Have you had it with developers, many of them out-of-state, swooping in to destroy Connecticut's fields and forests, just to line their own pockets? The Courant's Don Stacom reports on them regularly. The reporting is excellent.
This depressing trend is happening in too many places. We need an organized way for people to respond quickly and easily. CT Climate News is working on that, starting with this post.
Part 1: About the Proposed Willington Warehouse Project on 160 Acres of Forest
Hillwood, a Perot Company based in Texas, proposes a massive warehouse on 160 acres of forest in Willington just off I-84. They'll need a zoning change to go forward. For background, see Don Stacom's article, Tax revenue vs. conservation: Proposal for mega-warehouse sparks controversy in this tiny CT town.The warehouse would be 28% bigger than Buckland Hills Mall, according to residents' petition, opposing the warehouse.
This graphic showing the site location is from the developer's presentation at page 10.
Here's what it looks like on Google maps in satellite view, zoomed in to show exit 70. Obviously this is all heavily forested.
Part 2: Think the warehouse is a bad idea? Here's how you can speak up and make a difference.
- Share this post with your network. The more people who speak up to oppose the warehouse and forest destruction, the better. Spread the word.
- Send an email opposing the development and razing of 160 acres of woodlands to Willington's Planning and Zoning Commission before Tuesday, August 16, when a P&Z hearing is scheduled. Send your comments to Willington's P&Z staff, Zoning Agent, Michael D'Amato at mdamato@willingtonct.gov. See Parts 3 and 4 for reasons and a sample email, below. Check out this very good public comment from abutting neighbor and certified soil scientist opposing the warehouse project.
- Attend the P& Z Meeting at 7:30 on Aug 16, either in person or by Zoom. This hybrid meeting will be conducted at Hall Memorial School Gymnasium, 111 River Rd (enter via gymnasium entrance in rear of school) and will also be available via Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83449157207 Meeting ID: 834 4915 7207. Here's the meeting agenda and meeting documents.
- Speak at the P&Z meeting to oppose the development. You won't have much time, so don't worry about preparing long or detailed remarks. You'll just say who you are, summarize your concerns and urge the P&Z Commission to reject the proposal, and be polite and reasonable. See parts 3 & 4 below for reasons the warehouse should be rejected.
- Sign the residents' petition opposing the warehouse at https://www.change.org/p/citizens-united-against-zone-change-and-tradecenter-84.
- Know who's on your P&Z Commission, especially for Willington residents.
Part 3: Why destroying 160 acres of forest for a massive warehouse is a bad idea that deserves to be soundly rejected
- By destroying 160 acres of forest, the Willington warehouse project would exacerbate climate change. Deforestation and habitat destruction are part of what's causing climate change, which is rapidly accelerating. Willington should be part of the climate solution. The Hillwood proposal is just more of the problem.
- The truck and car traffic that will be associated with the warehouse project will exacerbate greenhouse gas emissions. We need greenhouse gas emissions to go down, not up. Again, the Hillwood proposal is just more of the climate problem. Willington should choose to be part of the climate solution.
- Nothing about destroying 160 acres of forest is compatible with the conservation part of Willington's Plan of Conservation and Development, which includes these Conservation-Related Goals (see pdf p100). Hillwood and its paid consultants conveniently make no mention of Willington or CT conservation goals. For example, see Robinson & Cole's overview statement.
- Nothing about destroying 160 acres of forest is compatible with the community character part of Willington's Plan of Conservation and Development. The photo below depicting Willington's community character appears at POCD page 52 (pdf version).
Part 4: Sample Public Comment by Email - Please edit to personalize!
To: Michael D'Amato, Willington's P&Z staff, Zoning Agent, at mdamato@willingtonct.gov.
Subject: PZ-22-10: Opposition to Proposed Hillwood Warehouse Project and Zone Change
---------------
To the Willington Planning and Zoning Commission:
I am a resident of Willington, and I am writing to voice my opposition to the Hillwood Warehouse Project that is the subject of your August 16, 2022 meeting.
The warehouse proposal that would destroy 160 acres of forest is incompatible with Willington's Plan of Conservation and Development and its conservation goals for natural resources, open space, and community character, as shown in this excerpt from Willington's 2018 Plan of Conservation and Development:
- By destroying 160 acres of forest, this warehouse proposal would also exacerbate climate change, which is accelerating rapidly.Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air and store it in their wood, helping to slow buildup of greenhouse gases that are warming the climate.
- Deforestation is actually a big source of carbon dioxide, because when trees are cut down much of the carbon stored within them escapes into the air.
- Every acre of woodland absorbs about 6 tons of CO2/year, or the amount of CO2 produced by driving 26,000 miles.
- In one year, a mature tree absorbs more than 48 pounds of CO2 from the atmosphere and releases a day's supply of oxygen for four people.
- Forests and green space keep temperatures down at the local level. As temperatures rise and heatwaves get longer due to climate change, cutting down forests will just make a bad problem worse.
- Forests also help filter rainwater and prevent runoff and flooding, which are also worsening due to climate change.
In addition, I agree with "Citizens United Against Zone Change and TradeCenter 84 in Willington CT" reasons to oppose the warehouse project, including:
- 900 tractor trailer trips DAILY (VERY conservative estimate) coming on and off exit 70 and will be utilizing back roads around town – Routes 32, 190, 90, 72, 320, 44
- 1,500 + car trips daily will be coming and going for workers
- Decreased home values (upwards of 25%)
- Tax abatements for the company resulting in higher taxes for townspeople
- Increased traffic congestion and incidents
- Increased noise and pollution
- Vacancies in warehouse resulting in permanent damage to the topography, landscape
- MOST WAREHOUSES WILL BE AUTOMATED BY 2030 SO THIS WILL BE A SHORT-TERM PROJECT WITH PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE TOWN.
- Tearing down a mature forest and blasting bedrock and ledge which will never recover
- Animals displaced and moving more into residential neighborhoods since their natural habitat is destroyed
- Unknown environmental impacts with water and air quality
- Unknown impacts on privately owned and personal wells with a facility of this magnitude
In sum, Hillwood and its paid consultants have only their own profit in mind with this warehouse proposal. But this proposal is bad -- in the short term and the long term -- for the people of Willington, for the people of Connecticut, and for the planet. For all these reasons, the Hillwood warehouse proposal and any zoning change that would destroy acres of forest or other open space must be rejected.
Thank you for considering these views.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Town
Part 5: Learn More
- Documents for the August 16 meeting are here.
- Check out Willington's Plan of Conservation and Development, last updated in 2018.
- Subscribe for advance notice of Willington public hearings, especially if you're a Willington resident. Try emailing the Land Use secretary Margaret DuPilka (mdupilka@willingtonct.gov) to get your email address added to the registry distribution list. Unfortunately, the link to the registry goes to a word doc and doesn't say where it's supposed to be sent.