Please Stop Suing our Town
On September 11, 2019 B. Metcalf Paving, Inc. filed its third legal action against the Town of North Canaan Planning and Zoning Commission in Litchfield Superior Court. Included in the latest filing, the Town Zoning Enforcement Officer was also named as a defendant.
For those unfamiliar with the situation, B. Metcalf Paving is trying to put in an asphalt plant within 1/3 of a mile of residences and the Blackberry River in violation of Connecticut General Statue 22a-196 in the Department of Economic and Environmental Protection regulations. This itself should prevent any asphalt plant from being constructed at this site.
The location is a bucolic area. Residences surround the site. Farms cover the majority of the land. We in East Canaan like to brag that there are more cows than people living here. There are industries here already. The balance of industry to residential areas is already tipped in favor of industry in North Canaan compared to our neighboring towns. Our zoning regulations states its purpose it “to retain the general quality of life in North Canaan”. The addition of an asphalt plant can in no way be seen to do this.
The lawsuits filed by B. Metcalf Paving, Inc. have awakened a sleepy town into action. It’s apparent that the majority of the residents are against having an asphalt plant in North Canaan as indicated by signed petitions and attendance at town meetings (over 200 people attended a meeting in May). These lawsuits are costing our town money and causing town officials to resign. Mr. Metcalf has been quoted to say that what the residents of North Canaan are doing is “unconscionable”. We are not suing the town; we are trying to protect our town and its long-term goals to regain its status as a town with a future.
So please, Mr. Metcalf, stop suing our town and its officials.
Robin Markey
East Canaan, CT
Voice your objection!
THE TIME TO TAKE ACTION IS NOW!1) CONTACT to thank them for standing strong on this issue and tell them you don’t want to see any asphalt batching or manufacturing plant in Canaan.
North Canaan Planning & Zoning
℅ Town Hall
100 Pease Street
North Canaan, CT 06018
2) INFORM your neighbors and friends, and, if you are renting your home tell your landlord immediately. Please pass on this STOP THE ASPHALT PLANT website at https://www.blackberryrivervalleyprotectionalliance.org.
3) SIGN the petition against the Ben Metcalf proposal- sign petition online at
https://www.change.org/p/north-canaan-zoning-board-help-stop-the-asphalt-plant-in-east-canaan
4) EMAIL your selectmen selectman@northcanaan.org - tell them ANY asphalt batching or manufacturing plant is unacceptable in North Canaan!
5) * IS IT LEGAL? * In violation of CT Public Act 98-216 (Act 22A-196) covering the location of "... Any asphalt batching or continuous mix facility not in operation as of December 31, 1997, may not be located..." ... "...within one-third mile of a watercourse and within one-third mile of residential housing..." This asphalt making site is in violation of both these restrictions. Read more at: https://www.blackberryrivervalleyprotectionalliance.org/p/deep-watercourse-residential.html
Ask the STATE OF CT attorney.general@ct.gov to look into this matter.
Other State of Connecticut Contacts:
STATE NWCT REPRESENTATIVE: Maria.Horn@cga.ct.gov
DEEP: deep.aquiferprotection@ct.gov
Other Town Official Contacts:
Planning & Zoning - zoning@northcanaan.org
Charles P. Perotti - selectman@northcanaan.org
Craig Whiting (Selectmen) - cwhiting57@yahoo.com
Christian P. Allyn (Selectmen) - christianallyn@gmail.com
Inland Wetlands - c/o selectman@northcanaan.org
Donate: Your donation will help STAP continue a legal defense action and public
awareness campaign to meet this threat to our community.
Or donate online at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/stop-the-asphalt-plant-east-canaan-ct
Here's how to: Voice your objection!
Share this information and our website at https://www.blackberryrivervalleyprotectionalliance.org/
Share this information and our website at https://www.blackberryrivervalleyprotectionalliance.org/
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