On August 26, 2010, Mystic River Press ran an editorial concerning the problem with bacteria in the Pawcatuck River which is caused by storm water runoff.

It was noted that Connecticut, as well as Rhode Island, should pay attention to this problem by rewriting local town ordinances on any new development pertaining to storm water controls. It was also noted that the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is already active on the project.

However, at a Public Hearing of the Groton, CT Zoning Commission on December 1, 2010, there appeared to be resistance by members of the Groton Office of Planning and Development (OPDS) to most of the public concerns: Erosion, Sediment Control, Surfacing and Drainage, Landscaping and Storm Water Management.

Being unable to attend the December 1st hearing, I obtained disk copies of the audiotape from that meeting and reviewed what transpired. Speakers from the public included representatives from the Groton Open Space Association (GOSA), Groton Shellfish Commission, Groton Planning Commission , and Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. Written reports were read and submitted. Several recommendations were made as to improvements in the zoning regulations which, if initiated, would give Groton a much better environmental control over any new commercial/residential project in the Town.

On the recording, I heard at least two members of the OPDS, led by Michael Murphy, discount much of the material presented by the public speakers. It almost seemed as if the OPDS already had their own agenda as to the limited changes they expected to utilize. It even seemed as if they really didn’t want to consider major changes at all, as they continually tried to narrow the focus of content.

This is not the first occasion where the Groton OPDS has held open meetings involving public comments being made and then subsequently disregarded in final plans. The most notable, recent example involves the Mystic Streetscape project, where, among other things, curb “bump-outs” had been planned. The public raised objections to these at the hearings. Even a Groton Town Council member raised objections. No changes were made in the final plans. We are going to be “stuck” with bump-outs…especially next winter.

It would appear that the Groton OPDS has their own environmental agenda. Perhaps they do not wish to discourage any new development in Groton which might be affected by environmental enforcement regulations. If so, the OPDS does not adequately represent my interest as a Groton Taxpayer. Since I am paying taxes for services, I expect to get proper representation, with a more responsible attitude towards our local environment, than what I have just witnessed.  Had it not been for the previous efforts of GOSA and others, Groton would be suffering with a  “big box” Walmart store with a huge parking lot dumping storm water directly into a nearby stream and actually polluting our water supply.

The message is clear….we need to actively control storm water runoff on the Rhode Island/Connecticut shoreline….and the Groton OPDS needs to support this action.