Community Corner

SOD Announces Executive Board Members

New Milford residents band together to fight the size and scope of the development of the United Water Property.

The newly formed grass roots group SOD (Stop Over Development) named their executive board at their meeting Tuesday evening. 

SOD was recently organized by New Milford residents to prevent the proposed development by the Hekemian Group of a 70,500 sq ft supermarket, 4300 sq ft bank and 221 residential units with 428-spaced parking garage on the 13-acre United Water property. 

According to one of the founding organizers Miriam Pickett, "This development will change the character of New Milford forever."

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Pickett was instrumental in helping to establish SOD. While attending a hearing of the Zoning Board of Adjustment on April 19, Pickett noticed a number of people in the audience shaking their heads in disapproval during the testimony of Hekemian's experts, but no one was talking to each other. She decided that night to get everyone's email in an effort to try and organize residents to band together against the development of the property. 

SOD Executive Members are:

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  • Executive Director: Miriam Pickett
  • Environmental Chair: John Rutledge
  • Engineering Chair: Michael Gadaleta
  • Finance Chair: Ulises Cabrera
  • Research Chair: Rosemary Fuhrman
  • Communications Chair: Lori Barton
  • Member-at-Large: Anna Leone

SOD is concerned with the effects the proposed development of the United Water property will have on flooding, area wildlife, air, water and noise pollution, overcrowded schools, tax increases and the strain on police, fire and other emergency services.

SOD is urging New Milford residents, as well as any other individuals concerned with these negative impacts, to attend the zoning board meetings and to contact us at nounitedwaterdev@yahoo.com

There will be a special meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment tonight to continue the hearing of the United Water property development. The meeting begins at 7pm and will be held in the Council Chambers of Borough Hall.

Have a question or a news tip? Email the editor Ann Piccirillo at annpiccirillo@yahoo.com. Or, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your email inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.


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