Date: Fri 05-Sep-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Police-Newtown-Village

Full Text:

Police Panel Won't Endorse Newtown Village Traffic Study

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Police Commission members have voted against endorsing a traffic study

provided to the town by the developers of Newtown Village, a proposed 96-house

development on Route 34 in Sandy Hook.

The Police Commission will inform the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) of

its action. The P&Z has jurisdiction over the development application.

(See related story).

Police Chief James E. Lysaght, Jr, told Police Commission members September 2

that Fuss and O'Neill, Inc, the town's consulting engineer, in its critique of

the developers' traffic study for the proposed development, found about 18

ways the developers' traffic proposal could be improved.

Many assumptions in the developers' traffic study are based on traffic

information gathered for areas near the proposed development, but not for the

place where the complex's driveway would meet Route 34, the chief said.

Chief Lysaght said he inspected the area where the driveway would meet Route

34 with Acting Captain Owen Carney, and Mary Kelly, the public school system's

transportation director.

Town officials must know the actual speed of traffic passing that point in

considering the development proposal, Chief Lysaght said. School bus safety is

a major component of the town's review of the plan, he said. "There are a lot

of questions that have to be answered."

Police Commission member Robert Connor, Jr, said it will be difficult for

traffic to make turns when exiting the proposed condominium complex.

The proposed development could result in existing traffic congestion in the

area becoming much worse, Chief Lysaght said.

Chief Lysaght suggested that some alternate roadway be provided in the area to

disperse traffic flows, adding that the town should seek having Route 34

widened by the state.

Police Commission Chairman William Meyer suggested that a secondary exit point

for the proposed complex be provided on Philo Curtis Road.

The impact of the construction project would be felt immediately as

sand-and-gravel trucks go to the site to haul away earth material, Chief

Lysaght said.

Police Commission members then endorsed a motion from member James Reilly

against accepting the developers' traffic study.

Mr Reilly said the developers could submit a revised traffic plan which

reflects the concerns raised by Fuss and O'Neill.

On August 28, opponents of Newtown Village called for P&Z members to reject

the condominium complex, citing concerns over excavation, traffic, noise,

property values, the character of the neighborhood, and increased demands for

public services.

The August 28 public hearing will resume September 24.

D&H Homes, LLC, of New Milford, and Fairfield 2000 Homes Corporation of

Stamford want to build Newtown Village at the site of a former sand and gravel

mine bordered on the west by the Exit 11 entrance ramp to Interstate 84, on

the northeast by Philo Curtis Road, on the south by Route 34, and on the

southeast by Bishop Circle. Vehicle access to the site would be from Route 34.

The site was used as a surface mine 25 years ago during the construction of

I-84. The applicants have options to buy the three parcels which comprise the

32-acre site. Some 24 of the 96 houses would be designated as "affordable

housing."