Protect the Partrick Wetlands
and our Community

Presentation in Opposition to 22 House Cluster Development on the Partrick Wetlands Presenter: Chet Harlow Introduction to the Group Presentation

I am here today as a private home owner, a neighbor and a representative of the Partrick Wetlands Preservation Fund in opposition to the proposed development of the property designated in the subject application.

Thank you for granting this special opportunity for the residents of Westport to present their opposition to the proposed development of what we call the Partrick Wetlands, the last and largest piece of natural open space left in our town.

The group that will be speaking tonight in opposition to this proposal represents not only the local neighbors and the communities around the wetlands, but they also represent a ground swell of concern and support that extends throughout Westport and touches neighboring towns.

As a sign of this over whelming support, I'd like to offer into the record, this book of signed petitions with over 2100 signatures from informed residents of Westport seeking a denial of this application. The number of signatories surpasses the total needed to create a referendum on this issue, but that is not our intent. What we want to show is that the town's people are speaking out and that they are supporting our efforts. I am sure that in the context of the serious nature of these petitions, the Commission will also disregard the negative remarks, the gamesmanship and the so called petition that ARS placed in the record at the May 8th meeting.

I will also offer into the record over 170 letters written to agencies of the town in opposition to this proposal as well as another book of published letters to the editors which in many ways chronicles the trials and tribulations of the process to date. Tonight we will show that the application does not meet the letter of the regulations nor the spirit in which they were written. Aside from meeting the letter of the OSRD regulations, the applicant must also meet the obligations of the Special Permit which acts as the gatekeeper to the zone. It is here where this commission, using its authority vested in sections 43 and 44 of the zoning regulations, will find its ability to seek a proper and fair determination. We ask that in your review of our input you observe these regulations and that you also concern yourselves with other primary issues as incorporated in your regulations such as the P&Z's duty to

"Preserve the residential character of Westport" (22houses on 7.5 acres)
"Lessen congestion in the streets"
"Prevent the overcrowding of land"
"Public health - protection regarding adverse air, land and water pollution"

We will present to you a coordinated series of factual data outlining the case for denial of this application. Some of the areas that will be presented by residents and experts, fall under both zoning regulations and the Special Permit, these are:

Zoning & Arterial access
Traffic concerns
Wetland degradation
Hydrological effects
Tax considerations
Open Space development
Sewer Sprawl