FALL 2000
NEWSLETTER

This issue of the Green’s Farms Association Newsletter in large part addresses a proposed yard waste dump in Green's Farms, which we strongly oppose. We hope the articles within help inform you about the issue and that you will join us in stopping the project.

GFA Joins Neighbors in Fight Against Yard Waste Dump in Green's Farms

Once again the Town of Westport is seeking approvals to relocate the yard waste transfer station from it's current location on Bayberry Lane to State owned property on the corner of Green's Farms Road and the Sherwood Island Connector. The Board of Selectman has approved the leasing of the land from the State by a 2-1 vote. While approving the lease, the Board recognized the many concerns of the neighbors who spoke out against the project and felt that the issues should be fully heard by the Planning & Zoning Commission.

Many neighbors have been mobilized to fight this application at Commission hearings and beyond if necessary. The greater the showing of opposition, the better the chance of defeating this project and the better we will be able to ward off future municipal projects in Green's Farms which are detrimental to the residents.

The locating of this facility at this site should be of great concern to Green's Farms residents and all Westporters. The facility will be our town's unsightly welcome to all entering Westport from Exit 18 off I-95. The use will introduce noise from the operation of a tub grinder and trucks that will be continually beeping as they back in or out of the facility. A now existing 1.2 acre green spot will be filled and paved over, causing water to drain into the adjacent wetlands and increased flooding in the area. The drainage will carry nitrates from fertilizers in the yard waste into the adjacent and downstream waterways of Lazy Brook, Muddy Brook and the Millpond watershed. The introduction of a quasi-industrial facility to the area will most surely decrease property values. This site is residential zoned and an ecologically sensitive area. There are better locations for this facility if in fact it needs to be moved from its current location. Leasing the property from the State means that in the future, the Town will have to do this all over again and restore the property if the State terminates the lease.

The GFA has joined the Sherwood Farms Association, the Green's Farms Ad-Hoc Committee and many independent neighbors who have been active in their opposition to this facility.

A large number of volunteers have already been engaged in various activities which include neighbor canvassing, organization of meetings, petition circulation, site visits, environmental studies, historic and archaeological studies, attendance and testimony at public hearings, preparation and circulation of mailings, web page production, letter writing, communications with elected officials and employment of legal counsel.

We appeal to everyone to get involved in this effort to protect Green's Farms. Please sign and return the petition included in the Green's Farms Association mailing or available at our web page at www.westportct.net/gfa. Show your support of this effort to defeat this project by attending and speaking at the P&Z hearing on Thursday, January 11, 7:30 PM in the Town Hall auditorium. For those who would like to volunteer their services, please call any of our Board of Directors listed below or send an email to nodump@datacut.com. Together we can stop this improper placement of the dump and send a clear message that we will not stand still for any more dumping on Green's Farms

Residents of Green's Farms have been inundated by noise from numerous directions. Early in the morning, many of us can hear from Nyala Farms Road the transfer of trash from small pickup vehicles to large trucks that haul it away. We can also hear the commotion as trash and recyclables enter and leave the Town Public Works facility on the Sherwood Island Connector. The town is now proposing to raise the level of noise in this area by locating the yard waste dump right across the street from the Parsell Center. This will introduce the use of a tub grinder to grind up tree limbs and stumps that are trucked into the facility. The noise created by a tub grinder has been described to liken that of continuously rumbling thunder. We might also have to listen to the sound of back-up beepers from trucks backing in or out of the facility. The same sound that many residents on West Parish near the State D.O.T. garage has become familiar with.

Probably the most consistently pervasive noise that envelops Green’s Farms is from I-95. For many years, GFA has inquired about sound barriers. Now there is an organization dedicated to the installation of sound barriers in Westport named GOT NOISE? GFA has had numerous discussions with their representatives and supports their goal to mitigate the noise problem emanating from I-95. For information on GOT NOISE?, visit their web site at www.gotnoise.org or write them at P.O. Box 427, Green’s Farms, CT 06436

