It's TOO MUCH!!  A developer is proposing to build two massive warehouses on 142 Clinton Street (Rt. 70) in Shrewsbury.  

The project is too big, too dangerous, too risky, and has too many unknowns.  It will impact all of the residents of Shrewsbury.   

TOO BIG - the two warehouses together total 921,728 sq. ft. - the equivalent of about 16 football fields.  As a 48 ft. high building, it may be taller than most of the trees in the area. This is far out of proportion to this area - it borders residential homes on all sides.  There are 83 abutters/residents living within 300 feet (some closer) to the proposed development. These warehouses, by zoning, can build as close as 100 feet to an abutter. 

The proposed warehouses will have 187 trailer truck loading docks, 71 trailers storage spaces, and between 524 and 782 passenger parking spaces.  This operation could potentially operate 24 x 7, thereby disturbing nearby residents all hours of the day causing both noise and air pollution.

TOO DANGEROUS/UNSAFE - Traffic - trucks will be making 544 entrances/exits per day, which is about one every 2 minutes - 24 x 7.  That number will likely be entering/exiting I-290 at Main Street daily.  They will pass across the travel routes of nearby Shrewsbury High School's buses and student-driver traffic.  They may also traverse Main Street which will impact the students at St. Johns School.  This will create high risks for all citizens when navigating heavily traveled intersections along I-290, Main, Plantation, Rt. 140, and Clinton Street. 

This volume of trucks will also endanger air quality (diesel exhaust) and the health of people with respiratory problems and will create constant noise.  This impacts every family's health and our daily well-being within our community.

TOO RISKY

Our Town Water - The development site is located within our Aquifer Protection Overlay District.  This sensitive aquifer is Shrewsbury's sole source of clean water.  The developers are seeking a special permit from the Town to build these warehouses on 39 acres over the aquifer. This decreases the impervious cover which is critical to recharging the aquifers that feed our wells.  This puts our aquifer at risk for contamination from a diesel spill or some other unexpected disaster.  It's just too risky.

Wetlands - The proposed development is located within 100 ft. of vegetated wetlands and Newton Pond.  This is not the right place for this massive development.  It has potential to harm wildlife in the area not only from the development of the land, but from the daily toxic fumes/exhaust from idling freight trucks.

TOO MANY UNKNOWNS 

1. No known tenant, and without the known use of the warehouse, predicting traffic generation is only speculative. 
2. We need a thorough and full traffic study of traffic control needs at the on and off ramps on Rt. I-290/Main Street.  And we need resolution of the issues the study identifies.
3. Air Pollution - we need a study to predict the harmful emissions in the area as a consequence of the nature and volume of trucks that the project would produce.

Our Goal:

1. A build much better suited to the surrounding area with no risk to our aquifer - keep our drinking water safe.
2. A build that will have little to no impact on existing town traffic.
3. A build that keeps every one of us safe from toxic truck exhaust and fumes and noise pollution.
4. A build that does not stretch the limits of the land - a much smaller build with less risk for contaminating our water, hurting our wildlife and keeping our children and community safe.

How You Can Help

Please sign this petition!  We are urging local authorities and decision-makers to reconsider this project in favor of sustainable alternatives that preserve our town's character and protect our environment. Please sign this petition if you believe in preserving Shrewsbury's charm and natural beauty for future generations.

Attend Town Meetings - we need your attendance and your voice at the Town Planning and Conservation Meetings.  

Upcoming Meetings:

• Town Planning Meeting - Thursday, July 11th, 7 pm, Town Hall - discussion traffic, diesel emissions, noise pollution
• Conservation Commission meeting, Tuesday, July 16, 7 pm, Town Hall - discussion on environmental impacts. 

Join our Facebook Page:  Shrewsbury Warehouse RT 70

Go Fund Me - click here: https://gofund.me/608b080e

Help raise funds to get the word out with yard signs, flyers and town wide mailings.