WELCOME

This group is comprised of Groton town residents who wish to ensure the responsible preservation of the SB Butler school property. Working with town officials, we strive to ensure that any development plans protect the character of our existing neighborhood and keep Historic Downtown West Mystic beautiful for future generations.

November 2026 Update

Preservation of Recreation Space

The Town of Groton continues to prepare for the development of denser middle housing, with a focus on the four “Areas of Housing Opportunity” identified in the Groton 2035 Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). SB Butler is located within the area designated for Mystic.

The Town’s Planning and Development Department continues to bring ideas and recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding potential zoning changes that could help facilitate middle housing development. This planning work is funded by the Navy.

In addition, the Groton 2035 POCD identifies several high-priority policies and strategies related to the future use and redevelopment of Town-owned properties, which they want to implement in the near term. These include:

Improving the Town-Owned Property Disposition Process by incorporating a redevelopment feasibility analysis and a community engagement component…
Developing a comprehensive, proactive master plan for all excess Town-owned properties that have significant redevelopment potential…
Establish an interdisciplinary Housing Task Force charged with shepherding the implementation of the Town’s housing policies and strategies, including but not limited to those from the POCD and those policies and strategies developed by the upcoming Housing Growth Plan from SECOG (Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments), guiding local compliance with state housing laws and partnering with state initiatives such as the CMDA (Connecticut Municipal Development Authority) …

An important part of the town’s process, for us, will be the community engagement component, engaging both the neighborhoods surrounding these properties and the Town as a whole.

The future of SB Butler presents an opportunity for our community to have a voice in shaping what comes next. We can each play a part in determining what SB Butler ultimately becomes.

Be thinking about how we might approach this and what each of us could contribute. Even a few new ideas or connections could make a difference! More information to follow.

Our Purpose

The Keep SB Butler Green Team is committed to preserving the former elementary school property in the heart of the Ocean View Heights neighborhood for open green space and active and passive recreational use. Our multifaceted goal is to maintain the character and sense of place of the surrounding area; to ensure the property's continued accessibility as recreational and green space for generations to come; and to maintain and enhance quality of life for the greater Groton community. As our area has become an increasingly popular tourist destination, those who live here must manage the associated challenges. It is vital to save this nine-acre space from development that would detract from (rather than enrich) the quality of life in the area.

Make a Donation!

PayPal: sb.butler.green@gmail.com

Check can be made payable to:

SB Butler Green

Also, we now accept VENMO payments using: @sbbgreen

We have ordered new signs! Contact us if you want a sign for your lawn, a neighbor's lawn, your business or other placement around Groton and Mystic. Signs are $10 ;)

In addition, we ordered stickers that have the website QR code and address. We will be walking around the neighborhood next week and adding the stickers to your lawn signs so we add more ways for people to contact us. If you want some stickers for yourself please contact us!

New Town-Related Notes Section

This section will have links to videos, notes, articles, postings and other information that you all may find helpful in our fight to keep Butler as a green space in the heart of Mystic.

Missing Middle Opportunity Sites (3/26)

Missing Middle Housing Flyer (3/20)

Affordable Housing on Church Land Article (3/20)

Zoning Text Amendments Feb 26 (3/20)

RTM Meeting discussing Middle Housing (YouTube) (3/20)

Middle Housing Meeting on 3/26 (pre-link)