LETTER: Vt. businesses, individuals push back on Amazon proposal for Essex
July 16, 2025 Editor’s note: The Development Review Board in Essex continues its review of plans for an Amazon warehouse and distribution facility proposed for the Saxon Hill Industrial Park in Essex. The board meets Thursday, July 17, at Essex High School at 6:30 p.m. with the project permit request on its agenda.
Voices of opposition to the 107,000-square-foot development are growing, and on Wednesday, Mike DeSanto, the owner of Phoenix Books, a Vermont-based chain of independent bookstores with an outlet in Essex, circulated to Vermont news media an open letter to Essex town officials. It carries signatures of 270 individuals and retail business owners in Essex, Chittenden County and around Vermont from St. Albans to Middlebury, Plainfield to Quechee, even Waterbury. If built, the Amazon facility would serve a wide swath of Vermont.
We share this letter as this development and the issues it raises are of keen public interest in communities across Vermont. Read more about the project from VTDigger here and here. Find meeting information including the agenda and Zoom link for the Essex DRB here.
To: Greg Duggan, Town of Essex City Manager
Tracey Delphia, Town of Essex Selectboard Chair
Ian Carroll, Town of Essex Development Review Board Chair
From: Concerned Community Members and Organizations
July 14, 2025
Re: Proposed Amazon Facility
Dear Town of Essex & Vermont leaders,
We are writing to express our deep concern over the Town of Essex’s ongoing consideration to allow Amazon to build a 107,000 square foot warehouse, with a 70-mile delivery radius, on Kimo Drive.
We understand that members of the DRB volunteer their time for the benefit of our community and that theirs can be a thankless job. We greatly appreciate their efforts.
We are calling on you today to take whatever measures are necessary to prevent a decision from being made that will have negative and lasting impacts on our regional roads, traffic safety, flood resilience, economy, and job market for the entire state.
Although members of the DRB may believe that they must allow any proposal that meets stated regulations, it is also true that this particular proposal does not comply with the stated Town of Essex Town Plan. All of the Town of Essex governance is required by statute to uphold the Town Plan, which does state very clearly its intention to support local business, road infrastructure, and traffic safety.
We are deeply concerned about the effects that a new delivery warehouse will have on local, Vermont-owned businesses.
Retail jobs displaced by Amazon increased from roughly 1 million in 2019 to 1.75 million in 2021, even as Amazon’s distribution facilities became less labor-intensive.
Amazon consistently creates a net loss of jobs.
Amazon currently pulls $500M out of the state per year.
Amazon’s business model is predicated on putting local stores out of business. Amazon uses its market power to coax small businesses into predatory relationships by throwing business their way, but cutting deep into their margins, forcing these businesses into an inequitable and dependent power dynamic.
Amazon is notorious for creating unsafe and insecure labor environments.
In January of this year (2025), one of Amazon’s seven Quebec warehouses unionized. Amazon responded by closing all seven warehouses and putting 4,700 workers out of jobs and leaving seven new warehouses vacant.
Amazon has a long history of collaboration with ICE. As you already know, many workers on Vermont farms, construction sites, and other employers necessary to our economy, have been rounded up and sent out of State. Bringing Amazon in will exacerbate the problem and expose our workers and businesses to risk.
The State of Vermont has joined the Federal Trade Commission and 15 other states to sue Amazon over its mistreatment of its "independent sellers.”
Approximately 29% of all revenue at independent bookstores immediately recirculates in the local economy. This translates to a local impact advantage of 109% that of chain competitor Barnes & Noble, and a massive 405% local impact advantage over Amazon.
*See ILSR and Unfulfilled for reference.
The Town of Essex roads, particularly River Road, are not built to handle the traffic that this proposal guarantees. Forcing this level of traffic onto these roads will create congestion, accidents, expensive wear and tear, and increased flood risk.
No traffic data has been submitted for public review that studies the actual amount of traffic -- from delivery vans, “flex drivers”, and the 24/7 tractor-trailer deliveries -- despite the fact that many of these warehouses exist and the data is available. We cannot know the true impact of this project until we have comparable and accurate data to study.
