Date: Fri 10-Jan-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Eagle-Hill-conference-room

Full Text:

Eagle Hill Seeks Approval For A Conference Room

The Cornerstone of Eagle Hill, a private alcohol and substance abuse treatment

center in Sandy Hook, is seeking Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) approval

to build a conference room at its Alberts Hill Road facility.

Eagle Hill is seeking an amendment to its special exception to the zoning

regulations. The room would be used for staff meetings.

Building an approximately 600-square-foot conference room reportedly wouldn't

result in more employees, more patients, or more water being used at the

treatment center. Eagle Hill currently employs 55 people.

Architect Hugh Sullivan of Bennett Sullivan Associates of Southbury,

representing Eagle Hill, said a conference room would provide space for at

least 24 people at the 23-acre site. Mr Sullivan spoke at a January 2 P&Z

public hearing on the proposal.

The conference room would be 60 feet from the nearest property boundary, Mr

Sullivan said.

Resident Julia Wasserman of Walnut Tree Hill Road, who owns property across

Alberts Hill Road from Eagle Hill, told P&Z members the initial special

exception which the town granted to Eagle Hill is very specific regarding the

facility's night meetings.

Night meetings generate traffic on Walnut Tree Hill Road, she said. Mrs

Wasserman asked Mr Sullivan why Eagle Hill needs a conference room that is

more than 600 square feet in area.

"The night meeting issue has not been addressed," Mrs Wasserman said of Eagle

Hill's application for a conference room. Night meetings at Eagle Hill

generate much traffic on nearby roads, she said. If attendance at night

meetings increases, it would make for added traffic, she said. "The traffic is

a very major issue," she said.

"This application is clearly for a staff conference room only," Mr Sullivan

responded. Mr Sullivan said he is willing to provide information on night

meetings at Eagle Hill.

P&Z members closed the public hearing on the conference room proposal. Action

is expected at an upcoming session.