Date: Fri 15-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Autumn-Ridge-P&Z

Full Text:

P&Z Reviews Autumn Ridge Subdivision Plan

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) is reviewing a residential

development proposal known as "Autumn Ridge" involving the construction of 10

houses on 42 acres west of Butterfield Road.

The development would require the construction of a 1,200-foot-long street

known as Autumn Ridge Road. Applicants for the project are David G. Kaufman,

and his daughters, Judith D. Kaufman and Marjorie S. Fieldman.

The Iroquois nautral gas transmission line, which passes through the

development site, poses some restrictions on construction and land uses.

The natural gas company has granted its permission for the development

provided that its high-pressure pipeline is protected from damage during

construction. The company has offered to provide an inspector to watch the

subdivision being built.

Attorney Robert Hall represented the applicants at a November 7 P&Z public

hearing on Autumn Ridge held at Newtown Middle School.

Zoning regulations for the area require that there be minimum three-acre

building lots for home construction, he said. The Arrowhead Hills subdivision

on Adams Hill Lane, which is now under construction, lies to the west of the

proposed Autumn Ridge, Mr Hall said.

Based on the results of water well drilling in the Arrowhead Hills

subdivision, there won't be any problem obtaining domestic water supplies for

Autumn Ridge, he said. The developers don't plan to have a hydrogeologic study

performed to determine water availability in the area, he said, noting "These

are three-acre lots and water can be found (underground)."

Larry Edwards did the engineering work on the development proposal.

The development will have more than four acres of open space, according to Mr

Edwards, a land engineer and surveyor based in Easton.

Mr Edwards said he expects that houses with four bedrooms enclosing between

2,500 and 3,000 square of space would be built in Autumn Ridge.

Applicant David G. Kaufman of 15 Taunton Lake Drive told P&Z members he is a

long-time town resident. He bought the land which he now wants to develop as

an investment in 1967. He said he initailly had hoped to develop the property

for 13 homes, but because local land use rules have changed, only 10 homes are

now feasible for the property.

Resident Jim Mitchell said he recently moved into a three-year-old home at 17

Butterfield Road which has a well that doesn't produce sufficient water. Mr

Mitchell expressed concern over the development's impact on his property. Mr

Mitchell's yard abuts a lot in the proposed Autumn Ridge.

Ann Marie Mitchell of the same address said that although her well is 450 feet

deep, it produces only one pint of water per minute.

Productive wells produce at least five gallons of water per minute.

Resident David Simso of 31 Butterfield Road noted that the proposed Autumn

Ridge Road would intersect with Butterfield Road near a curve. The P&Z should

review the proposed new road's intersection with Butterfield Road in terms of

traffic safety, he said.

In 1994, the Conservation Commission granted the applicants a wetlands

construction license for the Autumn Ridge project. P&Z member Heidi Winslow

questioned whether a wetlands license which is more than two years old is

still valid.

Mr Hall said he will do legal research on whether the wetlands license remains

in effect.

Acting P&Z Chairman Thomas Paisley continued the public hearing on Autumn

Ridge to November 21.