Residents Push Back on High-Density Housing in Thompsonville

Image
  South River Street, Thompsonville CT Doubt is creeping into the Planning and Zoning Commission about high-density housing development in Thompsonville. An impassioned defense by South River Street residents is triggering this reassessment. They live near a proposed 160-unit apartment complex on South River near the boat launch at the intersection of Main Street. This hearing, held last week, became a battle over preserving the neighborhood's character versus building apartments near the train station. But the neighborhood opposition was so strong that the PZC debated whether this housing would benefit Thompsonville. ​ South River Street is a narrow street, tucked between the train tracks and the Connecticut River. It's not a through street, with barely room for two cars to pass, and most people in town are likely unfamiliar with it.​ About a dozen residents spoke in opposition at a PZC hearing, worried about how the project would change the character of their neighborhood. S...
Post a Comment

Climate change impacts in Connecticut




I can imagine mowing my lawn by next weekend, which seems early. Already the weeds are racing ahead. This is not surprising.

Temperatures in Connecticut have increased 2.8 degrees since 1970. Our average annual temp that year was about 48, it's now nearing 51. This coincides with a dramatic rise in CO2.

In 1970, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere was at 325 ppm; it's now at about 410 ppm. Pre-industrial was 280 ppm. 

Connecticut is ranked 10th among fastest warming states by Climate Central. Alaska is first.

I'm not entirely sure why Connecticut, along with Rhode Island and Vermont, are seeing faster temperature rises.

Clearly, we're seeing an increase in extreme weather in the U.S., which includes fires. We have been fairly lucky so far in Connecticut.

It's hard to know for sure what climate change will mean for Connecticut specifically. But a 3 degree increase since 1970 does not bode well. We're doing nothing globally to address the problem, and CO2 emissions are accelerating with economic growth. The New York Times recently described the increases in carbon as a speeding freight train. 

In Enfield, we will likely hear lawn mower engines by next weekend. It will seem that all is normal, but what we once considered normal is disappearing and rapidly. 

Comments

Post a Comment