Date: Fri 11-Oct-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Wedgewood-Edwards-Hall

Full Text:

Wedgewood Developers Respond To Environmental Concerns

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

The developers of the proposed Wedgewood residential subdivision have

responded to concerns about the project which have been raised by an

environmental consultant for the Taunton/Dodgingtown Neighborhood Association.

M&E Land Group is proposing Wedgewood, a 15-lot project on 27 acres off

Taunton Hill Road. The P&Z is expected to act on the proposal at an upcoming

session.

Larry Edwards, a partner in M&E Land Group, told Planning and Zoning

Commission (P&Z) members October 3 the development proposal meets the town's

health code which is even stricter than the state's health code concerning

residential development.

The Conservation Commission is familiar with wetlands at the development site,

Mr Edwards said, noting the agency has reviewed various development plans for

the property on three separate occasions. The Conservation Commission has

granted M&E a wetlands construction license for the project.

The development won't have adverse drainage effects on the adjacent Ferris

property, Mr Edwards said.

A main concern expressed by area residents is that creating Wedgewood will

deplete their domestic well water supplies.

Russell Slayback, a hydrogeologist representing the developers, discounted

recent comments on domestic water supplies made by Robert Melvin, a

hydrogeologist representing the Taunton/Dodgingtown Neighborhood Association.

Mr Melvin has said that water wells in Wedgewood should be drilled before

houses are built there to ensure that adequate water supplies are available.

Pre-drilling such wells also would provide flexibility in drilling a second

well for a house, if it's needed, according to Mr Melvin.

Mr Melvin has also recommended that the building lots in the proposed

development be reconfigured due to the proximity of intermittent surface water

in the areas proposed for septic systems.

As part of M&E's response to the neighborhood group's concerns about

Wedgewood, Attorney Robert Hall, representing M&E, questioned Jody Tuttle, an

area well driller.

Mr Tuttle said he doesn't foresee problems with domestic water wells in

Wedgewood providing adequate water yields, noting he has drilled many

productive wells in that general area in recent years.

The Taunton Hill Road area proposed for Wedgewood has many wells with low

water yields, and many existing wells have had to be redrilled to provide

adequate water supplies, according to Mr Melvin.

Attorney Helen McGonigle, representing the neighborhood association, asked

that the developers reduce the number of lots proposed for Wedgewood.

Taunton Hill Road residents living near the site have told P&Z members they

strongly oppose the development because it would jeopardize their well water

supplies, overcrowd the area, cause drainage problems, and create added

traffic hazards.

Mr Edwards said the developers stand by the details specified on their

drainage and wetlands maps provided to the P&Z in connection with the

development proposal.

The site proposed for development is on the east side of Taunton Hill Road,

just west of Cannon Drive. Cannon Drive is a dead end street that extends

westward from Birch Hill Road toward Taunton Hill Road.