These facilities prioritize quick delivery over the environment, resulting in multiple trips where traditional delivery systems would have one. Rather than waiting for a delivery van to be full before leaving, many trips are made with vans that are far from full, because the focus is on quick deliveries, not on minimizing traffic.
The drivers are under algorithmic GPS monitoring that places relentless pressure on them to move quickly from one stop to the next. They often have to skip bathroom breaks to keep up with the unrealistic goals set by this monitoring. They are known to be rushed and distracted drivers. Other delivery companies do not have this type of monitoring.
The facilities produce a lot of traffic that is hard to quantify, referred to as "hidden freight," in the form of “flex drivers”; these are people who drive to the facility in their own, unmarked vehicles, and then deliver packages throughout the neighborhoods.
We are urging you to please stop this choice before it is too late.
Thank you,
Mike DeSanto, owner, Phoenix Books
Kayla Silver, Salt & Bubbles and Leo & Company, Essex
Debbie Safran, Owner, Houndstooth, Essex
Jennifer Graham, Addie & Grace Boutique, Essex
Jim Salimeno, Manager, Nusantara Retail, Essex
Stacy Sweet, Practical Magick, Essex
Susan Tohn, Solutions in Behavioral Healthcare, LLC, Essex
Kevin Eddy, Pet Food Warehouse, Essex
Colette Kulig, Colette Kulig Photography, Essex
Sarah Blaisdell, West Meadow Farm Bakery, Essex
L'ivresse Lingerie, Owner, Essex Center
Matthew & Catherine Cross, Eavesdrop Audiology, Essex
Solari Communication, Essex
John Stawinski, Fit2Excel, Essex
Sarah Salatino, Full Circle Gardens, Essex
Bill Calfee, Myti
The Daily Planet
Tierney Munger, Muddy Waters Cafe
Skirack and Patagonia Burlington
Nicole Carey, Golden Hour Gift Co
Mark Bouchett, Homeport
Rachael Keener, ALKAME CO
Elise Pecor, Vermont Pub & Brewery
Katie Woods, Ritual Skincare
Katya d'Angelo, Bridgeside Books
Peter Sloan, Turner Toys
Elizabeth Skinner, Turner Toys
Kimberly Harris, Westford Provisions
Jenn Hayslett, Coaching & Consulting
Piper Turosak, Staff at Tradewinds VT
Honey Road
Christine Graham, CPG Enterprises
Katchen McElwain, Owner, Liebling
Llyndara Harbour, Harbour Thread
Molly Conant, Rackk & Ruin
Glynnis Fawkes, Center for Cartoon Studies
Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity
Stash Fabric, Burlington
Bianca Zanella, The Paper Poet
Marc Sherman, Outdoor Gear Exchange
Melissa D, Dear Lucy
Diana Hernandez, Queen City Flowers
Downtown Ambassador Project, Burlington
Michael Zakaras, Ashoka
Sean Farrington, Rutland Town
Beth London, Poker Hill School
Christel Nase, Meadow Lane Macrame
Kristian Preylowski, Yankee Bookshop
Susan McMillan, Vet to Pet Mobile Veterinary Service
Christa Kemp, Timber Hill Farm
Kathleen Paul, Dartmouth College
Isabel Rielly, Riot Craft Studio
Kari Meutsch, The Yankee Bookshop
Joshua Nase, Cedar Ledge Builders
Jana Qualey, Home & Garden Vermont
Allison Shepherd, Tradewinds Imports
Shawn Dumont, Shelter Cultivation Project
Patricia Norton, Juneberry Music
Deborah Felmeth, REALHARTEWORKS
Beth Esmond, Jericho Resident, Esmond Communications
Barbara Shatara, Librarian
Marian Fritz, Core Business Seminars
Jen Cyoress, Dwelling Photography
Lillian Facis, Lifelong Resident of Essex
