| Today's Courant reports that the DEP has approved the proposed sewage treatment system for the Madison Landing development. As I wrote yesterday, the Attorney General is investigating the pact that opened up the land to development in the first place.
Tom Andersen over at his blog Sphere has also been commenting on this development. In his opinion, CT needs to do something to counter the state's prevailing development practices which have led to sprawl. So if Griswold Airport is going to get developed, why not give this development, which conforms to many Smart Growth principles, a shot.
I agree with Mr. Andersen that the state's development practices need to change, but one aspect of those practices is developing near or on environmentally sensitive areas. This development only continues this penchant for destroying CT's environment. Just because it adheres to some Smart Growth principles doesn't mean it has to be built.
Where Mr. Andersen and I agree is that every effort should be made by the state and local officials, along with the group opposed to the plan, to purchase the land for preservation. I am also very suspect of a process that allows a development to move forward when the original pact that opened the land for development in the first place may have been illegal. Shouldn't the approval process for this project be put on hold until the Attorney General concludes his investigation? It would only make sense to do so. |
