<div>Aug 2nd 2024 —
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<div>Dear Friends,
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<div>It is with great joy and heartfelt appreciation, that tonight I announce our victory in winning the referendum vote to protect 190 Sharon Turnpike in perpetuity. The final count was 360 yes, to 336 no.
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<div>But will our town honor the will of the people?
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<div>This is yet to be determined and there is still work to do!
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<div>We are still collecting donations to cover the costs of attorney fees, flyers, mailers, signs, website fees, and more.
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<div>All your support helped get us this far!
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<div>We deeply appreciate any donations we receive.
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<div>Thank you to each and every one of you for your part in making this happen and congratulations on this wonderful accomplishment on the referendum!
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<div>All of our hard work and dedication has paid off.
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<div>Though this is certainly a time to celebrate, again, our journey is not over.
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<div>We will need to ensure our town government moves forward on a dedicated path to formally protect this land. We will keep you updated on any action items we may need assistance with to make this happen.
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<div>Thank you again for all your help to protect our critical resources and beautiful open spaces!
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<div>This land can now be enjoyed by our community for passive recreation opportunities in perpetuity.
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<div>Older updates:
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<div>We need your help to get this land protected! There will soon be another development proposal for this site on the table.
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<div>As of 22 FEB 2024:
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<div>-No thorough analysis of alternative locations was ever conducted or presented
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<div>-There has been significant public opposition to developing at this location.
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<div>-There is a significant public desire to protect the land as open space.
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<div>-Multiple letters &amp; calls from numerous taxpayers were presented to Selectmen, many of which were never fully acknowledged or entered into public record
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<div>-A majority of Selectmen have stated that they do not ever see the land being protected as open space
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<div>-Around January, 2024, after public opposition continued, the First Selectman reported that they would be storing the equipment at the existing public works site under a container type storage system
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<div>-In February 2024, the First Selectman and Mr. Olson stated: “The land will sit for the future,” &amp; “the public will decide what happens to the land.” Within a timeframe of 2 or so weeks after these statements were made, the First Selectman has revealed that another proposal for a building at this location will be presented to P&amp;Z shortly
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<div>-As of 22 February 2024, Selectmen have confirmed that no needs assessment for public works has been completed
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<div>Please help us get this land protected!
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<div>Thank you for your generous donations! We were able to raise approximately $2,300 through the go fund me site and private donations. Our next goal is another $5,000 which includes public awareness materials such as yard signs, flyers, mailers, and continuing attorney fees for an appeal of the wetlands decision.
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<div>History: Goshen Received a STEAP Grant that the Selectmen applied for, for a new combined Public Works storage building. Sadly, it is currently proposed on a site which should be preserved as open space. Let's help them make this proposal a win/win!
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<div>SUPPORT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS: Keep the Firehouse &amp; Public Works Buildings Separate!
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<div>FIRE &amp; EMS need a dedicated, upgraded, organized space with all the life-saving equipment they need in one spot at the firehouse.
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<div>Give our First Responders what they need: Expand the firehouse at its current location, &amp; locate the public works building where we do not have to fill in wetlands, pollute watercourses, destroy endangered species habitat, negatively impact the livelihoods of families in our community, spend extra taxpayer dollars, or create a development eyesore.
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<div>SAY NO TO A COMBINED INDUSTRIAL-SIZED BUILDING THAT WILL DESTROY CRITICAL WETLANDS, COMPROMISE FARMLAND, DESTROY HABITAT &amp; WHICH MAY CREATE CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS. PROTECT THIS LAND AS OPEN SPACE &amp; SUPPORT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS!
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<div>Please donate or spread the word, to help us in our efforts to save public land at 190 Sharon Turnpike, RT 4, Goshen, CT
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<div>Let's rethink this plan and create a win/win!
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<div>Attend Town Meetings:
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<div>Tuesday Nights at 5pm Board of Selectmen Meetings, Goshen Town Hall Conference Room &amp; Zoom: 2 minutes public comment per person. Please let them know you would like them to optimize and/or expand (if needed), at their current public works location, instead of 190 Sharon Turnpike. Also share that adding any amount of impervious surface to an undeveloped site will negatively impact our watershed resources. Please share that you would like the land at 190 Sharon Turnpike preserved as open space.
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<div>Please sign up with the Town of Goshen to receive all meeting updates.
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<div>We can work together to create a better plan for Goshen.
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<div>*This is a non-partisan group made up of community members who take ideas and improve them, in order to help create a more sustainable future. Like our ideas? We need your help! Please support our efforts!
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<div>Please donate to help us in our efforts to save the public land at 190 Sharon Turnpike, RT 4, Goshen, CT &amp; Support Our First Responders! Money received from this fundraiser will be used to raise community awareness and education through signs, informational mailers, flyers, attorney fees. Any extra funding received will be donated to the Goshen Land Trust.
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Anonymous

Alan Rothfeld

Janet Hooper

Joyce Mowrey

Paul Sita

Joyce Raffone

Tom ODell

rhonda hurwitz

JR Raffone

Thomas ODell

Protect Open Space on CT RT 4 in Goshen

Protect Open Space on CT RT 4 in Goshen

Still $20,795 to go. Help us build momentum.