WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
IN BRIEF
Fillmore McPherson, Madison First Selectman
“Every time I go to the Surf Club, I am thrilled that
the citizens of Madison bought that property 50 years
ago. Fifty years from now, I want the citizens to
thank us for saving this beautiful property from the
bulldozers.”
Bill Gladstone, Madison Selectman
"I will vote YES. This is an opportunity we cannot
pass up."
Al Goldberg, Madison Selectman
"This coastal property is a precious asset. We
have the choice to preserve an inspiring place, a legacy
that declares to the world that Madison cares.
This is our common ground. It shapes our minds,
nourishes our bodies and refreshes our spirit.
This is why I'll be voting YES to save the airport
land."
Noreen Kokoruda, Madison Selectman
"Madison has never regretted its decisions to purchase
parcels of land over the years, but there is much regret
over purchases we passed on. I will be voting yes
on January 26."
Joe MacDougald, Madison Selectman
"This land represents an unparallel conservation
opportunity!...This land represents an incredible
recreational opportunity...Second chances are rare, but
this is one." (see
full quote)
Note: The above quotes represent the unanimous
support of the
Madison Board of Selectmen!
Amey Marella, Commissioner of the Dept of
Environmental Protection
"The Department has always recognized, in our letters
and comments over the years, that the Griswold property
contains significant, sensitive coastal and habitat
resources that warrant permanent protection." See
her letter
here.
Ed Meyer,
State Senator
"Any commercial development of [this] site would be
would be a devastating invasion of public resources."
Deb Heinrich, State Representative
"We now have the opportunity to make our
mark by stepping up and protecting our little piece of
the disappearing marshland so that it will still be here
for our children...” (see additional quote
below)
Richard
Blumenthal, Attorney General, State of Connecticut
"I have been a staunch opponent of development of this
property."
Hartford
Courant, editorial, 10-6-2009
"Towns' heavy reliance on local property taxes often
leads to bad land-use decisions. We hope that
won't happen this time."
(see
full quote)
Jeff Richard, President, Madison Youth Football
"Madison Youth Football (MYF) would like to express its
support for the development of a new town park at
Griswold Airport...MYF believes that the benefits to the
townspeople greatly outweigh the cost."
(see
full quote)
Duo Dickinson, Architect, Madison
"...people have come to realize that no more pristine
shorelines land is being fabricated, so that asset's
value to the rest of the town is best enhanced by
keeping it off of the MLS listings." (see his full
comments
here)
Robert Pollack, The ShoreLine Times
"We urge Madison taxpayers to overwhelmingly approve
this plan - as was done to the Goss proposal in Guilford
- to send a loud and clear message: They do not want to
see their town lose more and more of its rural beauty to
housing and other development." (see his full comments
here)
RECENT LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR
To view, click
here.
IN DETAIL
Al
Goldberg, Madison Selectman
"This is a moment of fulfillment for many of us here
today. A moment when past, present, and future
come together. We look backward at the efforts of
so many who labored to bring us to this moment. We
enjoy this inspiring place on this beautiful morning,
and we look ahead to envision how this majestic setting
will be enjoyed by our families, descendants, and other
creatures of our planet with whom we will share this
treasure." (September 30, 2009 at the former Griswold
Airport. Click
here for Al's complete
remarks)
Joe MacDougald, Madison Selectman
"This land represents an unparalleled conservation
opportunity. These vistas and marshes should be
preserved and made available to offer an interface to
our natural world...This land represents an incredible
recreational opportunity. As part of the eventual
referendum, Al [Goldberg] and I and the Board of
Selectman are committed to placing athletic fields on
this property..." (September 30, 2009 at the
former Griswold Airport. Click
here for Joe's complete
remarks)
State Senator Ed Meyer, Chair, Senate Environment
Committee
"The Hammonasset River and State Park, with their
adjacent wetlands, are among the finest natural
resources of Connecticut and the entire Northeast.
Any commercial development of these fragile sites would
be a devastating invasion of public resources."
(personal communication, 2006)
State Representative Deborah Heinrich
"Salt
marshes are rapidly disappearing ecosystems that are
critical to the health of Long Island Sound. If
you take a walk on the Griswold property, you will be
amazed at the biodeversity and if you are fortunate
enough to take a guided walk, you will find that each
building block of this habitat plays an irreplacable
role. This is truly our last chance to save these
unique salt marshes from development and to preserve
them for future generations, not solely for their
enjoyment, but also for the long term ecological health
of Long Island Sound and the shoreline in general.
