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Thu Aug 11 13:38:29 2005 |
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It is definitely far from a done deal. Many environemtal
groups are very interested in this, and the school could definitely do
nothing, and so do the right thing by this land and their campus, get
millions of dollars, and get a lot of positive national press. |
Thu Aug 11 23:45:36 2005 |
Aric Bernier. |
I was woundering If only simsbury VOTERS could sign the
petition. Im 15 and i'll be a freshman at the highschool this year and
if I could help out in anyway I would be glad to. I was woundering if I
could get any non-voters to sign the petition, and if not, why do they
have to be voters or order for thier opinion to matter? -Aric Bernier
Nbernier@sbcglobal.net Please respond. |
Tue Aug 16 09:27:00 2005 |
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Yale Farm Golf Course in Litchfield stopped ---
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-yalefarm0816.artaug16,0,496835.story?coll=hc-headlines-local
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Fri Aug 26 19:58:05 2005 |
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More press ---
http://hartfordadvocate.com/gbase/News/content?oid=oid:123413 |
Sat Aug 27 16:00:20 2005 |
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While the woods are wonderful, they do belong to Ethel Walker
School. I have always believed that a person or group has the right to
do with their land whatever they want to as long as it within the
ordinances of the law. To the best of my knowledge, building homes on
property falls into that category. As a taxpaying landowner in Simsbury
for the past 25 years, I believe that adding million dollar homes would
increase the tax base without creating an urban blight. |
Sun Aug 28 14:03:39 2005 |
Susan |
I'm glad you brought up these points, as they are important!
They do have the right - no one is disputing that. But the school
itself prefers to preserve the land. They don't want a subdivision on
their campus, they need money for their endowment. The town has already
made an offer to purchase the land, and the Trust for Public Land is
willing to help negotiate and get grant monies. With this support we
can preserve our water quality (the land is 100% on top of our drinking
water aquifer), a major recreational asset, and valuable connected open
space and wildlife habitats for the long term benefit of Simsbury, the
school and future generations. Other land in town is appropriate for
development. Right now everything is moving towards the goal of
preserving this land - a win-win situation for everyone. Business is
what we need to help the tax base in town. In the long run, residential
development does not help a town. The cost of their services,
especially with our schools so crowded, exceeds the taxes they bring in
over the long run. Overcapacity students need additional teachers,
modular classrooms, etc. Also, any cost to treat our drinking water is
something we each will pay for forever, and still never enjoy the same
pristine quality we have now. Thanks for your comment - would
appreciate any response. |
Sun Aug 28 14:18:33 2005 |
Susan |
sorry - web comment format took out paragraph breaks in
previous post!! |
Mon Aug 29 16:20:49 2005 |
Diane |
Susan, I'm so glad you commented about Ethel Walker's right
to develop. It's that very right that is their fall back position if
preservation fails. As the previous writer indicated, the right to
build is subjugated to other rights as health/safety and zoning and set
aside requirements so EW will not realize the financial windfall some
of their advisors had probably hoped they would. By going through this
process I belive it has helped both EW and the town to realize the real
cost/benefit of preservation. All of the efforts of the KeeptheWoods
org. has been to focus on the benefits of preservation while balancing
the potential financial benefit to EW of development. We clearly need
to share these findings with a broader group. Hopefully the Trust for
Public Land will be engaged very soon and can disseminate these facts. |
Tue Aug 30 22:01:28 2005 |
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This would not be urban blight - it would be suburban sprawl.
We are using up land an astonishing rate. |
Wed Sep 14 07:42:53 2005 |
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I sympathize with your cause. I too enjoy walking and skiing
on the Ethel Walker Horse trails. But why did you not protest the
decimation of the Powder Forest ??!!! That too is valuable land--now
instead of the cooling effect of the flora and a large home for the
fauna we will be subjected to more heat generating asphalt, brick and
cement. Lets be fair--if you protest one business developing their
property, protest all!!! |
Wed Sep 14 11:18:01 2005 |
John |
In response to the individual who asked why the "decimation
of Powder Forest" wasn't protested. As I said in an earlier message,
that land has been zoned for development for many years. At one time
there was discussion that Ensign Bickford would one day dedicate the
remainder of their parcel to the town for passive recreation use. Every
day I drive through the Powder Forest on the way to work and I lament
the loss of this land that has teemed with wildlife. Many times I have
had to slow the car for the crossing of a flock of turkeys or a small
herd of whitetail deer. The turkeys have moved south and have been seen
darting in traffic on Hopmeadow. I think it is imperative that we work
assiduously to maintain what is left of Simsbury wildlife habitat and
that is why I support Keep the Woods! |
Fri Sep 16 09:46:26 2005 |
Mary |
This is in response to anyone who asks this particular group
why we did not protest the development of the Powder Forest. First,
this group is not protesting the development we are trying to educate
people that the Town and Ethel Walker are in talks to preserve the
land. The Powder Forest had many, many public hearings that all
residents of Simbsury were more than welcome to attend and voice their
concerns. The fact of the matter is, Powder Forest was zoned
industrial, this meant Ensign Bickford could have put a plant there and
just followed the town regulations for construction. They chose instead
to put an active adult community. I view this as a lesser of two evils.
Now, the Ethel Walker property is zoned residential, if an agreement
can not be reached with the town. Then we would make sure the all
regulations for construction over a drinking water aquifer are adhered
to. The prime message is to protect the drinking water! Preservation is
the ultimate means to this end. |
Mon Sep 19 08:30:14 2005 |
townie |
just reviewing a section of this web page under the drinking
water quality section and early on there is this statement......It
provides 100% of the water for much of the town of .....is it much of
the town? or 100% of the town? typo? also have other homes been built
near this aquifer without poluting the area in the past? thanks |
Tue Sep 20 09:56:43 2005 |
Mary |
Thank you for showing some interest in this subject. The
Stratton Brook Aquifer provides the approximately 73% of the Town of
Simsbury with drinking water. This percentage only includes what
Aquarion pumps, this does not include homeowners that have wells on
this groundwater system, nor the Towns of Granby and East Granby. We
have some water quality test reports from Aquarion, anyone on their
water supply will receive the same reports, they do show an increase in
contaminants when there is increase in home construction. For example,
the Powder Forest development is also over this same aquifer. There are
town regulations in place for policing development before, during, and
after construction. I will not discuss here as the list is long.
However, the Ethel Walker woods not only sits 100% over the aquifer
they are also 100% over the recharge area, as well. Any questions that
you have, I would be happy answer them privately off this message board
if you like. |
Fri Sep 23 09:02:50 2005 |
Alumna |
I am so glad to learn that EWS has slowed the process and is
considering ways to work with the trust for public land. So many of my
expereinces at the school have made me the person I am - strong willed
about the right nd wrong way to do things - and I really have beleived
that developing this land would be a dreadfully wrong thing to do.
First, for the land and second for the students watching in the wings -
what a fantastic message for them and an honor for the school to
deliver true stewards to the citizenry of our nation. |
Sun Sep 25 11:12:37 2005 |
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FABULOUS EVENT AT AVON OLD FARMS, FRIDAY NIGHT !! |
Tue Sep 27 20:31:46 2005 |
Angela |
I would just like to say that i am really tired of all this
beutiful land being thrown away for some "million dollar homes". Nature
is being pushed out of its home as well.I come from a place where
people preserve what land they have and enjoy it without having it
destroyed so people and busineses can be put up. I think we have enough
of this across the country. This is just my opinion and i know that
there are people out there that do feel the same way and they should be
heard! |