We, the undersigned residents of the Borough of Madison, respectfully urge the Madison Planning Board to delay any approvals related to the proposed 281-unit multifamily complex and 52-bed supportive housing facility at 1 Giralda Farms until thorough, independent studies are conducted to assess the full impact of this development on our town.

1. Schools Are Stretched

Our public schools are stretched to accommodate the current enrollment. The addition of hundreds of new residents would lead to larger class sizes, strained resources, and diminished quality of education. A school-impact study should be conducted to determine how many additional students this project would generate and whether our current system can absorb that growth without harming educational standards.

2. Safety in Our Small Community

Supportive housing can encompass a wide range of populations, each with very different needs and impacts.  Yet our community has been given little to no information about the specific nature of the proposed facility.  Who will it serve?  What level of support and supervision will be provided?  Without clear answers, residents are being asked to accept a project whose implications we do not understand.  Moreover, supportive housing typically depends on access to robust social services, mental-health resources, and public-safety infrastructure that a small suburban community like Madison may not have in place.  Introducing such a facility without sufficient information, preparation or safeguards creates real uncertainty and risk.  We therefore call for transparency and data: studies that examine how including similar supportive-housing developments have affected the safety, quality of life, and community integration in towns like ours.   

3. Traffic and Infrastructure Concerns

The proposed development includes more than 550 parking spaces, which translate to hundreds of additional vehicles entering and exiting Dodge Drive and Madison Avenue daily. This increase will inevitably worsen congestion and heighten pedestrian safety risks.  Drivers already frequently ignore crosswalks on Danforth, and school buses travel along Morris Place- a route that will likely become an even more dangerous cut-through as traffic intensifies.  Before any approvals are granted, an independent traffic-impact analysis must be conducted to evaluate these dangers, taking into account not only this project but the cumulative effect of other developments planned or underway throughout Madison.

4. Unknown Impacts of Other Approved Developments

Several major projects are already approved and under construction within the Borough. We do not yet know how these will affect our schools, traffic, emergency services, and quality of life. Until their outcomes are measured, it is irresponsible to approve another large-scale project that could compound existing issues.

Our Call to Action

We, the residents of Madison, urge the Planning Board to:

1.     Conduct a school-impact study to determine the true educational and financial implications.

2.     Commission an independent safety study focusing on small-town experiences with supportive housing. 

3.     Provide details of the people the supportive housing will serve, and the level of support required from the facility and the town.

4.     Require a comprehensive cumulative-impact report addressing traffic, infrastructure, and community services before any development approval is considered.

We are not opposed to thoughtful growth. We are opposed to unchecked development that threatens the safety, character, and livability of our town. Madison deserves responsible, transparent planning based on data—not pressure or expediency.