Date: Fri 25-Oct-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Mile-Hill-South

Full Text:

Residents Raise Questions About Mile Hill South Development

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Residents living in the vicinity of a 13-lot residential subdivision proposed

for Mile Hill Road South have voiced concerns over whether the development

would create problems with drainage, traffic, and domestic well water

supplies.

JSSL Partnership wants Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) approval to build

Mile Hill Estates, consisting of 13 houses on 35 acres near Mile Hill Road

South, Nunnawauk Road and Hitfield Road. The property is in the vicinity of

the Nunnawauk Meadows apartment complex for the elderly and Garner

Correctional Institution.

Easton surveyor and land engineer Larry Edwards represented the partnership at

an October 17 P&Z public hearing. Mr Edwards is one of the partners. He told

P&Z members the parcel has been owned by his family for the past 40 years.

The parcel, which has two-acre minimum residential zoning, contains more than

five acres of open space land, he said.

The development project meets all zoning, health and engineering requirements

of the town, he said. The project would have no adverse effects on public

health, safety or welfare, he added.

Resident James Fowler of 48 Mile Hill Road South asked whether the development

would pose drainage problems in the area.

Mile Hill Road South carries much traffic and is a well-known shortcut used to

avoid travel on South Main Street, according to Hank Hjerpe of 8 Nunnawauk

Road. Town trucks often use the road to get to and from the town garage on

Turkey Hill Road, he said.

Building more houses on Mile Hill Road South will make for more hazardous road

conditions, he said. A majority of the 13 lots would have frontage on Mile

Hill Road South.

"We don't have a road wide enough as it is," he said.

Mr Hjerpe also asked what effect new home construction would have on the level

of water in his well.

The well serving 4 Black Walnut Drive had to be "refractured" in the past to

improve its water yield, said C.M. Deschermeier of that address. He asked how

area residents can be assured they won't have well water problems due to new

construction in the area.

In response to the residents' concerns, Mr Edwards said the amount of new

traffic using Mile Hill Road South won't pose problems.

"We don't feel our proposed development will have any adverse effect on

traffic in the area," he said.

The developers meet and exceed the local health regulations concerning the

placement of water wells, he said.

Storm drains serving the development will have adequate capacity to drain away

water from the site, he said.

The development wouldn't require any new road construction, but would use

existing frontage on town roads for subdivision building lots.

Those listed as partnership members with at least a 10 percent interest in the

home building project are all from Easton. They are: Larry Edwards, James

Edwards, Stephen Edwards, and Sally Berger.

The P&Z is expected to act on the development proposal at an upcoming meeting.