AGENDA REQUEST
GENERAL DISCUSSION ITEM
Subject:
title
Letter from Cheryl Malerba
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Background:
Please deliver this communication to the Ledyard Planning & Zoning Commission
July 10, 2022
Dear Ledyard Planning & Zoning Commissioners,
We attended the July 6th Gales Ferry District meeting (along with about 200 other neighbors, state representatives and Senator Osten) and were made aware of many concerns the community has regarding the Gales Ferry Intermodal development. We also understand that one of your Commissioners was able to attend the meeting and we appreciated that very much.
When the Town and the Planning & Zoning commission receive the application from Cashman Dredging LLC, we strongly encourage you to pursue an independent traffic and safety study (which could be paid for by the developer as the responsible party) and a rail-use study as well (some riverfront residents are naturally concerned about increased train traffic - a study would likely show a smaller impact than thought due to the size of rail cars/load capacity and the ability to tag onto existing trains by adding an engine car). The Town should fully understand what the impacts would be to our community before taking any action.
As proposed, the damage of 250 trucks riding on Route 12 in a twelve hour window would be devastating (never mind that many people questioned whether it's really more like 250 trucks x 2 or even x 4 if they go 24/7 with trucking). There is no coming back from such an invasive operation; Gales Ferry would never be the same. Safety, community, real estate values irreparably damaged.
Many had strong concerns about noise pollution, odors and spillage; about the oyster beds being disrupted; jeopardizing the return of the American Eagles up and down the river. School bus and child safety, fire and ambulance response are of grave concern. Seniors are very worried about wh...
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