Letter to the Editor: Dollar Tree Project Requires Due Diligence

We, the members of Save Windsor's Neighborhoods, would like to bring to the attention of Connecticut Citizens and the Governor's office our concern over the State considering Dollar Tree Distribution Center as one of the First Five that would obtain forgivable loans from the State in the millions of dollars. 

The planned distribution center would be built on land that is designated as Industrial Land. However there is a concern that this land is across a very narrow road from a residential area. The building that is over 1 million square feet would be as close as 100 feet from some of the neighboring homes and 250 feet from others. This distribution center would run 24/7/365 altering forever the quality of life of all neighbors on Stone Road, Webber Road, Karen Circle, Lauren Circle and the development of Winterwood. We would suffer from the sounds of trucks backing up, idling, gearing up and down, jake brakes, smell of diesel (carcinogens) of 160 tractor trailers, there would be perpetual daylight for the neighbors. We would suffer severe loss in value to our homes. There has been one document indicating that they 'may' go to a third shift therefore there is no guarantee that they would have 200 employees in 5 years and would not qualify for the First Five. 

Please complete your due diligence into investigation of this company. See the many class action lawsuits filed by their employees over non-payment of their wages or forcing them to part-time status to avoid paying them their full wage. Please note, the majority of the jobs will pay $25k a year with little chance for advancement. Please also note the number of items that are recalled and take into consideration whose landfill will take the returned, often times lead containing items. 

The site has the only working aquifer in Windsor that feeds the shallow wells of the neighbors. There are also wetlands on the property; their plan would be to build on part of the alluvial flood plain. There are birds on the endangered species list as well as the special concern species box turtle on the property. Town officials have said they will enforce Dollar Tree to place a picture and instructions for care in the bathroom in case a turtle is found. They say they will place a picture of the box turtle with a paragraph indicating what to do with it if one is found in the bathroom to "give them something to read while in there." The neighboring Winterwood development had to remove a backstop at their playground so as to not block off the travels of the box turtle. What will a 1,700 foot long wall and a huge parking lot of tractor trailers do for the turtle traversing across all of this to get to its habitat? 

Dollar Tree has admitted there is chlordane and dieldren on the property. The landowner has had other issues with these chemicals on properties they own in Simsbury and Suffield and was in court for years with Simsbury over proper remediation of the property at the direction of EPA. Dollar Tree has indicated that the remediation of the chemicals is to mix clean dirt where we have read this is not an acceptable remediation. The attorney for Dollar Tree has said now they have a non-disclosure agreement with the landowner. It is clear, if there were not a problem with the levels found there would not be a non-disclosure agreement. We are very concerned due to the non-disclosure agreement there is a serious health concern to be considered.

Dieldren is around for 60 years and becomes more volatile when exposed to sunlight. It affects humans via breathing it, absorption through the skin, and in ingestion (the water). The plan for building would take 14 months. 14 months of exposing men, women, children, elderly and disabled to the toxins. The dust from this site and therefore the chemicals will be sent into the wetlands as well. 

We will not be comfortable with any remediation unless it is done at the direction of EPA or The Army Corps of Engineers as they are in no way connected with the State or Town that wishes to push this project through. 

According to an article in the JI, the Governor's office does not want another embarrassment on their hands like they had with one former First Five winner. The health, quality of life and home values of many people surrounding this site is at stake. It is not a company deserving of such a gift from the taxpayers of this State in any economy never mind one where the Governor is cutting many needed programs. To give this money to a Fortune 500 company where only the few at the top make money is just irresponsible.

Signed

Members of Save Windsor’s Neighborhoods