[WardFive] W st Trash Transfer Station - Council Passes McDuffie’s Eminent Domain Emergency Declaration Resolution

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From: ajw1
Date:12/16/2014 1:26 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: AJW
Subject: W st Trash Transfer Station

My congratulations to Councilmember McDuffie on the Passing of Eminent Domain Emergency Declaration Resolution!  That is a major step in the the right direction to help to protect the health and environment of the overburdened and disproportionately impacted community of Brentwood.

 It has been 25 years since I organized the Concern Citizens of Brentwood and first worked with community members to challenge the Mayor, City Council, DCRA, Office of Planning, Office of Zoning and Zoning Commission to close down a trash transfer station next to homes.  

Almost over night the community was assaulted 24 hours a day by heavy large truck traffic, noxious fumes, ambient dust and rodents. To start the community was mislead about the use of the facility.   Instead of a recycling the facility was a trash transfer station.

At that time the city didn't even have  regulations, zoning or a CFO on the books for this "new" industry.  The CCB took their case to court and was sucessful in getting the Court of Appeals to issue a temporary junction to shut the facility down and restricted from operating 24 hours to 8 hr days.   

Over the years very little has changed.  The large trash trucks don't run up and down the side streets and I believe the facility no longer receives medical waste including mice from medical experiments.  The facility is still not wanted and has caused this neighborhood grief for 25 years.  My thanks to Councilmember McDuffie

for starting the process to remove it from the Brentwood Community.   

 

I know there are plans to continue engagement with the impacted community as this process moves forward. I strongly agree and think a discussion should continue in a meaningful way to ensure that the decision making processes are open to all interested groups, including those with limited financial and technical resources,  English proficiency and/or past experience in decision making for the community. Such openness to the public increases credibility

and improves the decision-making processes. At the same time recommendations and proposals should be carefully reviewed by the Council.  

Over the years many leaders and community members have put in blood, sweat and tears in attempts to shut the W St Trash Transfer Station down.

We now have the oundation to move forward. 

Moving forward it would be great to add  sustainable and green economic redevelopment for the Brentwood Rd Corridor to future development plans in our Ward 5.  This community has suffered long enough

Alice (excuse typos. Using my phone.)

Sent on a Sprint Samsung Galaxy S® 5