CCA Blog and Mail Box

Below you will find an archive of CCA blog posts. The comments from readers and some blog posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the CCA Steering Committee. Sign up to receive these blog posts by e-mail.

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Bonnie Van Slyke: Assertions Of Ms. Carney Are Not Factual

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Statements that Charlestown Town Councilors, duly elected by voters, have repeatedly refused to place items on agendas are simply not true. There is no requirement that any item brought forward by a Town Councilor must be put on the next agenda. The Council may consider whether other items need immediate attention, whether an item is ready for discussion or whether it needs further research, and whether the item can be better addressed in another way, such as administratively.

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ecoRI News: Residents Speak Out Against Quarry’s Expanded Operation

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During its September 7 special meeting, the Zoning Board of Review took public comment that included testimony about the Route 91 operation and included numerous complaints. The board voted unanimously, 5-0, to reject the appeal and found Charlestown Farms provided insufficient evidence for the applicant’s appeal and affirmed the decision of the town’s building and zoning official, Joseph Warner.

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Photo of Rt. 91 Quarry in 2021

ecoRI News: Charlestown Officials Say Quarry Expansion Goes Against Zoning, Allege Illegal Processing of Off-Site Materials

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Charlestown’s Zoning Official has determined that the nonconforming legal use does not apply to lots 3 and 4-1 because the company has not done enough to prove the burden of a nonconforming legal use. Next meeting regarding the appeal of the ruling of the Zoning Official before the Zoning Board will be held on September 7 at 7 p.m. at the Charlestown Town Hall.

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Photo of Bonnie Van Slyke

Bonnie Van Slyke: Town Council Sends Letter To Federal Railroad Administration

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At the Council meeting, I proposed a motion “to authorize Town Administrator Mark Stankiewicz to take whatever action is necessary to protect the town” from changes to rail alignments or other proposals that may be made as part of the New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study. The authorization is needed so that the Town can be nimble as circumstances unfold.

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Rt91QuarryFall2020

Zoning Board To Hear Appeal From Gravel Company On September 1

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Three lots of land owned by a gravel company on Rt. 91 abut the National Wild and Scenic Pawcatuck River, the Nature Conservancy’s 1,100 acre Francis Carter Preserve, and the Tucker Woods Preserve. On July 14, 2021, Joe Warner, Charlestown’s Zoning Official, issued a notice of violation and a cease and desist order to the owners of the quarry at 565 Alton Carolina Road.

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In Memoriam: Reverend Jan Vickery Knost

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It is with heavy hearts that we must report the passing of Jan Knost. Jan passed away on Sunday, August 22, just as Hurricane Henri made landfall in Charlestown and knocked the power out. Jan’s passing was coincidental to the storm, but there is some symbolism in this great light of our community, Jan Knost, being lost at the same time all our lights went out.

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CharlestownTrain

CT Examiner: About That Rail Route More Parallel To I-95

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Town Council member Deb Carney recounted assurances from Amtrak CEO William Flynn at the August 10 Town Council Meeting that the most likely new route for a high-speed rail connection from New Haven to Providence would be along the I-95 corridor. As far as NEC Future is concerned, the route “more parallel to Route 95” is the Kenyon to Old Saybrook Bypass. And if we are to believe the verbal assurances of Flynn, rail officials are once again on a collision course with eastern Connecticut and southern Rhode Island.

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Leo Mainelli: CCA Remains Strongly Opposed To The Old Saybrook To Kenyon Bypass

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We ask that the Town Council and our State Government Officials inform the Federal Railroad Administration that Charlestown should have a seat at the table on the New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study; that there be a complete environmental impact study; and that we remain opposed to the Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass.

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The History Of Nuclear Energy And Ninigret Park

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When: Wednesday, July 28 at 7 PM
Where: The Quonnie Grange, 5662 Post Rd, (Rt. 1) between East and West Beach Rd., next to Dunn’s Corners Fire Station (location map of the Quonnie Grange in post)
Why: Learn how the Charlestown Naval Airbase almost became a nuclear power plant and the environmental impacts of nuclear energy.
Presenter: Art Ganz, Marine Biologist

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No ‘Sensitive’ Way To Inflict This Level Of Environmental And Cultural Destruction.

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On July 16th the Connecticut Examiner reported that both of Connecticut’s senators support the just-announced Connect NEC 2035 that implements the first phase of the Federal Railroad Administration’s NEC Future plan. No mention was made of continued opposition to the Bypass. What was offered instead was a promise from Connecticut’s US Senator Chris Murphy to be “sensitive to existing communities that live by the rail.” This letter, written by Ruth Platner, was published in the CT Examiner as a response.

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Friends Of The Charlestown Animal Shelter To Host Giant Yard Sale Fundraiser

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When: Saturday, July 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: At the Charlestown Animal Shelter on Sand Hill Road in Charlestown
Tents are going up to house all the items that will be for sale. You can visit the yard sale to shop for bargains, and you can donate your no longer wanted items for sale. If you want to make a donation for the yard sale, call 401-364-1211.

