Allan Appel File Photo
Fran Calzetta and Robert Parente, victorious concrete plant opponents.
Opponents of a proposed concrete plant in the Annex have an extra reason to give thanks Thursday, now that a developer has pulled the plug on his plans. At least for now.
That was the word in a letter sent to the City Plan Department on Wednesday by representatives of Henry Criscuolo. The property owner, who has been looking for City Plan permission to build a concrete plant on Goodwin Street, has withdrawn his application, the letter stated. Read the letter here.
It was music to the ears for people opposed to the concrete plant, who had raised concerns about noise, air pollution, and traffic from putting a new plant in their neighborhood. See previous coverage here, here, and here.
“We’re delighted,” said Fran Calzetta, a member of the opposition.
The battle isn’t over yet, she cautioned. While Criscuolo has withdrawn his application for the concrete plant, he retains a special exception for industrial use of the property, granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals in September. Wednesday’s letter explicitly reserves Criscuolo’s right to pursue development in the future.
Allan Appel File Photo
The proposed site.
Attorney Marjorie Shansky has filed an appeal of the BZA decision on behalf of Elaine Stetzer, who lives right next to the proposed concrete plant site.
“We’re not completely out of the woods,” Calzetta said. “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”
Calzetta said she’s on guard against another move to push the plant plan through. “You don’t know whether the maneuver is honest, as in, ‘Oh, I’m pulling out. You people can be happy.’ Or, ‘Oh, I’m pulling out but I still have one more trick up my sleeve.’”
Representatives of Criscuolo could not be reached for comment.
“This is a good step, but we are still facing going through an appeals process, which could last up to a year,” said Anstress Farwell, head of the New Haven Urban Design League. Her organization was one of several parties that successfully petitioned to intervene on the City Plan Commission’s review of Criscuolo’s site plan.
Farwell said the appeal of the BZA decision will move forward early in 2011.
I'm glad that Mr. Criscuolo has withdrawn his application before City Plan. It is most unfortunate that this proposal got as far as it did. This part of town is overburdened with terrible air pollution that causes cancer, asthma attacks, heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, stunted lung growth in children, diabetes, lung disease and premature death. It also has a very large number of multifamily homes and apartment buildings with small children and senior citizens that are most vulnerable to getting sick from this pollution. Polluting facilities, such as cement factories, are inappropriate to have in anyone's back yard including the annex neighborhood. It was great to see this community come together to speak up in defense of their right to clean air, less truck traffic, and a clean environment.
As Fran says, it's not over until it's over; we will continue to be interested in the outcome of the appeal regarding New Haven's Board of Zoning approval of Mr. Criscuolo's proposed use of this property. We are most grateful for the legal support of Attorney Marjorie Shansky - thank you.