Students are joining the battle against the U.S. Army’s plans to build a training base in the rural Maromas section of Middletown, located five miles southeast of campus. Local officials attended Sunday’s Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) meeting to voice opposition to building the base at the proposed location.
That site, off of Freeman Road, is in a largely wooded area with endangered grasslands and rare species of animals. The Army plans to call for using 31 to 45 acres of land to construct 273,000 square feet of building space and a 45,000 square yard parking lot.
Megan Hearne of the Connecticut River Watershed Council voiced concern that the development of the Maromas site would result in habitat fragmentation, urban sprawl, water pollution and the degradation of Middletown’s unique culture and New England character.
“People and the environment go hand-in-hand,” Hearne said.
While she offered no opposition to the Army’s presence in the city, Hearne said that a more suitable site could be found.
Mayor of Middletown Sebastian Giuliano provided a frank overview of the Army’s plans.
“They just came in and said, ’Show us your maps,’” Giuliano said, contrasting the Army’s behavior with that of the typical developer.
The mayor was supportive of preserving the Maromas site. He also brought up the much-discussed idea of building on a brownfield, a previously used industrial site. Giuliano said that the added costs associated with the expansion of a sewer line to the Freeman Road property—an expansion that would be required to support the base—would likely be more than the cost of rehabilitating a brownfieldGiuliano remained positive about the Army’s presence in Middletown.
“It’s not a bad facility to have,” he said, referencing the Army’s potential support of local food contractors and other vendors. “Generally, [such bases] are considered decent neighbors.”
According to a 2001 report by the Mattabeseck Audubon Society, the Maromas region is inhabited by several endangered species, including bald eagles and Northern Harriers. Over 40 species of birds use the area for breeding, and the area is home to numerous other species of mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
At the meeting, Mike Pernick ’10, chair of the WSA’s Student Affairs Committee, proposed a resolution calling on both the WSA and President Michael Roth to publicly oppose the site selected by the Army.
In an Argus interview, Roth expressed his dissatisfaction with the proposed plan.
“It seems like a terrible place to build a base,” he said. “I think everyone is trying to find a better place for it.”
Though the resolution may be subject to change before ratification, Pernick said prospects are good that the resolution will be passed at this Sunday’s WSA meeting.
“It would be great for the Wesleyan community to make its voice heard on a key issue like the construction of the Army base,” Pernick said.
The involvement of Wesleyan students comes on the heels of a city meeting on Feb. 4 at which Common Council members unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Army’s choice of the Freeman Road site.
On campus, several student groups have mobilized to oppose the base.
The Environmental Organizers Network’s (EON) Beyond Wes subgroup has met to discuss ways to work with the city in opposing the Freeman Road site.
WesPeace, a coalition of students, faculty and administrators, has also joined the fight against the Army’s preference for the Freeman Road property.
“[WesPeace has] talked about it a lot,” said Ashley Casale ’11, a member of the group. “We want to do a campaign to raise awareness about it, in Middletown and among Wesleyan students and faculty.”
Casale mentioned the possibility of circulating a petition opposing the Maromas site.
Various political representatives, including U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro, are also opposed to the plan.
“I […] strongly urge that the Army and/or its site identification team abandon any further interest in the Freeman Road site,” wrote DeLauro in a letter to Pete Geren, Secretary of the Army. “In working with the City of Middletown, I am confident that you will be able to identify a more suitable location for this facility.”
Middletown’s Common Council has announced a workshop on Thursday, Feb. 21 where Bill Warner, the city’s Director of Planning, Conservation and Development, will discuss two to three alternative sites that he has identified as being suitable for the Army’s needs. The workshop, which will be held at Middletown’s Municipal Building located at 245 deKoven Drive, will be open to the public.