Letters to the Editor
Journal Inquirer
January 6, 2010

I am writing in response to a project that has interrupted our quiet lives here in Vernon.

I am among many concerned citizens in Vernon who live near a proposed site that will be used for outdoor concerts. The property is located on South Frontage Road and has been purchased by Donald J. Vaccaro, president and CEO of TicketNetwork. Vaccaro wishes to be granted approval to promote a minimum of 20 outdoor live concerts on this land.

These types of concerts have a history for creating major traffic congestion, as well as alcohol and drug abuse. There are health issues that include inadequate sanitary facilities; pollution from trash, debris, cars, and buses; and alcohol and possibly drugs.

What will this do the area’s environment? Civil engineers Gardner & Peterson have proposed catch basins and other safety measures to protect the Tankerhoosen Brook, which is a state watershed. This is justified as long as action is adhered to. What happens when the sewage and debris are not removed? The toxins produced by the influx of cars and people could and will poison this important river.

I’m told Vaccaro has disregarded applications and usage of building permits for existing projects in this area. Why should we think he will follow through with promises made? Even imposed restrictions would need to be monitored. Who will do this? Can this river survive ongoing court hearings? What’s to stop wildlife from carrying off trash into the wetlands and contaminating the aquifer?

The community feels there is no need to have another outside concert venue when there are two fully operational facilities within a 10- to 15-mile radius: at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, and in the Meadows in Hartford.

There is a need for a quick response. Planning and Zoning is the last commission to pass this project and it will meet and decide at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, in Vernon Town Hall. We hope to hear from anyone interested in helping us not allow this intrusion on our town; we apologize for how quickly we need your response.

Linda Vendrillo
Vernon

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Southern Vernon has been a wonderful place to live and raise our family. When we moved here in the 1960s it was promoted as a peaceful place, near the highway yet retaining its rural character.

As the area developed the town left sections untouched including Valley Falls Park, the rails to trails system, and the Belding Wildlife Preserve. Recent new housing in the area targets those over 50, who are enticed to Vernon to spend their retirement years.

Now the essential character of the area is threatened, as a rock concert site has been proposed off exit 66 of Interstate 84— surrounded on all sides by residential property within acoustic range. The concert site proposed by TicketNetwork, a company that makes its money from marking up and reselling concert tickets, will host at least 20 outdoor country and rock concerts between May and October. Each concert may attract more than 2,000 people and 750 cars, and will last until midnight with alcohol being served.

Traffic, noise, alcohol, kids, loud music, and light pollution every summer weekend until past midnight are not consistent with the neighborhood’s character. These are better suited to an isolated country setting.

Our town Web site describes Vernon as “a celebrated place to live and work … providing homeowners the opportunity to enjoy suburbia.” Not for much longer if rock concerts intrude every summer weekend.

How does the town benefit? The concert site will only have one permanent shed, so it will bring in little new tax revenue while adversely affecting property values in the neighborhood. Reduced tax revenue after revaluation, plus the likelihood for more police to investigate accidents, fights, and drunkenness, will increase everyone’s taxes in town. The only person benefiting from the concerts will be the owner of TicketNetwork, as he expands his business from tickets to concerts.

The concert application has been quietly shepherded through the Inland Wetlands, Conservation and Traffic commissions by TicketNetwork’s team of lawyers without the public becoming aware. The last stop is the Planning and Zoning Commission, which next meets Thursday, Jan. 7, when TicketNetwork will complete its presentation and the commission may begin to hear from the public. They need to hear from all residents. More information on the issue can be found at www.quixoteenterprises.com.

Jon Roe
Vernon