I’m writing to add my concerns to those already expressed by multiple neighbors of the Grace Farms Foundation property. My family resides at 412 Luke’s Wood Road, directly opposite what I understand to be ‘Parcel 2’ of said property.
Like those neighbors, I too would very much appreciate receiving a candid, comprehensive and unadorned ‘master plan’ from the Grace leadership, both in order to fully understand the extent of their long-term intentions and to assess the inevitable direct impact these will have on the neighborhood, our property values and what will doubtless be an increasing disruption to our peaceful enjoyment of this once quiet, semi-rural neighborhood.
To date, and encompassing only Grace’s current (while still, as I understand it, beyond the permitted scope) activities, we have experienced a substantial increase in traffic in the neighborhood—much of it aggressive and far in excess of the speed limit—there is and has been an ongoing issue with noise, including the obscenely irritating ‘sound sculpture,’ as well as the far-carrying voices of ‘security personnel,’ who appear to engage in incessant whistling, joke-telling, and longshoreman-style swearing—it may sound petty, but this is a quiet place, and sounds are greatly amplified, particularly at night. I can no longer open my windows in the evening, due to this incessant nonsensical chatter and noise. My dogs don’t like it very much either.
Speaking of the evenings, due to the positioning of the Grace driveway, the headlights of all traffic leaving Grace Farms shine directly and with great intensity into my home’s bedroom windows, to the extent that it often seems we are living across from a busy highway, and as you might imagine, during Grace’s seemingly frequent, large volume evening events, this often results in a considerable, ongoing nuisance and disruption. Had I wished to live near a high volume destination-attraction, where I might experience being blinded on a nightly basis by an endless stream of headlights, I would have bought a home in such a place. Like Newark.
Additionally, the buses which Grace uses to ferry visitors, both on Sundays and other occasions, frequently choose to idle for long periods of time on the street beside my residence, a line of buses parking for several hours next to the stone wall that borders my property. Where the drivers proceed to smoke and chat. This too seems an unacceptable and significant overstepping of boundaries, not to mention violating most generally accepted norms of common decency, to say nothing of the threat posed to my family’s sense of safety, wellbeing, privacy and security.
To wit: On more than one occasion I have encountered groups of people loitering quite literally in the middle of West Road—waiting, I was informed by them, for the gates of Grace to open. To reiterate: in the middle of the road, sitting, hanging out, lighting up the ganja. So, again, matters of security, privacy, and the deliberate attraction of countless unknown and unknowable persons and groups to this out of the way place where many of us have for years felt comfortable leaving our doors unlocked. For its part, as is its wont, Grace appears blithely unconcerned about any of this, in fact, they seem to operate with the clear-cut presumption of impunity, and no regard whatsoever for the impact they have on the surrounding environment. They appear quite simply, to not care, and their modus operandi continues to seem one of merely steamrolling concerned parties, tap-dancing, obfuscating, dissembling, and hoping against hope that no one notices.
We’ve noticed. And all this is what we have experienced before Grace is even granted permission to further expand its mysterious mission/quest for world domination. I’m given to understand that Grace anticipates hosting events of 700 persons, commercially, for all intents and purposes, and if their plans go forward as projected—or as has been alluded, albeit cryptically, as per usual—the pastoral view from every window of my home will be replaced by that of an asphalt parking lot. There’s a song about that, I believe.
In sum, Grace Farms has demonstrated no regard whatsoever for the existing character of this neighborhood, nor for the people who live here. It is distressing in the extreme to think that this church/foundation/spaceship landing pad/lord knows might be allowed to continue to operate in the manner it is now, utterly unchecked, without sanction and absent firm, unequivocal resolution of its permissible scope, and strict enforcement of such parameters, from the town’s presiding authority.
Thank you for your attention. I look forward to the hearing.
Gary and Beth Rich
Pound Ridge, N.Y.
What a fantastic letter. I truly hope that the town reads it and the other letters from those affected by Grace Farms. I don’t have a problem with churches doing good–heck I belong to one that does plenty of good here in NC and in the community at large.
What my church DOES NOT DO is host fundraisers for 700 people with buses, cars, staff, trucks, rentals, and the like. That’s something totally different.
I hope that our P+Z reviews this carefully and does not allow it continue. A shame for those neighbors and anyone else in the area. I wish the town would have bought it and made it a park or community center that actually follows the rules and regulations set forth.
