Say no to Bloomfield development

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I am writing against the Bloomfield Development project adjacent to Indian Pond.

There is no way that any of the proposed designs can be developed and comply with the Special Natural District (or SNAD) regulations:

1. It involves a steep slope AND the modification has maximum impact on the existing natural topography. It will completely obliterate the existing vegetation. 

2. On modification of botanic environment and tree preservation -— the extent of the development and small size of the lot means that the ecosystem of the lot will be completely altered. It will not be possible to “preserve” the soil conditions and the botanic environment. In fact, it is now known that the carbon content of the soil is greatly disturbed when trees are removed and when major holes are dug, such as proposed. 

On no count can this development comply with SNAD rules.

In addition, it is important that this committee understand that removal of fullly grown trees contributes to climate change. This city is fighting every day to achieve an overall reduction of 30 percent by 2030 — the city has planted 865,000 of 1 million trees. Half the weight of a tree is carbon. The larger the tree, the more carbon you are releasing into the atmosphere. Cutting forest trees releases the carbon back into the air as the trees decay or are burned, and even though the young trees that are planted instead are sequestering carbon as they grow, the accelerated rate of soil decay caused by disturbance gives off carbon at a higher rate than the young trees can take up.

Also understand that the Bloomfield development will completely alter the environment of Indian Pond.

The value of a natural area can be measured in the ‘services’ that the area provides to people. These services — also known as ecosystem services — are how we put value on an ecosystem and compare it to something with measurable financial value. The most valuable ecosystems globally are the wetlands — the areas where the land and the water meet. Scientific papers report substantial impact on the quality-of-life in urban areas and urge urban planners to account for them.

Bloomfield Development, Indian Pond, SNAD, Jessica Haller
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