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Center would eliminate quality of life

By Marie Dobens - Hudson | Jul 11, 2020

Save Hudson and surrounding towns as your quality of life is in danger. In case you are unaware, there is a development company called Hillwood from Texas who is interested in transforming the Green Meadow Golf Course into a logistics center most likely for an ecommerce business. The nearly 400 acres of green space would be reshaped with 3 humongous buildings, almost 50 ft high and covering 2.6 million square ft collectively. In the absolute they will encompass 130 Million Cubic Ft. It would be similar to 3 Pheasant Lane Malls! In addition to these massive buildings with 363 bays to receive tractor trailers, they are planning parking space for 840 tractor trailer trucks and 1840 cars. This would be a 24/7, 365 days operation.

There are many concerns that arise from this proposal. The sheer number of tractor trailers involved would not only cause traffic congestion but would add significant air pollution from the diesel fumes and its particulates sent into the air. Our roads are already inadequate for today’s traffic but think about the hundreds of trucks and the thousand or so of cars added to our roads every day from this facility. There will be an increase in vehicle accidents with some involving diesel spills. Is Hudson and its surrounding communities prepared to handle this increased burden to its infrastructure of police, fire, and public works departments. These trucks will be searching for ways to access Interstate 93, 495, in addition to the obvious Routes 3 and 3A. If you believe this will only affect south Hudson you are kidding yourself. The southern part of Hudson will be the magnet but these trucks will be utilizing the smaller side roads around the area. Normal trips to Market Basket, Sam’s, WalMart, Friend Lumber and the DW Highway will take on new challenges. Other Lowell Road destinations will feel the pain as well. The south end of Nashua will be burdened with traffic congestion, pollution, and noise too. The folks who reside at the adult community at Colliston Yard on the DW Highway are directly across from the proposed project and will certainly be influenced by traffic, noise and pollution from the 24/7 operations.

There are other things to consider. The impact to our wetlands and water will be significantly affected by the 150 to 200 million gallons of runoff from rooftops and asphalt lots. This runoff will go into our streams and the adjacent Merrimack River which we have worked diligently to clean up. The lower Merrimack River was designated to be protected under the NH Rivers Management & Protection Program in June 1990. This clearly will impact the river’s quality as well as the wildlife that lives along its riverbanks. Our wetlands will be compromised and forever changed. In addition, the downstream cities of Lowell and Lawrence rely on the river for their drinking water. Will the runoff compromise the quality of water for these communities?

Hillwood offers low paying jobs and supposed tax revenues in exchange for giving us traffic congestion, air, noise, water, and light pollution, roadway deterioration, major impact to our water and sewer systems which all equals a reduction in our quality of life. No longer will Hudson be able to say, “Hudson a great place to call home” but rather “Welcome to Hudson home of traffic congestion, and pollution.”

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