Kristin Marchilena, Essex Resident
Ashley Jablonski, Essex Resident
Rachel Oblak, Essex Resident
Julie Wolfgang, Essex Resident
Lily Kellogg, Essex Resident
Claudia Wolfgang, Essex Resident
Sampson LeCoton, Essex Resident
Louise Goodrich, Essex Resident
Liselotte Kinaman, Essex Resident
Alexis Dubief, Essex Resident, Essex Democrats
Mitchell Robinson, Essex Resident
Erin Ferrara, Essex Resident
Jean White, Essex Resident
Timiny Bergstrom, Essex Resident
Laura McNally, Essex Resident
Jessica Benoit, Essex Resident
Maureen McDermott, Essex Resident
Janet Bowker, Essex Resident
Gregory Marchilena, Essex Resident
Liz Subin, Essex Resident
Elisabeth Lehr, Essex Resident
Frances Huessy, Essex Resident
Tanya Vyhovsky, State Senator Chittenden Central District
Elaine Haney, Essex Junction City Council
Liz Carr, Essex Junction Resident, Phoenix Books, & IATSE 481
Jenna Danyew, Vermont bookseller, Essex Jct
Steve Ertle, Sammel Group, Essex Junction
Joe Magee, Essex Junction Resident
Rev. J. Baker, Essex Junction Resident
Jordan Oshlag, Essex Junction Resident
Susan McCormack, Essex Junction
Marissa Hoffman, Essex Junction
Laura Engelken, United Church of Christ, Essex Junction
Mara Dowd, Essex Junction
Kelly Adams, Essex Junction
Lisa Wartenberg Velez, Essex Junction
Toni Morgan, Essex Junction
Ann Wadsworth, Essex Junction
Ed Malina, Essex Junction
Dorothy Penny, Essex Junction
David Penny, Essex Junction
Paul Beliveau, Essex Junction Resident
Thomas Hitchcock, Essex Junction Resident
Olivia Hitchcock, Essex Junction Resident
Peg Boyle Single, Essex Junction Resident
Tim Pay, Essex Junction Resident
Andrea Van Liew, Essex Junction Resident
Deborah Bouton, Essex Junction Resident
Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Mayor, City of Burlington
Harry Grabenstein, Book Buyers of America, Williston
Harry Bliss, Cartoonist, Burlington
Representative Kate Logan, Chittenden-16 District
Carter Neubieser, Ward 1 City Councilor in Burlington
Michael Wood-Lewis, Burlington
Allie Schachter, East District City Councilor, Burlington
Tiffany Bluemle, State Representative, Burlington
Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Shelburne
Patricia Pomerleau, Burlington
Ben Traverse, Burlington City Council President
Charlie Hancock, Chair, Montgomery Selectboard
Gene Bergman, City Councilor, Burlington
Thomas Renner, Deputy Mayor, Winooski
Nikhil Goyal, Sociologist
Trish O'Kane, University of Vermont
Bill Schubart, Authors Guild
Denny May, Indivisible Bristol
Evelyn Landis, Indivisible
Joanne Hunt, UVMMC
Linda Quinet, Third Act
David Miskell, Third Act Chittenden
Judith Wade, Third Act
Rowshan Nemazee, Third Act
Burlington Progressive Party
Liz Shayne, Burlington resident and educator
Erhard Mahnke, Retired, Sen. Bernie Sanders' Office
Jane Stromberg, Former Burlington City Councilor - Ward 8
Catherine Bock, Third Act Vermont
Patty McDermott, Cold Hollow Indivisible
Paula Schramm, Third Act
Laurence Smith, 3rd Act
Barb Giardi, Third Act
Beebe Potter, St Albans
Katharine Tipper, Vermont Resident
Katherine Cahill, New Haven Resident
Michelle Peters, Burlington Resident
Margot Harrison, Writer
Kim Lang, Burlington
Isaac Danuloff, Burlington
Aspen Kupper, Burlington
Alexis Thompson, Quechee
Jahala Dudley, Plainfield
Nancy Patch, Westford
Cassidy Cottle, Winooski
Nancy Wright, Hinesburg
