what the incremental tax revenue along with the incremental costs to the town will be??

6. Since many of us in the Taunton area are on wells do you think the residents are owed a detailed explanation of what will be and can be stored at this truck depot? Is there anything going to be stored and or transported that is hazardous? If accidentally leaked or spilled at this truck depot or from one of the many trucks going in and out each day how will this affect our aquifers? Has the P&Z Commission asked for a detailed report from DEEP as to whether this massive project will affect our environment?

Joseph Skrzypczak

Newtown