Amazon Warehouse Builder Appeals Rejection by Killingly Commission

Ryan Companies US Inc., which builds warehouses for Amazon, has filed an appeal against Killingly's inland, wetlands and watercourses commission over the rejection of a proposed $200 million advanced-robotics warehouse.

The 1.3 million square-foot facility would employ more than 500 people full-time and create 200 construction jobs, according to Amazon. 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.

Ryan Companies claims that the commission's decision to deny the application was made because they did not seek reasonable and prudent alternatives to reduce the square footage of the building. However, the company alleges that it had already reduced the building size by 87,000 square feet during the public hearing process and investigated a suggestion for a parking structure but determined it would not result in any meaningful benefit.

The appeal also alleges bias on the part of commission members, improper ex-parte communications, and an illegal application of Section 10.3 of the regulations. The company has filed new applications with the inland, wetlands and watercourses commission and the town's planning and zoning commission.