Bigger is not better.

The proposed school buildings will dominate the landscape, oversized and out of proportion in a residential neighborhood. It is too much development for such a small site. The building addition proposed is two stories high, and its total area is about 2,080 sq. ft. - that is an addition of about 40% of the size of the existing building!

It is also very surprising - and disappointing - that the university would seek to impose a plan that experts and evidence shows will be detrimental to the environment locally.

Much of the grassy area on the property would disappear - it would be paved over, likely causing more run-off in an already environmentally sensitive area.

This time, again, it’s about space.

Opponents certainly don’t object to the university’s educational mission, rather it is the unsuitable location where they propose to build that has led to immediate and serious, substantive concern and broad opposition.

The inevitability of destruction.

The forested wetland complex behind the proposed site is large and quite scenic. It is a nice, early-successional habitat with diverse flora that naturally sustain populations of wildlife such as red-tailed hawks, Carolina wrens, turkey, and deer.

Adding regular, high-levels of nitrogen to this wetland will entirely change the vegetation, and Phragmites and other invasive plant species will become dominant, driving the wildlife inhabitants away.

While the RIdge Road site does not have any wetlands on it, it is bounded by wetlands and watercourses to the north and west. Given the slope of the land and the silty soil, runoff and discharges from the proposed school will flow into one of these wetlands and watercourses.

Beyond that, elevated levels of nitrogen released by a septic system on-site will cause algal blooms, the growth of rank vegetation in the wetlands, reduction of the diversity of plants and the fauna that rely upon them, and lead to the destruction of this pristine stream habitat.

They want to put up a parking lot.

The existing church building had a total of 27 parking spaces alongside. They were rarely all used simultaneously, save some Sundays.

The proposal would more than triple that number to a planned 97 parking spaces. And the proposed facility would be in operation day and night, literally. With cars pulling in and out for programs and classes that could be held during the hours of 8:00 AM and 10:00 PM daily.

Environmental damage ahead.

The environment matters. It’s 2024. If the QU plans go forward, the environment goes backwards - irreversibly.

• The Pagoda dogwood and the magnificent silver maple tree are very close to the level spreader, such that they will not survive the much wetter soil conditions, post construction. Native goldenrods in foreground will also be "drowned".

• These are handsome - and unusual - tree species to find in a headwaters wetland.

• The down-gradient wet meadow is diverse and high functioning, with plants adapted to moderate nutrient levels. A level spreader and septic system should not be constructed so close to this sensitive resource.

Way too risky.

The forested wetland complex immediately down-gradient of the proposed site is a relatively large, diverse area, and is headwaters to a perennial stream which is a tributary to the Mill River.

The Mill River eventually flows into the Lake Whitney reservoir (pictured above), and the intervening aquifer is the source of well water for many local homes.

The significant expansion of impervious surface - an increase of a startling 263% - in the proposed plan is insensitive, inappropriate and unacceptable.

An accident waiting to happen.

When it snows, there are no shoulders for Town plows to put the snow, and the street is narrowed even further than its 18-20’.

The road is very narrow and winding and undulates as it descends to the proposed site, (clearly an increased hazard in inclement weather) - and there isn’t sufficient room to widen the road any further within the limits of the available rights of way.

The proposed widening also underscores that the anticipated traffic volume is inconsistent with the character of the neighborhood, and the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development.

Regardless of the weather, whether you’re a walker, jogger, bicyclist, dog-walker, student, parent or neighbor, the volume of vehicular activity is far and above anything in the neighborhood - an accident waiting to happen. See more photos.