Description
Large amounts of wood have been and still are trucked in to this site be processed and sold for firewood, and a portable sawmill is in operation to cut logs for lumber. There is an estimated 100 cord or more of firewood on this property and more coming in. This is a RESIDENTIAL neighborhood that has to look at this mess and listen to the sound of trucks, numerous chainsaws, the sawmill, backhoes, wood splitters, wood chippers and the guys yelling to each other over the noise of their own equipment. This goes on all week and through the weekend starting around 7am until dark. We are a group of concerned residents that have spoken to the city zoning enforcement office for 7 months and the issue has never been taken care of. If you have advice on how we can get enforcement please let us know. We did check the city zoning regulations and this is a violation.
34 Comments
noone (Guest)
DEP enforcement next. (Guest)
Frank (Guest)
DEP enforcement next. (Guest)
The residents making this complaint are correct, it is a residential area in violation of our zoning regulations. It is clearly a commercial logging operation and should not be in that neighborhood. If you lived near this property you would ask for town zoning enforcement also. The site and owner are being watched, I wouldn't get involved if I were you. A load of wood is not worth it.
Sammy (Guest)
Maybe even call Blumenthal's office or your local police.
Stop wasting time with the zoning office.
These loggers probably don't even have a permit, but the zoning officer is obviously not going to go after them.
Even better, call your local TV investigative reporter to check it out.
giovanna (Guest)
Sammy (Guest)
and maybe Blumenthal's office.
The other best method is to get it on TV via an investigative reporter.
They are possibly operating commercial in a residential zone.
Gordon fan (Guest)
Gordon Fan (Guest)
Apparently, they has ceased the saw mill operation, here. I investigated the property a few weeks ago, and the saw was gone, as was the pile of firewood that was there, before. There is still a stack of lumber under cover. Neighbors told me they are still logging further back on the property but far enough away that the noise was not so bad, but logging trucks still exit/enter there. My guess is that when the firewood season begins, the operation will start back up.
Bruce Driska and P&Z get no credit for resolving this. The operators got away with this for years; according to Bill Warner, "The Zoning Enforcement Officer has been dealing with this property for a number of years." The operators ceased of their own accord, and as I said before, as the firewood season approaches, they will get back in business.
City Resident (Guest)
Gordon Fan (Guest)
Sammi (Guest)
I would also recommend you call the CT Atty General's office, the CT DEP, and get the local papers involved, along with one of the investigative reporters at Ch. 3, 4, or 8.
If it hits TV, something will get done.
Gordon Fan (Guest)
Sammi (Guest)
To Gordon Fan:
You personally need to contact either channel 3, channel 4, or channel 8.
Their investigative staff can keep you anonymous if necessary.
I don't understand why you want someone else to contact the media for you.
If you just make the call, they can assess the issue and probably get going on exposing the dirty dealing going on here. If one TV station won't help, call another one.
Gordon Fan (Guest)
I don't even live in this neighborhood. My beef with this guy, Chris Bukowski, stems from a load of wood I bought from him, last year. He presented the firewood as being "seasoned", having been in his garage for two years! It was anything but seasoned; it was so wet it would hardly burn. Bukowski promised to refund part of my money, ($120) but never followed through. The Middletown Dept of Consumer Protection got involved and was unable to do anything. (another waste of taxpayer money). I've already spent an abundance of my time on this matter, and anything further needs to come from the folks who live in the area, rather than me. It would carry far more weight that way. I'm willing to support the neighbors, but it is now in theri court.
Sammi (Guest)
Calling one of the TV stations is 100% the best way to expose whatever graft and corruption is going on there.
I bet some local officials would get caught with their knickers down.
Gordon Fan (Guest)
Sammi (Guest)
I just don't get why the "concerned residents" kept trying the zoning office for 7 months but never took it higher than that, to the CT D.E.P. or Atty General's office.
They just wasted their time, and need to expose the local town govt. for refusing to do its job.
Something smells like a rat in this wood lot.
Walker (Guest)
Sammi (Guest)
Posting comments on here is not going to produce any concrete results.
Seriously, call Channel 8 or 3 or 4, and ask for their I-teams.
Why not go to The Courant, if the Middletown Press won't post any letters ?
The DEEP should be all over this site, as well.
Gordon Fan (Guest)
Gordon Fan (Guest)
Sammi (Guest)
I don't live anywhere near there (I'm east of the river) but I empathize with the neighbors.
I don't think that contacting the DEEP webmaster will serve any purpose, however.
I suggest calling the DEEP FOR "UNAUTHORIZED WETLANDS FILL" AT 860-424-3019 OR FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING, AT 866-363-3867.
You can remain anonymous, if you are concerned about that.
Gordon Fan (Guest)
Sammi (Guest)
Sammi (Guest)
Still seems more like a DEEP issue, but what do I know ?
Middletowner (Guest)
walker (Guest)
Middletowner (Guest)
It's true. (Guest)
Sammi (Guest)
Is he a town official's relative ? Has he bribed someone ?
Maybe a lawsuit which includes both him and the town would rattle a few cages.
If wetlands are being polluted, no clue why the DEEP won't touch it either.
To have the only recourse be "hoping he moves away" is pretty pathetic.
Noise pollution, air pollution, wetlands pollution, illegal wood cutting business,illegal dumping......
what part of "arrest the guy and levy fines" does the town not get ?
Walker (Guest)
gordon fan (Guest)
Closed Mayor's Office (Registered User)