ANSONIA — On this coming Monday, Sept. 20, the Ansonia Planning & Zoning Board will be holding a public hearing to consider a zoning amendment to allow rock crushing activities in Heavy Industrial districts of 10 acres or more. We stand with the residents affected by this and are firmly opposed to this change.
Burns Construction, of 16 Riverside Drive, has been running a rock crushing operation for the past year and a half. The problem is, per Ansonia’s own zoning regulations, rock crushing is not permitted in the city. In fact, in 2004 the city issued a cease & desist order against Complete Construction, previously of 16 Riverside Drive, when it attempted to crush rock in the city. Complete Construction sued, and the Superior Court ruled that rock crushing was in fact not permitted.
The city is now trying to change the rules to benefit Burns Construction, at the expense of the residents. The rock crushing process—from the machines noisily crushing rock to the large diesel dump trucks carting loads through our neighborhoods, loudly banging while dropping tailgates and rocks—disturbs our residents at all hours, literally shaking their homes, and waking people—including seniors, children, and tired moms and dads. The dust and debris generated has also been making its way into residential neighborhoods, despite claims of “dust mitigation” from Burns. Ansonia has elevated asthma rates and added dust in the air is unwelcome for the health of our community.
These disturbances aren’t just affecting residents of the fifth ward—noise and vibrations carry over to the first and fourth wards as well. Yet, with the exception of Alder Diane Stroman in the fourth ward, the Alders in these wards have been noticeably silent on this issue. In fact, just last week, Alders Joe Jaumann and Chicago Rivers in the fifth ward were “not available for comment” for a Connecticut Post story regarding this issue.
We are also concerned that by making changes to the rock crushing regulations, the city would be opening up other Heavy Industrial districts to rock crushing (e.g., along the other side of the Naugatuck River on the Ansonia Copper & Brass property). This area, like the Riverside Drive location, is next to a neighborhood that would be negatively affected by noise and dust.
It has become abundantly clear over the last 18 months that the current administration—supported by the silence of the current Alders—has been bending over backwards to appease Burns Construction’s unpermitted rock crushing business. They have chosen to ignore the precedent set by the Court 20 years ago AND the pleas and appeals of local residents. We can only conclude that in the pecking order of “putting taxpayers first,” that Burns Construction takes priority over the residents in the area.
The noise from the rock crushing is unmistakable, as is the deafening silence from the Alders claiming to represent the residents in the area. As a separate but equal body, it is their job to represent the best interests of the residents of their wards—not simply act as a rubber stamp regardless of issue.
We urge the P&Z Board to not change regulations so Burns can rock crush, and encourage all residents negatively affected by this unpermitted activity to make your voices heard on Sept. 20.
Signed: The Ansonia Democratic Slate of Alder Candidates for the 2021 Municipal Election
John Feddern, 1st Ward
Gary Farrar, 1st Ward
Bill Phipps, 2nd Ward
Joe Jeanette, 3rd Ward
Diane Stroman, 4th Ward
Rohan Brown, 4th Ward
Brian Perkins, 5th Ward
David Rhodes, 5th Ward
Chris Grizzle, 6th Ward
Jonathan Vining, 6th Ward
Leonard Duffus, 7th Ward
Steve Erlingheuser, 7th Ward
