Following intense neighborhood opposition to a similar expansion attempt on North Maple Avenue in 2023, Greenwich Academy has now targeted 54 acres of pristine, virgin forest bordered by Pecksland, Riversville, and Glenville Roads. The Academy plans to clear-cut these woodlands to construct expansive parking lots, faculty housing, and large-scale academic and athletic facilities for hundreds of students across grades K-4.

Informal estimates project this expansion will more than double the traffic burden during elementary school hours. Phase I accommodates students through grade 2, while Phase II adds an additional 300 students up to grade 4. Compounded by the Academy's plans to host frequent athletic and extracurricular events, and its historically low per-capita bus ridership, this overdevelopment will overwhelm an area already paralyzed by daily rush-hour gridlock and Glenville School traffic, as shown in the images above. The necessary clear-cutting and extensive rock removal will subject our neighborhood to years of highly disruptive construction, ultimately leaving us with permanent, unsustainable congestion.

Furthermore, the Academy has aggressively blockaded historic public access to trails established by the Rockefeller family. By chaining off trail parking, posting warning signs, and deploying aggressive private security guards to intimidate residents who have peacefully walked these paths for decades, they have taken a decidedly hostile stance toward the neighborhood. Despite explicit promises to concerned neighbors that these closures would be reversed, Greenwich Academy has failed to honor its word. These actions unlawfully disrupt established public access, directly violating state and local laws regarding prescriptive easements and breaking the Rockefeller family’s long-standing legacy of open access and environmental stewardship.

We petition the Commissions to strictly enforce the special permit standards under Sec. 6-94(a)(5) and Sec. 6-15(a) and demand the following:

1. A Comprehensive, Full-Buildout Traffic Analysis: Central Glenville and Riversville Road already experience severe, daily traffic gridlock between 7:30 and 9:30 AM, with school traffic routinely backing up toward Pecksland Road (see examples in the images above). Greenwich Academy’s attempt to increase enrollment on North Maple Avenue was rightfully halted due to traffic objections; we refuse to allow that congestion to be relocated to our streets.
2. Protection of Natural Resources: This 54-acre site contains rare upland species, virgin forest, and delicate wetlands featuring vernal pools. We demand an independent Natural Diversity Data Base (NDDB) review and comprehensive on-site wildlife surveys. Should any adverse impacts be identified, the existing plans must be thoroughly revised to preserve these critical ecological features.
3. Preservation of Historic Public Access: Trails that have been actively and freely utilized by neighbors for decades must remain fully accessible. The Academy’s warnings, barriers and private security to remove access to these trails violates established community use and the historic intent for the land. 
4. Strict Adherence to Town Conservation Plans: The Commissions must uphold the 2019 Plan of Conservation and Development and the 2022 Open Space Plan, which prioritize protecting environmental quality and the welfare of adjacent properties. Developing this rocky, forested terrain will cause irreversible environmental destruction and materially harm the neighborhood.

We, the undersigned residents of Greenwich, formally oppose the pre-application and anticipated development by Greenwich Academy at 181 Glenville Road.  We stand united and prepared to file formal § 22a-19 environmental interventions and utilize all available legal avenues to protect our neighborhood.

We respectfully demand that the Commissions subject Greenwich Academy to the utmost scrutiny and deny any application that fails to resolve these severe, unmitigated harms to our town, neighborhood, and natural environment. This multi-phase expansion threatens our community's environmental integrity, historic character, and daily quality of life.  We implore the Town of Greenwich Planning & Zoning Commission and Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency to intervene and protect this historic property and our neighborhood from harm.