This is why I will be voting yes on the January 26
referendum." (correspondence, 2009)
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal
"I have been a staunch opponent of development of this
property because it would pose an environmental threat
to sensitive ecosystems in both Long Island Sound and
the Hammonasset River." (correspondence, 2005)
The Madison Conservation Commission
There are probably very few places left in all of
southern New England where tens of acres of coastal
habitat...are available to be conserved as a functioning
set of ecosystems, and for public enjoyment." (see their
letter
here)
Friends of Hammonasset
"We urge our supporters in Madison to vote yes in the
upcoming referendum. We believe it is vital to preserve
this important parcel of land!" (FOH Board of Directors,
who unanimously supported the referendum on October 20,
2009)
The People of the State of Connecticut
Petitions circulated by Stop Griswold Over Development
generated more than 2000 signatures from
concerned Connecticut citizens, accompanied by many
impassioned statements. The online portion of the petitions can be found
here.
Clay Cook of Old
Saybrook commented: "Despite what many people may say,
this really isn't complicated. We either can have
special and unique areas set aside for all to have and
enjoy, or we can lock these places up for the use of a
few and receive a few pieces of silver as compensation
for our sin."
Hilary D. Koreeda of Fairfield commented:
"Please stop
overdeveloping this state! The wetlands and the
shore should be preserved for the future, so that all of
our children have the opportunity to enjoy them.
Restoring habitat for animals is far more difficult than
preserving it in the first place. Please stop
allowing people of privilege to take away resources that
belong to everyone."
Citizens for a Clean Hammonasset River
"Our forebears left this natural treasure for our use
and enjoyment; we must demonstrate good stewardship by
protecting it for all who follow."
The Audubon Society
"As is widely known, Hammonasset is the crown jewel
in the state park system. It is also arguably the most
important site in the state for scientific and
environmental education...The now virtually undeveloped
Griswold Airport site functions as an important buffer
zone to the fragile salt marshes and, by extension, to
the Hammonasset River and Long Island Sound itself."
(Henry Ferris, former president of Menunkatuck Audubon,
2002)
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
"The coastal management
decisions we make today determine
the extent to
which future generations will be able to enjoy this
vital area
where the land meets the sea." (Coastal Management
Manual, 2000)
"From a coastal management perspective, this is exactly
the type of site that should be protected from
development and preserved for its habitat value, its
capacity to buffer the adjacent NAP from disturbances
associated with development, and from non-intensive
public access uses." (Margaret Welch, DEP Senior Coastal
Planner, 2001)
Connecticut DEP, Office of Long Island Sound Programs
"The
wetlands surrounding this site include some of the
largest and best areas of high marsh in
Connecticut."
(report June 2002)
Trout Unlimited
"The airport sits directly
adjacent to a
state
treasure, the Hammonasset Beach State Park...The
state should be actively restoring and protecting its
rivers, not permitting their further deterioration."
Southeastern New England Marine Educators
"A project of the scope of
Madison Landing has the potential to
single-handedly alter the salt marshes
bordering the Hammonasset State Park, a resource which
belongs to everyone in the state." (November 2005)
King's Mark Environmental Review Team
"Because the airport lies directly adjacent to the
park, any activities or alterations on the property are
likely to have a direct impact on the biological
integrity of the salt marsh system and associated
wildlife." (2002 report)
"The property
is part of a larger, intact salt marsh complex, which is
directly linked to 919-acre Hammonasset Beach State Park
and Natural Area Preserve,
one of the
most significant breeding and migratory bird stopover
areas on the Atlantic Coast."
(2002 report)
ARTICLE ARCHIVE
The Source (Madison)
November 12, 2009 -
Visions for Griswold's Future
October 22, 2009 -
Regarding the Land Appraisals
August 14, 2009 - TPL
Discussions With Leyland Grow More Serious
January 22, 2009 -
LeylandAlliance talks with The Trust for Public Land
March 6, 2008 - Madison
Landing Permit Hearing Set
July 12, 2007 -
DEP Hearing Concluded, Process
Continues
May 10, 2007
- SGOD and Leyland Debate on Several Fronts
December 14, 2006
- SGOD: Our Job Has Just Begun
The ShoreLine
Times (Madison/Guilford)
November 27, 2009 -
Weighing in on Fate of Griswold Airport Property
January 16, 2008
- DEP Issues Ruling on Madison Landing
Hartford Courant
September 24, 2008 - On
DEP issuing final approval of Zenon permit
January 17, 2008 -
After DEP proposed final decision on Zenon system
January 16, 2008 - Bob
Englehart praying for Hammonasset, vilifying DEP
January 15, 2008 - On
DEP land swap to create easement for development
December 31, 2007 - On
adjacent Young's Village & Dudley Village
July 22, 2007 - Our
Marshes Are Dying
April 22, 2007 - The
Canaries Under the Sound
New Haven Register
January 10, 2009 -
LeylandAlliance talks with The Trust for Public Land
January 17, 2008 -
After DEP proposed final decision on Zenon system
May 5, 2007 - On DEP
land swap to create easement for development
New Haven Advocate
December 27, 2007 -
Extensive article on the history of this controversy
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