Editor, The Smithfield Times:

I am a 35-year resident of Windsor, and after attending the Board of Supervisors meeting on May 16 concerning the proposed Tidewater Logistics Center, I have a few issues I would like to address.

First, I sit on the Windsor Planning Commission, which was not even made aware of this project until our August 2023 meeting. Even though this project is out of our jurisdiction, it appeared that there was no transparency on this project with Windsor officials until it was pretty much a done deal — poor communication at best, considering the property for the project borders our town limits and will dramatically impact all residents of our town.

Second, traffic on U.S. 460 created by this project will severely impact an already very busy highway through our town. Adding another 270 trucks per day and approximately 1,200 employee vehicles for this project will make 460 a greater mess than it already is, especially during summer months when traffic increases dramatically. 

It was stated by a supervisor at the meeting that a few more trucks through Windsor would be no big deal. He stated that Smithfield had handled lots of truck traffic in years past when all the packing was at full capacity. I guess he forgot to mention that the reason Route 10 bypass was opened in 1973 was to take the truck traffic out of Smithfield. We currently do not have that option in Windsor.

Third, the supervisors seemed more concerned with wetland issues than traffic and noise issues. It appeared to me that they were more interested in accommodating the developers than accommodating the residents of Windsor who will be so negatively impacted by this project.

Fourth, I noticed that ALL of the speakers at this meeting who spoke in favor of this project were from out of town, obviously with their own financial interest in mind — a huge red flag, to say the least. 

I would like to remind the Board of Supervisors that it was the good people of this county who elected them to their positions, putting faith in them to act and vote in the best interest of the people they represent. It was obvious from the large turnout of citizens opposing this project that they DO NOT wish to see this project move forward. 

I hope they will respect their wishes and vote NO on the Tidewater Logistics Center.

 

Devon Hewitt

Windsor