Date: Fri 29-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Eagle-Ridge

Full Text:

Commission Approves Eagle Ridge Plan

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Eagle Ridge, a development of six houses on 16 acres planned for the north

side of Alberts Hill Road, has been approved by the Planning and Zoning

Commission (P&Z).

P&Z members approved the High Meadow Farm Associates project in a 3-to-1 vote

November 21.

P&Z member Thomas Paisley made a motion to approve the development on the

conditions that: an underdrain be installed along the road; a planned septic

system be relocated; and that one lot on the site be reserved as open space

land for the Newtown Forest Association. The association is a private group

that acquires and maintains local open space land.

Mr Paisley and members James Boylan and Heidi Winslow voted to approve the

subdivision. Member Daniel Fogliano voted in opposition.

Although Eagle Ridge is a seven-lot subdivision, one of the seven lots in the

subdivision will be protected as open space for passive recreation, so only

six houses are planned.

"If the site is going to be developed, this is probably as good a subdivision

plan as we're going to see," said Ms Winslow. The plans appear to comply with

the land use regulations, she said.

Eagle Ridge is in the vicinity of a bald eagle overwintering area. The site

proposed for construction is near Shepaug Dam on the Housatonic River. Between

December and March, bald eagles hunt for fish, which are easy prey just

downriver of the dam.

Some residents at a November 7 public hearing cautioned that adequate steps

must be taken to prevent any damage to the birds' habitat.

Northeast Utilities maintains an observation booth on the east side of the

river in Southbury from which visitors can watch the eagles feeding in the

river. The Nature Conservancy helps run the eagle observation program.

Charles Spath, representing the developers, told P&Z members at the November 7

public hearing the applicants have owned the Alberts Hill Road property for

about five years.

Nearby resident Charles Tilson of Alberts Hill Road expressed concern over

preserving bald eagle habitat in the area.

Cindy Tilson of Alberts Hill Road expressed concerns about the housing density

in the area in light of the bald eagle feeding grounds downriver of Shepaug

Dam.

"It really is a pretty area," she said, adding she wants to be sure there's

sufficient open space there to protect wildlife.

Although the eagles feed just downriver of the dam, they roost upstream along

the banks of the Shepaug River, a tributary of the Housatonic.

Mr Spath said The Nature Conservancy will be working with the Newtown Forest

Association to ensure that the overwintering eagles will be well protected

from development.

The building lots proposed for Eagle Ridge are bigger than the minimum

two-acre lot size allowed in the area, according to Mr Spath. The development

proposal includes conservation easements which limit the changes that can be

made to the landscape, he said. The development will be in harmony with the

town's land use regulations, Mr Spath said.

Resident Jack Bestor of Walnut Tree Hill Road said at the hearing "There's

something joyful about having those eagles over there." Building homes in the

vicinity of the eagles' feeding grounds probably will have some effect on

their presence in the area, Mr Bestor said. If the eagles are negatively

affected by homes in the area, it would diminish the local quality of life, he

said.