Letter to the Editor from Walter Briggs
Walter O. Briggs
July 30, 2007

The Gault Fuel Oil Storage and distribution center is inappropriate.

Last Thursday night the Norwalk Zoning Commission considered the Gault company's proposal to build a fuel oil storage and distribution center at 350 Ely Avenue (Corner of Ely Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive).

The residents of South Norwalk, Wilson Point and Rowayton came to the meeting to voice their joint objections to this project. One of the best features about this city is how diverse citizens can work together in the common good and I saw that in action on Thursday.

The Industrial Zone Committee of the Planning Commission reviewed the zoning regulations for restricted industrial zones. The purpose of this review was to increase the uses of this zone which we did. We did not have the authority to prohibit any current uses in the zone, including oil storage which is allowed in this zone by special permit. However, we did not propose to allow this "as of right" like other uses. Instead this use must be appropriate to the surrounding area. The regulations say the Zoning Commission must consider adverse impact of noise, odor, fumes, dust and artificial lighting. It must consider the impact on neighboring properties and proximity to community facilities along with other factors.

I do not believe this oil storage and distribution facility is an appropriate use at his location. This site is too close to many residential areas, particularly to areas where we have citizens who have invested their life savings to provide housing for their children and grandchildren, and where NEON has a school that is used for its Head Start programs for our most needy children. Why put these locations a risk?

While there was a lot of information put forth at the meeting on how safe the fuel storage and distribution center could be, there was nothing said about how to prevent a large 8,000 gallon fuel truck from having an accident and spilling its contents onto Martin Luther King Drive thereby damaging the nearby salt marsh and neighborhood.

I hear the Gault family have been good citizens in Westport, however their plan is to move their oil storage and distribution operation from Westport to Norwalk so they can develop their current property on the Saugatuck River into expensive condominiums. There is no benefit to Norwalk in this. If they were going to bring substantial new jobs to Norwalk without additional substantive environmental risk, it might be considered, but it does not. There are other more appropriate uses for this property.

As a citizen of Norwalk, I find this use of the Industrial Zone to be inappropriate.

Walter O. Briggs

Mr. Briggs is Chairman, Industrial Committee and Planning Commission, and a Candidate for Mayor

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