Noank is a better place since we enforced the regulations that do not allow STR's...

Since STR's are no longer allowed to function in Noank Fire District, the Village has returned to its normal quietness. No more speeding SUV's at 2-4am coming home from the Casino's, less dog poop bags left on the street, less garbage tossed out the windows and less cars speeding through the Village while ignoring speed limits and STOP signs. I am all in favor of STR's in Commercial Zones , but they do not belong in Residentially Zoned neighborhoods. Residential neighborhoods and zoning by design, are supposed to protect and preserve communities where people live year round or even part-time. They were not designed to include Hotels and revolving door guests and that is exactly what STR's function as. Our streets , in neighborhoods like Mystic, Noank, Groton and Groton City are mostly narrow, tight, winding roads that don't allow for a lot of parking. When the locals are forsaken there is no longer community.

I believe that STR's add nothing to our community except for headaches and huge profits in the pockets of those that buy these homes for the sole purpose of using them as STR's. You cannot find a long-term rental in Mystic anymore and it is time we put a stop to this business of STR's. We owe it to all of our large employers in Groton, like EB, the Navy, L+M, our Schools etc to protect and provide a solid healthy housing market for those that want to live and work here. That is who Groton needs to protect....we the people who do live here and not Tourists. They already have plenty of places to stay.