New First Selectman Carl Fortuna Comes Out Against Development of the 1,000 acre Forest in Old Saybrook

Editor’s Note:  During his election campaign, Carl Fortuna spoke publicly numerous times about the fact that he is against development of the 1,000 acre Forest in Old Saybrook. Below is a reposting of his official position taken from oldsaybrookrepublicans.org   ASaP is refreshed, encouraged and hopeful that Fortuna will be a public leader, helping to permanently protect the 1,000 acre Forest .  

Carl Fortuna   

Under the category of a quality of life issue in Fortuna’s mind is the attempt to develop the Preserve. The “so-called” Preserve is a 1,000 acre tract of privately owned land, heavily forested, and mostly located within the boundaries of Old Saybrook.

The Town’s Planning Commission not too long ago approved a proposed development on the property. The approvals have been challenged in court, but Fortuna fears that the Commission’s approvals will ultimately be upheld.

Fortuna feels strongly that, “Building on that land [the Preserve] would be bad fiscally and environmentally for the Town of Old Saybrook. These are the last 1,000 acres of the coastal forest in the State,” he notes.

Also, he feels, “To develop the property will place a financial burden on the town,” because of “the infrastructure requirements” that would be “onerous to the town.” “I think we need to cause a ruckus to oppose this development,” Fortuna says. “We need to make it a statewide, even national cause.”