Kara Lenorovitz, Colchester
Kim Howard, Burlington
Noreen Cargill, Saint Albans
Paul Dragon, Underhill Center
Jasmine Dalton, South Burlington
Elizabeth Metayer, Richmond
Pamela H. MacPherson., South Burlington
Marcy Kass, Williston
Gail Heppner, Williston
Terry Callahan, Jeffersonville
Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup, Montpelier
Sarah Sherrill, Burlington
Lainie Oshlag, South Burlington
Tracy Perrapato, South Burlington
Sara Barsotti, Burlington
Amy Roth, South Burlington
Emily Rinkema, Westford
Susan Larson, Westford
Nicole Kimball, Burlington
Gregory Moyerbrailean, Burlington
Leslie Fry, Winooski
Sharon Radtke, Milton
Jennifer Larsen, Colchester
Colleen Shipman, Winooski
Gretchen Bambrick, Richmond
Katherine Schubart, Hinesburg
Helen Goodyear, Huntington
Valerie Wood-Lewis, Burlington
Amy Payne, Burlington
Sarah Howe, Burlington
Priscilla Menzies, South Burlington
Alice Astarita, Westford
Laura Cummings, Colchester
Mary Schreiber, Williston
Jennifer Monroe Zakaras, Burlington
Janet Gray, South Burlington
Jesse Rose, South Burlington
Amy Bielawski-Branch, Burlington
Kate Bailey, South Burlington
Laura Zakaras, Burlington
Deborah Lubar, Lincoln
Martha Mutz, Burlington
Rachel Petrone, Burlington
Celeste Russell, South Burlington
Susan Miskell, Charlotte
Diane Downer, Williston
Edith Connellee, Waitsfield
Brennan Guerriere, Burlington
Brennan Guerriere, Burlington
Matthew Culbert, Burlington
Alex Zakaras, Burlington
Greta Getlein, Williston
Ron McGarvey, Burlington
Diana Kyser, Westford resident
Sue Brooks, Shelburne
Alice Waxler, Shelburne
Carolyn Balparda, Middlebury
Leslie Swackhamer, South Burlington
Jennifer Chiodo, Hinesburg
Jason Chin, South Burlington
Katie Gough, English Professor, UVM
Holly Painter, University of Vermont
Val Rohy, UVM
Helen Morgan Parmett, University of Vermont
Jamie Williamson, Burlington
Eric Lindstrom, University of Vermont
Deb Noel, South Burlington
Holly Counter Beaver, Bakersfield
Emily S., Burlington
Judith Bryant, Bristol
Helen Scott, University of Vermont
Aidan Ruel, Burlington
Tina Christensen, Jericho
Stephen Cramer, UVM
Trine Bech, Shelburne
Isaac Cates, Educator
Sean Witters, University of Vermont
Isabel Birney, South Burlington
Tonia Karnedy, South Burlington
Gail Rose, Burlington
Susan Nussbaum, Richmond
Dalia Bach, South Burlington
Kathy Trybus, University of Vermont
Jessica Dudley, Colchester
Mary Ann Samuels, Burlington
Don Jamison, Burlington
Suzie McCoy, Hinesburg
Ross Zipper, Burlington
Maria Hummel, Burlington
Louise George, Underhill
Guthrie Smith, Third Act
Travis Beebe-Woodard, Underhill
Michelle Carter, Cornwall
Susan Caloggero, Burlington
Louise Andrews, Burlington
Sally Ballin, South Burlington
Emily Lederman, University of Vermont
Lorelei Westbrook, Bakersfield
Dr. Molly Fleming, Burlington
James Beebe-Woodard, Underhill
Renee Reiner, Co-Owner Phoenix Books
Tricia Huebner, Phoenix Books Rutland
Katharine DeSanto, Phoenix Books
Kristin Richland, Phoenix Books
Joanna Grossman, Phoenix Books
Phil Clingenpeel, Phoenix Books
Elaina Welles, Phoenix Books
Christy Richardson, Phoenix Books
Michele Farrington, Phoenix Books
Donna McDermid, Phoenix Books
Sierra Fales, Phoenix Books
Sean O'Brien, Phoenix Books
Organizers share this online form for others to add their signatures.