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Griswold Airport Development Subject of PZC Hearing
Leyland Development of New York is proposing a development of the Griswold
Airport in Madison. At a Planning and Zoning Commission hearing at the Memorial
Town Hall on February 15, company representatives took nearly three hours to
present their proposal to the PZC. In the audience were more than 100 concerned
citizens who had little opportunity to respond with their comments. Accordingly,
the hearing was continued until March 15.
According to a report in the Shore Line Times, "Over the past few months,
the town land-use office has been overwhelmed by letters from concerned environmentalists
urging town officials to reject the project, claiming it would threaten wildlife
and natural resources."
One such letter was written by Henry Ferris, MAS president, that stated in
part:
We strongly oppose the above application for the following reasons:
- This proposal calls for 260 dwelling units in multiple
and single family attached and detached residences plus community
and recreational facilities. This is approximately 10 (ten) times
the allowable density under current zoning for the site.
- A development of this magnitude and density on only
30 acres of upland within the coastal flood hazard area would require
extensive filling and grading with consequent erosion and sedimentation.
The airport site shares about 2,800 ft. of common boundary with ecologically
fragile salt marshes in the Natural Preserve Area of Hammonasset State
Park. The marshes would be negatively affected by the heavy construction
activity on their margins. In its letter of December 18, 1997 to the
Madison Planning & Zoning Commission regarding another application
for this site, the Dept. of Environmental Protection stated: "Although
the application includes a soil erosion and sedimentation plan, our
experience has shown that even when properly designed, such controls
are rarely implemented effectively or properly maintained, resulting
in insufficient control of erosion and prevention of sedimentation."
- The airport lies next to sensitive ecological areas.
In addition to its boundary with hundreds of acres of highly productive
salt marshes at Hammonasset State Park, the site itself has 10 acres
of tidal wetlands and about 450 feet of frontage on the Hammonasset
River. These biologically rich marshes and adjacent areas are currently
used for nesting by several endangered species and are a primary east
coast magnet for thousands of migratory birds seeking resting and
feeding areas.
- This amendment calls for building coverage of 25 percent/plus.
With the addition to this of roads, driveways, and parking areas,
the total impervious surface coverage would be unacceptable in any
but an urban setting.
- In this ecologically sensitive area it would be disastrous.
The runoff from impervious surface coverage plus fertilizer and pesticide
contamination from lawns and gardens would degrade the productivity
of the surrounding marshes and waterways and seriously reduce their
attractiveness to wildlife.
- The provisions for maximum building heights are unsuitable
for other than urban areas, and completely out of place in Madison.
Also, the spires, cupolas, widows walks, etc. would create a Disney
World atmosphere that would detract from the character of Madison
and degrade the visual effect of this area from the Boston Post Road
and Hammonasset State Park.
The PZC hearing will continue on Thursday, March 15, at 8:00 p.m.,
at the Memorial Town Hall. All Menunkatuck members, whether residents
of Madison or not, have a stake in the outcome of the hearing. Development
of the airport property will adversely impact Hammonasset, which belongs
to all of us. We urge you to attend the hearing and speak of your concerns.
The Memorial Town Hall is right off the Post Road at the east end of
the Green.
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