By Paula Sweeley
Stratford Town Council approves yet another apartment complex on Center School property despite public wishes!
On Monday, December 12th Stratford Council meeting the Public Forum clearly showed that many members of the public DID NOT WANT the Center School property to be sold to a developer. Citizens interested in the future of our town would benefit from listening to the impassioned public comments on You Tube: https://youtu.be/GHJY-aP0sqc
Likewise there is a ” Save Center School Property” petition with currently 668 signatures: https://www.change.org/p/save-historic-stratford-center-school-site
The Council vote on the question went as follow:
First District Christopher Pia (R)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â YES
152 Rygate Terrace
203-385-4035
cpia@townofstratford.com
Second District Kaitlyn Shake (D)
44 Charlton St. .                                   NO
203-385-4035
kshake@townofstratford.com
Third District Lesette Franceshi (D)
155 Larkin Court                                  NO
203-385-4035
lfranceshi@townofstratford.com
Fourth District Kimberly Rice (D)
181 Boston Ave..                                NO
203-385-4035
krice@townofstratford.com
Fifth District Gregory Cann (D)
234 Klondike St. .                                 NO
860-880-2266
gcann@townofstratford.com
Sixth District Ken Poisson (R)
2725 Main St                                        YES
203-385-4035
kpoisson@townofstratford.com
Seventh District Jean Marie Sutton (R)
25 Horace St                                        YES
203-385-4035
jmsutton@townofstratford.com
Eighth District James Connor (R)
71-B River Bend Rd .                            YES
203-385-4035
jconnor@townofstratford.com
Ninth District William O’Brien (R)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â YES
450 Chickadee Ln
203-385-4035
wobrien@townofstratford.com
Tenth District Laura Dancho (R)
30 Ruby Ln .                                           YES
203-385-4035
ldancho@townofstratford.com
Despite the vote on this issue having been tabled from July, left dormant, then brought back in December, there was still a sizable crowd present and comments lasted beyond the hour allotted for the forum, nearly all against the sale.
The utter disbelief and disappointment after the vote, was clear from the dead silence and grim expressions on faces as attendees filed out of the Council Chamber
The forum comments were very much like those at the July hearing
REAL AND INTTELLIGENTLY REASONED OPPOSITION to this sale and development:
- Intrusion on a single and 2-family neighborhood which borders on the historic district,
- MAJOR TRAFFIC PROBLEMS on Main Street,
- Strain our school system,
- Destruction of the small town feel of Stratford and many more.
The were 2 speakers who approved of the sale, one of whom felt that the public “didn’t understand the big picture.” Neither of them addressed what is the major objection,
THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM. THE PUBLIC DEFINITELY UNDERSTANDS SITTING IN TRAFFIC! We do it now and don’t want to add more in the future. Hence the opposition to this sale.
But Monday, December12th, was a sad night for the people of Stratford. We had to realize that what we think and have thought and worked toward, a use of the Center School property that serves us all DOESN’T MATTER.
There won’t be a park for all to enjoy or senior housing to serve our aging population, no tennis courts or gardens, just ANOTHER BIG APARTMENT COMPLEX in a part of town where it doesn’t belong and LOTS MORE TRAFFIC.
There has been a COLOSSAL FAILURE on the part of most of our Council to represent us!
MANY THANKS to those council members who did.
Despite the attitude by some Council members that they know better than the people who elected them to represent us, this decision to sell the property will bring HUGE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE and has already aroused great bitterness among taxpaying citizens who do not feel represented.
PLEASE CONTACT OR WRITE TO YOUR COUNCIL REP. HOWEVER YOU FEEL. PLEASE LET THEM KNOW.
