SAVE THE GRISWOLD LAND!

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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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