Oppose Rezoning Old West Mountain Road for Mountainside Commercial Use

Not the location for this commercial facility. Oppose.

I lived on nearby Old Wagon Road for 17 years and my name is still on the deed for 48 Old Wagon Road - this use is inconsistent with this neighborhood - another location should be sought

This zoning modification would be completely unjust to the community.

I strongly reject this new proposal

That road already has far too many speeding cars. If you up the population density you're going to have to put in stop signs. Better yet, don't do it!

This is unfair to the citizens of Ridgefield to negatively effect an already struggling real estate market in our town by allowing this one sale. We have already had cancelled showings, due to this, at our home which is on the market and nearly a mile away. This negatively impacts the whole town for one sale

As a Certified Sustainable Building Advisor I believe that this is an extremely inappropriate site for profit drug and alcohol treatment facility. There are MANY locations that would be ideal and more convenient and I agree with the need for quality centers, but the location must be well thought out. Frankly, I'm shocked that this location is even a consideration especially after the tragedies that have occurred at schools, both locally and across the nation in the recent years. As hopeful as we are that there will never be another attack on our children, it is our responsibility to be mindful with our decisions and how they have the potential to have a serious impact on our children. The areas surrounding these types of facilities should be carefully considered when thinking about the unfortunate probable relapse that this population faces according to the statistical percentage of relapse that occur. It is our duty to protect our young and be aware that lapses of judgement of individuals who are struggling to overcome their addiction will be a concern, especially when it is in walking distance to a remote school. A neighbor of an alcohol and drug facility in Fort Lauderdale was quoted saying, “I work in Fort Lauderdale and we have three drug rehab homes next to us. I cannot begin to tell you the people that are around them,” said longtime resident, Lorna Karowich. “We have break-ins; we have to lock our doors - I really don’t want that in my neighborhood. I really don’t. It will ruin our neighborhood,” she told commissioners. The concern for this particular property is that we are facing more than simple reduction in property values, we must be responsible of the proximity to our precious children of every placement of necessary treatment centers.

Not a good precedent to carve out a commercial use here (especially such a large commercial use) in a firmly entrenched residential area. If the business should fail, what to do with the large, remote property enisled in a sea of residences?

I have lived on the corner of Eleven Levels Road and Old West Mountain Road for 20 years. My husband and I raised our two daughters here. The traffic is minimal, the neighborhood a lovely residential area. I believe project Mountainside would negatively impact the area. I strongly oppose the approval of a special permit to allow Mountainside to continue and thus violate Ridgefield's POCD.

I live in Ridgefield - not in Trumbull btw.

Strongly opposed to this variance. New Canaan has plenty of instances where homeowners in the Silvermine area of New Canaan and Wilton have to be made aware of someone leaving Silver Hill without authorization and that person being found wandering the woods or doing something indecent in their car. There is additional research pointing to a decline in property values in the area where this type of a treatment center exists. Why? Because people coming into the area don't want to buy houses next to treatment centers - especially drug treatment.

I am strongly opposed to this variance. The potential to put children in harm's way by patients with questionable morals/character is unacceptable. Any representative who votes for this should be removed from their position as well.

My son attends Rigefield Academy and I DO NOT want a drug rehab center being built next to his school.

The health and saftey of our children must always ve iur primary concern. It is appalling that putting such a facility within walking distance to an elementary school would even be entertained. While I recognize the need gor quality facilities of this type, this location puts our children in danger and must not be allowed.

I vote NO

This proposal is completely unacceptable at the location selected. The proposal for such a facility should be set forth to a location in town that is more closely aligned with mixed use zoning, not in this purely residential area. The fact that there are yong children at a school within walking distance of the facility should be considered too. A rehab center and a school within walking distance puts our town's children at risk.

For the reasons stated above, along with the fact that it is walking distance from an elementary/middle school, I oppose this plan.

I completely agree that we should NOT approve of this facility. I vote against approving the rehab center and any other use of this land for non-residential use.

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I oppose any and all actions to redone residential to commercial use on old west mountain road