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They’re Back: Northeast Corridor Commission Sets Out Plan To Implement NEC Future

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In 2016, the Federal Railway Administration released a plan to bisect Charlestown with a new high-speed track known as the “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass”. The Northeast Corridor Commission has now released Connect NEC 2035. This plan does not include the Bypass, but what the maps in the release do have is a giant circle covering our region, indicating that high-speed rail in our area will be studied. The “New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study” is on the table, and that is extremely important and potentially dangerous for our town.

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Conserving The Jewels Of The Night: Firefly-Friendly Lighting Practices

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Artificial light at night may be one of the main drivers of firefly declines. These species are active at dusk or after dark, and artificial lights that are on at this time can make it harder for them to see each other. It may also make fireflies more vulnerable to predators that would otherwise be repelled by their light. The resulting decreases in reproduction and survival could have severe consequences for firefly populations.

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Planning Commission To Hold Special Meeting For Summer Winds 1 and 2

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On the Charlestown Planning Commission’s July 7th meeting agenda are two major subdivisions – “Summer Winds”, and “Summer Winds”. That isn’t a typo! The developers of the Summer Winds subdivision, are now proposing a Major Subdivision Comprehensive Permit on the same land as the Summer Winds subdivision and also calling it Summer Winds. They haven’t withdrawn the original Summer Winds, so for now there are two different proposals, with the same name, by the same developer, for the same parcel of land.

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Changes To CCA’s Daily Blog Email

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Most of our readers are signed up to receive the CCA newsletter which is handcrafted and sent about once a week from our website. A smaller group of subscribers receive an automated email with all of the previous day’s blog posts whenever there is new content. All of our readers who were receiving the “daily” automated email will be transferred to a new email list.

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Elevated Levels Of PFAS Found In Some Wells At Ninigret Park

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries since the 1940s. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects. High PFAS levels are often found at former military sites like Ninigret Park. The wells with elevated PFAS are not used for drinking water.

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Rt91QuarryFall2020

The Blast Heard Round The Town

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On Friday, May 21, at approximately 10:30 a.m. an explosion was heard across Charlestown from the border with Richmond, to South Kingstown, to Westerly. Because of the way sound travels and where people were, whether in their homes or outdoors, not everyone heard the noise or felt the shock wave. What is remarkable is how far people who did feel and/or hear the explosion were from the source.

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With A New Comprehensive Plan, Charlestown Can Now Move Forward

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Now that the plan has been approved, the Planning Commission can begin the process of addressing issues that the town faces along with residents’ concerns. The staff, boards, commissions and committees now have a solid footing for making their decisions. State agencies still have to make final approval of the plan, but their reviews so far have been extremely good.

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37 Lot Coastal Subdivision And 20 Unit Village Condominium Project On Planning Agenda

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On the Charlestown Planning Commission’s April 28th meeting agenda are two major land developments – “Summer Winds” and “Village Walk” and other proposals. Links to review all the materials submitted by the applicants, the agenda for the entire April 28 meeting, and a link to join the live Webex meeting on April 28 at 7 p.m. where these applications will be reviewed are in this post.

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Read A Summary Of Charlestown Comprehensive Plan

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The Charlestown Planning Commission and Planning Department have created a slideshow to summarize the 2020 draft of Charlestown’s Comprehensive Plan. Please click on the blue button in the post to page through the summary. A continued joint public hearing on the proposed new Comprehensive Plan is scheduled by the Town Council and Planning Commission for May 4th at 7 PM.

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Spring Equinox Drone Flight From Blue Shutters To Quonochontaug Pond

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On March 21, the first full day of Spring, Bob Petrone flew his drone to take advantage of that perfect spring day. There were few people walking the beach and the sky was a deep blue with no wind. The YouTube video in this post will bring the viewer on a 7 minute ride along the Quonnie coast from Blue Shutters to the Quonochontaug Breachway and pond.

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Thanks To Warren Schwartz For His Dedication To Cleaning Up Charlestown Litter

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If you have ever asked yourself what one person can do to benefit their community, there are many examples of people who stand out. People who see a need and pursue a workable solution are all around us. In Charlestown, I can offer one example of an ordinary citizen who saw a problem, persevered, and is currently working to solve a town wide problem.

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CCA And RICAN Combine To Fight Food Insecurity

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Charlestown Citizens Alliance kicked off a campaign seeking donations to ease the burden on neighbors experiencing food insecurity. As of mid-January, donations have reached almost $10,000 from nearly 50 individual donors. An anonymous donor working directly with RICAN pledged to match the donations. We thank all the donors who participated in our campaign.

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Charlestown Open Space Project On Council Agenda

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On the Town Council agenda for Feburary 8 is a vote to allow the Town Administrator and Town’s attorney to negotiate a price for the property. DEM also has to approve the price and will not be involved in the sale if they believe the price is greater than the market value. If a sales price can be negotiated that the seller, town and DEM all agree on, the Town Council will hold a public hearing at a future meeting and then vote on the purchase.

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Planning For High Speed Rail That Avoids Charlestown

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For the last three years, another high-speed rail planning process, independent of the Federal Railroad Administration, proposes a new route that would go inland through Connecticut instead of along the shoreline. The proposed new route would cross Long Island Sound with a 16-mile tunnel to New Haven, and then north to Hartford. From Hartford it would travel east to UConn at Tolland Connecticut, and then on to Providence and Boston.

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