KILLINGLY—A nearly three-month long sometimes-contentious public hearing over a wetlands application related to Amazon’s plan to build a 1.3 million square-foot “first mile” fulfillment center closed Monday.

The Killingly Inland, Wetlands and Watercourses Commission did not take a vote Monday and has until its July 6 meeting to do so.

As has been the case at four of the public hearing sessions, residents raised questions and voiced opposition to the project, which company officials have said will bring 500 full-time jobs and millions in tax dollars to the town.

Amazon’s Brad Griggs has promoted the center’s use of the next generation of robotics – which he’s called “Gen 14” – that will move purchased goods to and from stations where associates will sort them for delivery to customers around the state. 

About 20 people spoke Monday, with an overwhelming number against the proposal known as ” Project Husky.”

The concerns voiced were familiar: blasting that could do damage to water systems; the dangers of a fire caused by lithium batteries in robotics; light, noise and air pollution; destruction of wetlands; shrinking of the aquifer; danger to wildlife; and a reduction in property values.

During the lengthy public speaking portion of the meeting there were interruptions from the audience, including one person shouting “way to sell out your neighbors,” at one of two speakers who said they were in favor of the project.

Another speaker, who was past the three minute time limit, told a town official that “you are going to listen to me.”

And a third member of the audience directed an unintelligible comment at a commission member and was asked to leave by another commission member.

The closing of the inland, wetlands and watercourses commission meeting does not bring the process to a close however. A site plan approval application is still being heard by the town’s planning and zoning commission, which meets again June 15.

That meeting will likely be continued to after the July IWWC meeting because a “no” vote would end the process. However, if the IWWC approves the wetlands application, the planning and zoning commission, which has heard similar comments from residents, could still decide at its July 20 meeting whether the project goes forward or not.

In its site plan approval application, Amazon has proposed donating 216 acres on the northeast side and 76 acres on the southeast side of the project in an effort to create a buffer between the $200 million project and residential areas.

The company also plans to construct its own on-site sewage treatment system in response to the town’s moratorium on new customers for its own system that could last a decade or more.

Other project details include: 60 loading docks; 430 trailer parking spaces;  and 930 vehicle parking spaces.