To the editor:

I am writing, once again, to express my concerns about the proposal to build an 80-room Comfort Inn & Suites on wetlands off Gooding Avenue. I shook my head in disbelief when I saw it listed on the Bristol Planning Board agenda for March 13.

I am not sure why, but building on wetlands seems to be a trend in Bristol. I was the victim of this poor judgement when I lived on Mount Hope Avenue. Our backyard, and those of my neighbors, turned into a lake and we were unable to flush our toilets for days. This happened on several occasions. Hindsight is 20/20. The Tanyard Brook remediation project cost taxpayers more than $3.5 million. Luckily, there were grants to supplement the project’s total cost of over $11.8 million. Residents who live between Gooding Avenue and Mount Hope High School are frequent victims of flooding. And, they are not the only ones affected by poor planning and overbuilding.

Wetlands are crucial to our environment. They are natural filters, provide flood protection by absorbing excess water, and serve as habitats for wildlife. Climate change is here. In January of this year, Rhode Island communities were pummeled with almost five inches of rain. Cement plays absolutely no role in mitigating flooding. Wetlands do.

I hope that town leaders understand the crucial role of wetlands, are concerned with runoff and increased flooding, and impress town residents with forethought. Short-sightedness, and wetlands destruction, are not beneficial to our fragile environment or taxpayers.

Patricia E. Chalmers
Bristol Woods Drive