Overview

Your thoughts about Sysco developing a new warehouse and distribution center in Lakeville might depend on where in town you live. Folks in the southern part of town might think the development and tax revenue are just what the town needs, and the negative impact of this operation will be greatly outweighed by the revenue opportunities. On the other hand, if you live in the northern part of town you might think quite differently about the impact, and see this operation as completely inappropriate for either location under consideration. Certainly, the closer you live the greater the impact, however, we are all citizens of Lakeville and we should look at this as such.

Consideration to convert Lakeville Country Club into a 24/7 distribution center is completely ludicrous, but I guess stranger things have happened. The former Lakeville Hospital property at first glance might seem more appropriate, however, the number of residents in close proximity of that property make it also unacceptable. Most of us are not familiar with a warehousing and distribution operation of this size, that’s easy to understand, since there are not many of this size in all of New England. Sysco Boston, as they call themselves, is the largest food distributor in all of New England.

• No matter how you dress it up, this is a food warehouse and trucking operation larger than any other in New England.
  
  
• We’re told they will register approximately 300 pieces of equipment (tractors and trailers) in the town of Lakeville. Yes, that will generate additional tax revenue, but these trucks will also travel on our town roads, even though Sysco will tell you most will enter and exit Rte 495.
  
  
• We’re told on any given day, 150 trucks will leave in the morning and return after they make deliveries.
  
  
• The products they deliver will be brought into their facility by countless outside truckers 24/7.
  
  
• They load their trucks during the evening. This means safety back up alarms at approximately 100 decibels will sound all night long on every truck they back to the loading dock and then back into position in their yard. It also means that the refrigeration units on each trailer will run all night to keep their product frozen.
  
  
• The lighting of their warehouse and parking area will resemble that of a shopping mall, all night long.
  
  
• They will have a truck maintenance facility on site, have you ever seen or heard one of those?
  
  
• They will store and pump tens of thousands of gallons of fuel.
  
  
• They will most likely cool their giant refrigeration units with an ammonia based cooling system. Ammonia can kill you, and an ammonia leak requires neighborhood evacuation.

These are some issues that cannot be disputed. These, and more, are inherent to their business. An operation of this size and scope belongs in an industrial park setting, which is why industrial parks exist, not at either of these properties under consideration.

As a resident of Lakeville for close to 30 years I have supported the development of business in our town and think our industrial base has grown with a planned, well thought out strategy. I am conflicted with the opportunity for revenue for the town, versus the change in our neighborhoods and community that would result if Sysco were to move in. However, at some point I believe a more appropriate use of our land resources will surface and development that is more conducive to these locations will result. The current economic condition of our town, and every other town, might cause us to act in a way that we normally wouldn’t.

We need to be ever mindful that some decisions once enacted can’t be reversed, and a change like this for better or worse, will be permanent. If you feel as I do, that this is an inappropriate operation for either of these sites, please join with me and other concerned residents. Email syscolakeville@gmail.com or call me at 508-612-4726.

-Nelson Pratt