The laws of the Town of Stonington, CT maintain that wetlands are vital to the stability of our coastal environment. These important natural spaces mitigate real issues like flooding and other weather related property damage (see the Town of Stonington’s Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Regulations Title and Authority). These regulations on their own, however, offer very little penalty for violators without action from the local community.

"Haley Marsh" as some locals call it, begins behind the playground and across from the baseball field in Old Mystic, CT and continues back into untouched woodlands where it is fed by a brook. Less than six months ago "Coast Development Group" was founded in order to purchase and develop the lots at 13 and 16 Smith Street in Old Mystic. Since acquiring these properties, this out of town development group has committed multiple violations in the process of preparing the land for construction. Although the law requires special permissions for any activity within 100 feet of delineated wetlands, they have already illegally cleared the sites for the construction of several oversized modern buildings. This damage only took 2 days of work, but would take a lifetime of management to repair. Town officials were shocked by this blatant disregard for local law, and ordered them to stop work on November 23rd, 2021, requiring that no further work be done until the boundary of the wetlands can be legally delineated by a certified soil scientist. Nevertheless, if left unopposed these projects will continue as planned, both destroying our natural spaces and setting a dangerous precedent.

By signing this petition you are calling on officials of the Town of Stonington Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission to allow a public hearing for application IW #22-06 - and to reject this attempt to develop Old Mystic's protected wetlands outright.

It is up to us to make our will known to our elected representatives!