Wow, I couldn’t tell if this was mean to be taken seriously or as satire. “longshoreman-style swearing” “My dogs don’t like it very much either.” “I would have bought a home in such a place. Like Newark.” “lighting up the ganja.” I’m going to go with the later here.
I also agree, this is a terrific letter and I feel it should not be taken lightly. I am hopeful the P&Z will truly listen to the concerns of the community and help protect the integrity of New Canaan’s beautiful and bucolic landscape.
No organization should be given carte blanche or feel they do not have to be accountable to the community they are impacting.
In my view, I’m not sure how any fair observer could call this harangue a “fantastic” or “terrific” letter. Quite the contrary.
I personally have no ties to Grace Farms.; I had lunch there once with my wife and attended an inspiring September 11 memorial event last fall.
It’s a very impressive addition to the fabric and architectural rigor of New Cannan; that ranks right up there with the Philip Johnson Glass House.
The Rich’s of Pound Ridge, NY seem to have lost their ability to provide reasonable feedback and input regarding Grace Farms with their snarky and irritable letter.
I’m not sure of the purpose of the peculiar analogies’ to Newark, N.J. and the poor attempt at satire; by comparing Grace Farm’s security personnel “to joke-telling,
and longshoreman-style swearing.” That statement enlightens one on how the Rich’s feel about blue collar workers and neighborhoods
Again, if the Rich’s see people from Grace Farms “in the middle of the road, sitting, hanging out, lighting up the ganja.”
They should simply call the Pound Ridge or New Canaan police; as I believe “ganja” is still illegal in CT/NY.
Finally, how can the able leadership of Grace Farms work with a “neighbor” who falsely claims “In sum, Grace Farms has demonstrated no regard whatsoever for the existing character of this neighborhood, nor for the people who live here,” and refers to their place of worship as a “spaceship landing pad.” How intolerent and insulting to an organization that has already added much good to our community; and has bent over backwards to listen to the concerns of their neighbors by continuing to add landscape screening to their vast acreage.
Thankfully, the Rich’s reside across the state line and not “in the next station to heaven.”
James T. O’Hora
The next station to heaven? Perhaps you should go a little easy on the Kool-aid, you sound addled.
Dear addled Beth, the “Next Station to Heaven.” has been used to describe New Canaan since the 1890’s.
The only thing bad about NC is all the New Yorkers who come into town. They should stay in their lousy hamlets. And it’s not just NC, the people of Ridgefield can’t stand the NYers either!
What are you, like, twelve? You’re hilarious, fine example of that renowned New Canaan refinement and sophistication. Love it, man. (:
Cheers.
I believe Mr. Marcus is from Ridgefield.
Wow mr and MRS rich—when you bought your property what did you think was across the street?
An 80 acre horse farm, MR. Karp.
Well, 30-40 homes could have gone there, or “affordable housing” for hundreds.
Heck, affordable housing would be an ideal addition to some of Grace Farms property – in keeping w/ its mission.
Certain people commenting would only object if it was on their street. I truly hope P+Z doesn’t allow GF to continue in the manner they are.
There are MANY organizations doing good in our town and they should all be appreciated and supported, but they should also FOLLOW THE RULES.
Amen. I’d dearly love to see the reaction these folks would have if they were informed that a per annum horde of approximately 178,000 individuals and their vehicles were about to begin descending on their peaceful residential neighborhood.
Complete hysteria, I’d imagine. Apoplexy. Frothing at the mouth. And probably substantially less craven boot-licking.
If it was proposed on their street, in a quiet residential neighborhood, they would go nuclear.
I don’t fault GF for trying to help the community, but they have to follow the rules just like every other non-profit or church organization in our town. Time for P+Z to do something to protect the rights of the citizens they are appointed to represent. Don’t give up the fight!
They have events… Not breaking zoning? Go ahead and have your little Pagen folk parties. Spark up the Ganja.. People have been Drinkin, smoking ganja and riding dirt bikes around Mud Pond, Lukes woods, West road for years. Suck it up Richs’.
Yeah, uh I have been on Lukes Wood since the 1990’s and I’ve never once seen anyone drinking, smoking or riding dirt bikes round those parts either on the road or in the woods. Thanks for the commentary tho!
That’s ‘pagan,’ you illiterate twit.
No one should belittle or mock the Rich’s concerns. The Rich’s have had to tolerate an estimated 1800 cars weekly entering and exiting Grace Farms today as their property is adjacent to the entrance/exit of Grace Farms.