Please Oppose Gutt Farm Development Near Smith Middle School on Congested Roads. Community Concerns for Safety & Environmental Impact. 

Dear Glastonbury Town Council and Zoning & Commission,  

We, the community, are writing to express our strong opposition to the proposed JRAC housing development planned for the Gutt farmland along Addison Road & Eastern Boulevard.

These roads are already narrow and heavily congested, especially during school hours. They lead directly to Smith Middle School and there was a past incident where a child was struck by a vehicle on this very stretch. Additionally, Eastern Boulevard is the access point to the Amazon distribution plant and many medical offices. Allowing for further large-scale development without evaluating safety is unacceptable. Additionally, the development, will be a highly negative impact on our town's limited farmland and current environmental initiatives and designations.

 We are deeply concerned about the following:

• Child Safety: Increased traffic near the middle school puts students at greater risk.

• Traffic Congestion: The road cannot support the additional load without severe backups and increased accident risk.

• Loss of Valued Farmland: This land represents part of our town’s rural heritage and should be protected, not replaced by high-density housing.

• Environmental Impact: Paving over green space increases runoff, reduces air quality, and destroys habitat.

We respectfully ask the town to:

• Reject this development.

Or, delay approval of this proposal until a full safety and traffic review is completed during the school season particularly at drop off and pick-up hours. Bear in mind the amount of additional vehicles during the development build and residents of the development. 
• Examine alternatives that preserve open space and prioritize low-impact development. Consider renovating vacant buildings in our town for affordable housing.

• Ensure local community input is meaningfully considered before moving forward.

Our town deserves growth that is thoughtful and protective of both people and place.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Note:

This will be submitted to Town Council and Zoning & Commission.

Resources:

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