To the Editor,
The proposed Sun Valley Glen subdivision on Monroe Turnpike may look like a modest plan — eight homes, a short access road, and some “open space.” But beneath that land lies something Monroe residents can’t afford to lose: our shared groundwater.
The Inland Wetlands Commission approved this project back in October 2024, months before any formal groundwater study was even completed. That study didn’t appear until June 2025, and even then, it was only a computer-based estimate. No on-site pump tests. No monitoring wells. No confirmation of how drawing thousands of gallons a day might affect the neighborhood’s existing wells or the wetlands that depend on the same groundwater.
The report assumes the site will use around 16,000 gallons per day and return most of it to the ground through septic systems — leaving a “net loss” of only about 600 gallons a day.
That may look fine on paper, but it ignores what really happens during a dry summer when irrigation, pools, and washing cars increase demand and water tables fall. The surrounding homes already rely on wells that, in some cases, yield less than one gallon per minute.
At one of the recent hearings, a well driller explained that wells would be drilled into the bedrock, typically 200 to 300 feet deep, to reach underground seams that might hold water. He noted that when a well is drilled deep enough, it can achieve roughly 500 gallons of storage.
That insight, while practical, also highlights just how delicate this balancing act is. We’re talking about tapping deep into the same bedrock that sustains not just the homes, but the wetlands and streams that make this area so special.
It’s also worth acknowledging that the developer made a major investment—over a million dollars — to purchase these two parcels shortly after wetlands approval but before the Planning and Zoning decision. No one spends that kind of money on raw, steep, and partially wet land just to let it sit.
I respect that commitment. But with that investment comes a duty to make sure the project is grounded in sound science and long-term sustainability, not wishful math.
The town’s own engineer estimated the cost of essential site work and protections at $621,700, to be secured through a performance bond. That bond exists for a reason — to guarantee that what’s built is safe, properly drained, and environmentally responsible. If corners are cut, that bond could be the difference between responsible development and a very expensive mess for the community.
This isn’t about being against growth or against a builder trying to create homes. It’s about getting it right. Development must happen responsibly, with real testing and verified field data, not estimates and assumptions.
Our wetlands, vernal pools, and private wells are interconnected — disturb one, and the others inevitably feel it.
Though I now live in Trumbull, I grew up on Webb Mountain, where my family kept much of our land in open preservation. We still have property on Webb Circle, and my roots run deep in that part of Monroe — especially among the families of Cottage Street and Stevenson.
So while I don’t live there now, I still care deeply about what happens on that mountain. If I have it my way, it’s where I’ll take my last breath one day.
Monroe’s Planning and Zoning Commission denied this application in good faith last May because there wasn’t enough evidence to prove the wells wouldn’t go dry or the wetlands wouldn’t suffer. That decision was right — and as this proposal winds its way through court, we must hold firm to the principle that growth should never come at the cost of the water beneath our feet.
Before Monroe carves up its groundwater, let’s make sure it truly exists — and that every promise in this plan is backed by proof, not assumptions.
Bryant Abbott,
Trumbull resident, used to live in Webb Mountain, Monroe
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