To the Editor:

I am writing out of concern and anger over a plot of land that has been successfully destroyed in a matter of three days.

After calling Newtown's zoning board, I was informed the permit was given to clear-cut the property to the elevation of 120 feet (50 feet from the edge of Lake Zoar). According to Steven Maguire, cutting was to be carried out in a "responsible way," as in, not leveling every plant and tree in sight.

This has not been the case.

A beautiful 1.17-acre, old forest on Lake Zoar has been denuded - to the ground - in springtime, when every animal is giving birth and crawling out of their holes - where bald eagles, fox, turkey, hawks, etc, are regularly seen and prosper.

The contrast of Newtown's environmental ethos and the issuance of this permit are startling.

Why is the zoning board okaying the clear-cutting of forest on Lake Zoar? Is it because the permit made the town lots of money?

When is clear cutting ever considered responsible forestry?

How is this an acceptable practice on a large body of water, or anywhere?

Why was 636 Cooke Street, LLC (purchaser of this land - a faceless, nameless developer) allowed to break the rules?

The amount of land cut has well exceeded 3/4 of an acre, as stated below in 140-10C, and has not been treated in a responsible manner (140-6A5), and therefore violates town law. Who enforces these laws?

Hundreds of trees are gone. Any tree planted in their places won't grow the same size for 100-plus years. This is a disgraceful misuse and abuse of land and the man responsible for issuing this permit, Steven Maguire, should be ashamed of himself. This cutting is not in the best interest of the environment, neighborhood, lake, animals, town, or future. It's disturbing, disgusting, unnecessary.

Highlights of Newtown's zoning laws:

Forests:

140-1 Policy

It is the public policy of the Town of Newtown to promote the rehabilitation,...protection of forest lands…improving conditions for wildlife....of protecting and improving...water quality, watersheds...fish and wildlife resources, forest soils...

140-6 Regulations

A.5:Requiring the use of the best available forest management practices…

140-10C Exceptions

The clearing of homesites to the extent that the clearing per homesite shall not exceed an area of more than 3/4 acre, not including the area for use as a driveway.

Wetlands And Watercourses:

227-1

A:The...watercourses of the Town are an indispensable and irreplaceable but fragile natural resource…

B:...watercourses have been destroyed...because of unregulated use by reason of the…removal of material…the erection of structures, all of which have despoiled, polluted and eliminated...watercourses. Such unregulated activity has had, and will continue to have, a significant, adverse impact on the environment and ecology of the Town...

D:…the purpose of this chapter to protect the citizens of the Town by making provisions for the protection, preservation, maintenance and use of the...watercourses by minimizing their disturbance and pollution;...improving water quality; preventing damage from erosion, turbidity or siltation...

Sincerely enraged,

Hannah Sindorf

Lakeview Terrace, Sandy Hook         May 2, 2018