Middlebury Is Not ‘Divided’ Over Proposed Distribution Facilities

I saw the first red sign as I got off exit 16 of I-84 yesterday afternoon. Many more appeared as I drove up 188. Dozens of signs all with the same message - 'NO DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES in Middlebury'.

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Long story short - Drubner Equities, LLC has proposed Southford Park, which will be a 720,000 square foot warehouse/distribution complex to be built on the site of Timex World Headquarters on Christian Road, and an adjoining parcel of land on Southford Rd/188. Here's an overhead from Google Maps

You've driven by and never noticed it. Middlebury rigorously enforces Planning and Zoning. Try to find fast food, or a drive-through business? Nope. The proposed land is fields, ponds, swamps - untouched. Why would anything of this proposed facility's size be considered in this area? When 84 traffic dumps off on 188/64, that highway-level volume goes one lane past Pomperaug, Long Meadow, and backs up from the proposed site all the way to the stoplight past Middlebury Police HQ. It's overwhelming the area, even after the upgrades the state made to the intersection by Patty's and Mobil.

My brother Steve, my friend Matt Mariani, and their families live off of Christian Road, they would be directly affected by the proposed site. They hate it, to quote Matt- "You will not find one person in Middlebury that is in favor of this facility". Matt introduced me to Jennifer Mahr, President of Middlebury Small Town Alliance, the group behind the signs, whom we spoke with for a few moments on the show.

I've just scratched the surface of this issue, to really understand what has transpired over the past few months, I urge you to read all of the posts on Middlebury Small Town Alliance's website. It's meticulous, and I've got a lot of respect for their mission. I've seen quite a few articles describing Middlebury as 'a town divided', or presenting only a portion of the facts that MSTA have tried to bring to light. United, not divided, is what I see.