Currently there is a developer trying to get approval for a 7 single family home development followed by an 83 unit multi- and single unit cluster home development at the end of Short Hills Road. 

Short Hills is a narrow, sometimes gravel, sometimes dirt and sometimes macadam lane at the end of Flat Rock Road.  It is a quiet area.  The roughly 1475 foot road has seven homes directly on the road with 5-6 homes set back deep in the woods at its end.

This project will have a negative impact on safety of the surrounding communities, the environment of two wetlands areas including the headwaters or source of Armstrong Brook and as an added bonus, the taxpayers will have to foot the bill.

The Connecticut DOT estimates that a development of this size will have 100-200 automobiles traveling to Short Hills (see Paragraph 2) to Flat Rock Road to Hatchett's Hill Road.  Hatchett's Hill Road from Founder's Way to the Town Garage is slightly better than Short Hills.This will happen twice a day.  Cost of improving the roads....guess who pays.

Both roads are bordered by established wetlands.  Armstrong Brook' s source, which is identified as a protected Town Natural Resource in the OL Plan of Conservation and Development, is adjacent to the planned construction and later entrance ( see last paragraph) for the autos traveling to and fro.  

A historic home, identified as being 342 years old is literally situated on Short Hills Road.  There are actually two of the oldest homes in Northeast US  situated within 150 yards of each other both being built in 1666.

 There will be an increase to the school budget estimate at nearly       $1 Million dollars per year for the children from the proposed development. This does not include debt reduction, transportation and Special Ed costs.

 There won't be much in the way of additional revenue to the town to offset the millions the taxpayers will have to lay out for roads, education and environmental remediation.  There may be an increase in tickets issued to the autos previously mentioned(See Paragraph #4).

Some say the development will bring open space.  I say it is open space now with no cost to the Town.  

I am all for folks getting rich selling off their land.  But....not at the expense the safety of the surroundingof the taxpayers...which includes me!