To The Editor:

When I moved to Watkins Drive in 2010, I was told not to make a right hand turn out of my development, which would have taken me onto Oakview Road.

Oakview Road is a narrow, unsafe road that winds precariously around with unsafe sight lines as well. There are no shoulders or sidewalks and in a few spots, two cars cannot pass together.

Our builder put up a “no right turn” sign as we exit our development. In 2015, Dr Rodrigue, then principal of Newtown High School, requested that some 50-60 teachers be allowed to use the high school emergency exit onto Oakview Road to alleviate some of the traffic jams on Berkshire Road.

That request was denied due to the unsafe condition of Oakview Road. Now Vessel Technologies is proposing 136 housing units, one building next to our high school fields and one building near Berkshire Road, with both parking lots emptying out onto Oakview Road. It is not unrealistic to think that 136 apartments could generate well over 200 cars clogging this small country road. To add to this predicament, Vessel Technologies is proposing 1.1 parking spaces per unit.

Most units will have two cars. Where are the tenants going to park? I am asking our Planning and Zoning Commission to reject this proposal for the safety of our high schoolers and my aging community.

All those who are concerned, please attend the Planning and Zoning meeting scheduled on December 5 at 7 pm.

Pat Schmidt

Sandy Hook