Help Save the Heart of Cromwell!

Hi! We need your help! 

***October 2022 Update Below***

 

We are a group of town residents deeply concerned about the proposed construction of a 1 million+ square-foot truck terminal in northern Cromwell. This massive building—so large the Empire State Building could be laid down inside it—will fill the fields between Geer St., Watrous Park, Court St. (West of the fire station), and Shunpike Rd. (Rt. 3), bordering the Rocky Hill town line to the North.

 

The paved area surrounding the building would contain approximately 500 parking spots for tractor trailers, 178 loading docks, and 384 car parking spots. Much of the proposed development would be less than 1000 feet from Watrous Park, Cromwell Middle School, and the athletic fields surrounding Woodside Intermediate School.

 

Cromwell residents have been attending town meetings and following the progress of the developer’s applications. There are numerous aspects of this proposal that are alarming:

 

•Poor stormwater management: collection pond overflow and surface runoff containing toxic chemicals could reach the town aquifer.

•Light and noise pollution: this facility would be able to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

•Diesel exhaust: air pollution would reach our schools and parks from hundreds of daily truck visits.

•Significant and unavoidable direct wetland and environmental impacts

•Increased costs to the town: additional road maintenance and expansion because of increased truck traffic and fire department expansion in order to adequately service this type of facility.

 

Please visit https://defeatprojecthighl.wixsite.com/ands for more information.

 

Our goal is to make sure the information presented by the developer to the town agencies and committees is honest, complete, accurate, and forthcoming. We also want to make sure that the concerns listed above are addressed properly, and if applications are approved, that there are conditions in place (in writing!) to protect our schools, parks, and surrounding residential neighborhoods. That being said, we are not experts in these fields or this process, so we are relying on professional counsel for help.

 

Of course, this assistance isn’t free, which is where we need you! If you are concerned about this project, and you want to ensure that our town staff and committees act in the best interest of the town and it’s long term goals, please donate!

 

***All proceeds will go directly toward the cost of legal fees and other professional assistance. Any excess funds will be donated to local charities that support environmental and conservation efforts in our area. All individuals who are volunteering their time and effort toward this cause are doing so at will, and will receive zero compensation from this fundraising page. This account is being managed by a small group of volunteers, and every payment made requires the approval of at least two individuals.***

 

If you have questions or would like more information than shown here or on the website listed above, please contact our group of volunteers through this GoFundMe page, or go to the Cromwell Town Hall to ask for public information regarding these applications.

 

We thank you for your support!!

***October 2022 Update***

Thanks to your help, the efforts of all our volunteers, and the professionals we consulted, on October 5, The Cromwell Inland and Wetlands Agency voted to deny the application filed by the developer! We are so appreciative of every single donation that helped our cause! Thank you so much!!

So, where does that leave us??

The developer has the right to appeal the denial of the application. There is a two-week window for this to happen which ends approx. Oct 27 - if no appeal is filed, the process for this application is over. If there is an appeal, it could take 1-2 years and would be between the developer and the town of Cromwell/Wetlands Agency. If the decision is overturned via the appeal process, the application moves to Planning and Zoning for approval or denial. Otherwise, the developer would need to submit a new, revised application and start the process over with a different design/strategy. Or, and this is our preferred option - the developer moves on to other, more suitable properties for a building of this size and nature. We hope the Inland Wetlands Agency decision on October 5 reinforces this opinion!

Our current efforts are focusing on proposing options to the Town of Cromwell to purchase and utilize this land to benefit our entire community and preserve the natural environment. We hope to help find a recreational/educational solution that benefits all parties and brings added value to the Geer St/Watrous area for all community members to enjoy! Various state and federal programs reimburse towns that are buying land for specific uses, reducing or eliminating taxpayers' costs as well!

Remember, if you have questions or ideas to share, things you would like to see this land used for, please feel free to reach out! Go to our website at the link above, email us under "Contact Our Group" and we'll be happy to get back to you!

Thank you all again!!