The Westport Planning & Zoning Commission has scheduled a public hearing on Thursday, January 11th at 7:30 PM in the Town Hall auditorium to hear an application by the Town to locate a leaf and brush transfer facility on the corner of Green's Farms Road and the Sherwood Island Connector. The P&Z will be acting on two applications on the matter. The first is an 8-24 application to determine whether the proposed use is appropriate for the land in question. The second is for a special permit and site plan where the details of the project are to be scrutinized by the Commission. In order to be approved for a Special Permit, the plan must pass the following ten-point standards test as spelled out by Section 44-6 of the Zoning Regulations. The proposed use will:

1. Be in conformance with the Town Plan of Development;
2. Not prevent or inhibit the orderly growth and development of the area;
3. Not have a significant adverse effect on adjacent areas located within the close proximity to the use;
4. Not interfere with pedestrian circulation;
5. Not have a significant adverse effect on safety in the streets nor unreasonably increase traffic congestion in the area, nor interfere with the pattern of highway circulation;
6. Not have a significant adverse effect on historical, archeological and/or paleontological sites;
7. Preserve important open space and other features of the natural environment related to the public health, safety and welfare;
8. Not obstruct significant views which are important elements in maintaining the character of the Town or neighborhood for the purpose of promoting the general welfare and conserving the value of buildings;
9. Not have a significant adverse effect on storm drainage, sewage disposal or other municipal facilities;
10. Be in scale with and compatible with surrounding uses, buildings, streets and open spaces.

The Green's Farms Association strongly believes that the plan fails on many of these standards and GFA representatives will argue this before the P&Z. We urge all residents of Green's Farms to join us at the public hearing on January 11th. If there is a change in the scheduling of the hearing, we will post it on our web site or you can call P&Z at 341-2030.

Having more than its share of large Municipal facilities, Green's Farms continues to be a target as the mecca for the town's refuse. Last March, the Town unsuccessfully applied for the yard waste dump at the corner of Green's Farms Road and the Sherwood Island Connector. Unfazed, they have come back with a similar application despite vigorous opposition. Back in 1999, a plan to locate this facility across the street in the Parsell Public Works Center was also defeated. Many Green's Farms residents recall the bitter battle over the Town's attempt to build an enormous industrial composting facility adjacent to the current proposed site ten years ago. These ill-fated applications have caused great expense to Green's Farms neighbors and Westport taxpayers. We hold hope that our town officials learn from history and that rationality will prevail.

Although the GFA has its hands full with the yard waste dump, the association is dealing with other issues in Green's Farms. In light of deregulation of Electric utilities, GFA is looking into the possibility of Green's Farms residents lowering their electricity costs by the Association becoming an Aggregator for purchasing electric power.

Our efforts to have street events adhere to sensible standards of public use and safety has resulted in better permit procedures being utilized by the Town.

The Green's Farms Association has set up a committee to review criteria for the establishment of a "Citizen Award" to be bestowed periodically to a citizen who has contributed to the betterment of Green's Farms.

The GFA Board of Directors welcomes its newest board member, Peggy Haering who resides on Center Street and is an attorney practicing in land use matters.

Membership Keeps the Association Strong

The Green's Farms Association has been continually active since 1971. Founded in response to a proposed large shopping center between Turkey Hill and Maple Ave., the GFA has over the years been active in watchdogging and responding to issues affecting the well being of the Green's Farms area. Once again we find ourselves engaged against another proposed dump in Green’s Farms which threatens the quiet enjoyment of the area's residences.

In order to continue these activities and be effective we rely on the support of our membership. Our Directors work on a completely volunteer basis but activities such as our mailings and Counsel fees require funds, which come totally from our membership dues. We very much appreciate the support of our members and we welcome new members to the Association. If you are not already a member and would like to join, the annual family dues is $25. A membership application form is available on our web site at www.westportct.net/gfa or you may write us at P.O. Box 10, Green’s Farms, CT 06436 or call any of our Directors listed on this page.

Ron Vigars, President

227-4363

Anne Beers

227-5817

Hal Levy, VP

454-7267

Bill Brett

227-7710

Christine Stonbely, Secy

254-3341

John Gosselin

255-2553

Birthe Shwisha, Treas.

255-7768

Lois Sussman

255-1768

Peggy Haering

454-5957

Visit the GFA on the Web at http://www.westportct.net/gfa