To the Editor:

At the September 8 meeting of the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission, it was unanimously voted to remove the Nunnawauk Road parcel of land from consideration to honor the victims of the Sandy Hook School shooting.

The location, approximately 30 acres, is owned by the State of Connecticut and adjacent to the Potatuck Club, a private membership-only club whose activities onsite include fishing and hunting.

The commission met publicly with Potatuck Club Manager Bruce Clark and Land Use Director George Benson on Tuesday, September 6, for a site visit. Mr Clark guided commission members through the property and explained different components of the membership, one of which included skeet shooting and hunting on the grounds. While the parcel fit many of the commission's criteria from its initial Information Gathering Stage, the audible impact of hunting and skeet shooting so close to the location was a major concern.

Mr Clark assisted with an auditory test in the skeet-shooting field at the Potatuck Club to understand the impact at the potential memorial location. While the shots were faint, they could be heard through the heavily wooded area. The frequency of hunting onsite is inconsistent and while it's not something that occurs everyday, the commission voted to remove this site from consideration.

We've decided this location wouldn't be appropriate to consider for what we are trying to accomplish. The sound of gun shots, albeit legally, while visiting a memorial to honor individuals murdered is simply inappropriate. The commission voted correctly to remove this site from consideration.

We're appreciative of the time Mr Clark provided to our commission. We're also appreciative of George Benson and the Newtown Land Use Office for their support. Mr. Benson's patience and expertise on the parcels of land in Newtown is imperative to the success of the commission. We will continue to leverage his knowledge as we move forward.

This month marks three years that our commission has been appointed by the Newtown Board of Selectmen. While some may look at our progress as slow, we're confident that we're moving at an appropriate pace and asking the right questions to ensure this is done right.

At this time, the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission will turn its focus to other locations in the community we have been researching and will continue with site visits until an adequate parcel is identified. Once complete, the commission will then work through the design selection process.

The Town of Newtown is one of the largest, acreage wise, in the state. We're going to find a location. We know that wherever we end up there will be pushback and potential criticism. We're hopeful the community can rally with us and continue to be patient as we sift through this delicate work. We need to pick our battles and stay focused on the reason our commission has been assembled.

Kyle G. Lyddy

Chairman, Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission

Newtown         September 9, 2016