We are Fairfield (beach area) residents deeply concerned about the public health, safety, and environmental risks posed by a proposed 45-unit apartment complex on Reef Road. This development threatens to overwhelm our already congested streets, strain emergency access and sewer systems, increase flooding risks, and drastically alter the character of our community.

Please READ, SIGN and SHARE OUR PETITION to stand with us in urging the Town Planning & Zoning Commission to reject this proposal.

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Town Plan and Zoning Department
Town of Fairfield, CT
725 Old Post Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
tpzcommission@fairfieldct.org

Re: Application for 812 & 820 Reef Road – Piekarski Investments (Sec. 8-30g)

Dear Town Planning and Zoning Commission,

We, the undersigned residents of Fairfield, respectfully urge the Commission to deny the application submitted by Piekarski Investments under Section 8-30g for a proposed 45-unit apartment complex on Reef Road. Our collective concern centers around serious public health, safety, and environmental risks that threaten the well-being of our neighborhood and the larger Fairfield community.

Our understanding is that this application (1) seeks to create a new “Reef Road Corridor” zone, and (2) requests approval to build a 45-unit apartment complex spanning 812 and 820 Reef Road. From a zoning and infrastructure perspective, Reef Road and its surrounding beach area simply cannot support this level of change.

As residents of this neighborhood, many of us have or are raising families here and we speak from direct experience. We witness the daily realities of traffic congestion, flooding, inadequate infrastructure, and overcrowding — and we know that a project of this magnitude will significantly worsen already hazardous conditions. This proposal presents clear threats to public health and safety, environmental sustainability, and the quality of life we’ve worked hard to preserve.

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY CONCERNS

1. Evacuation Route: Reef Road is the primary direct evacuation route for beach area residents. Most adjacent streets are dead ends or blocked, making this a vital lifeline during emergencies. Superstorm Sandy was a stark reminder of the danger when that route is overwhelmed. Adding over 100 new residents and their vehicles would introduce dangerous delays during a crisis.
2. School Bus & Child Safety: Reef Road serves as the start and end point for Fairfield school bus routes. Several of us have had to change our children’s bus stops due to unsafe walking conditions, especially in winter months because many rental properties do not maintain safe sidewalks. Speeding, failure to stop at crosswalks, and increased traffic have already made getting to school hazardous. A project of this scale would only heighten those risks.
3. Emergency Vehicle Access: Emergency vehicles struggle to navigate Reef Road due to year-round congestion, narrow lanes, and double-sided street parking. Many of us regularly deal with cars blocking our driveways or parked dangerously, requiring police involvement that diverts critical resources. The addition of a multi-unit residential complex will further reduce access for ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles in moments when every second matters.
4. Transfer Station Traffic: Reef Road is the only route to the Transfer Station, which generates steady commercial truck traffic throughout the day. Mixing large trucks with increased pedestrian and residential vehicle traffic, especially with children and seniors in the area, would create an unsafe and unsustainable traffic flow.
5. Local Bar & Restaurant Congestion: Sea Grape and Reef Shack, two student-popular bars, have already contributed to congestion, late-night noise, police activity, and regular deliveries by large trucks. These factors combine to create a chaotic environment that would only worsen with the addition of high-density housing.
6. Veterans Park Activity: Veterans Park, directly across from the proposed site, is a popular community space that includes tennis and bocce courts, a playground, and volleyball and also allows for rugby, soccer, baseball/softball practices, other youth sports, and more. It's also a place where families teach their kids to ride bikes or enjoy time outdoors. Parking in this area is already limited, and during these activities, it becomes even more constrained. The proposed apartment complex would worsen an already difficult parking situation. Additionally, Vets Park often serves as an overflow parking for local residents during flood warning, or during special events when on-street parking is restricted, such as the town’ recent fireworks. Reducing this flexibility by increasing demand would create real safety concerns and place additional stress on an already overburdened area. 
7. Fairfield University Student Density: Reef Road already has a high concentration of off-campus student housing, with many homes housing 7–8 students and just as many cars, despite occupancy regulations. It’s likely that the proposed development, though presented as affordable housing, would primarily attract student renters—adding 150+ cars to an already saturated area. Without clear plans for parking, overflow will likely spill into Forest Street, Reef Road, and Veterans Park.
8. Dorm-Style Design: The proposed building features shared laundry and a central courtyard—elements commonly found in student dormitories. These shared amenities will likely attract large student groups, encouraging frequent parties and disruptive gatherings without university oversight.
9. Ongoing Events & Party Crowds: Reef Road already contends with annual events like SantaCon, ShamJam, and ClamJam. These gatherings bring noise, litter, loitering/trespassing, public urination, public indecency, and, in some cases, inappropriate behavior visible to families and children. A large apartment complex would significantly amplify these concerns.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

1. Flooding & Storm Response Burden: We receive regular flash flood warnings even during moderate rainfall. Many of our backyards and roads flood quickly. During Superstorm Sandy, emergency boats were required to navigate Reef Road as water levels rose to 6–8 feet. A dense development on a flood-prone lot would worsen conditions for neighboring properties and could obstruct crucial emergency response and evacuation routes.
2. Protected Wetlands: The Reef Road corridor includes marshland and designated wetlands that support natural flood mitigation, water quality, and wildlife habitats. Large-scale construction threatens to irreversibly alter natural drainage patterns, escalate stormwater runoff, and damage these fragile ecosystems.
3. Sewer & Drainage Strain: Adding 45 units would place additional strain on Fairfield’s aging drainage and sewer systems. The beach area already struggles with backups during storms. Climate change is worsening the frequency of extreme weather events, and further development would increase impervious surface area, making flooding and runoff pollution even worse.
4. Transfer Station Environmental Impact: The adjacent Transfer Station has long contributed to unpleasant odors, noise pollution, and air quality concerns. A new apartment complex would bring hundreds of daily car trips to this sensitive coastal zone, intensifying environmental degradation and reducing our neighborhood’s long-term sustainability. 

Many of us have lived in the beach area for years, some for decades. We have raised or are raising our children here, have supported local schools and businesses, and have contributed to Fairfield’s unique diverse beach community. The proposed development at 812 & 820 Reef Road would fundamentally change the character, safety, and sustainability of this neighborhood. We strongly urge the Commission to listen to the voices of the residents who live here every day and deny this application

Sincerely,
Concerned Fairfield Residents