Date: Fri 26-Jul-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Whispering-Pines

Full Text:

P&Z Hears Conflicting Enviromental Reports On Whispering Pines

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Applicants for the 16-lot Whispering Pines residential subdivision and the

Sandy Hook residents opposed to it have presented the Planning and Zoning

Commission (P&Z) with competing environmental reports in favor and against the

development.

P&Z members received the reports at a July 18 public hearing on the

controversial home building proposal for 26 acres at Cherry Street, Pine

Street and Narragansett Trail. The P&Z took no action on the project. Action

is expected at an upcoming meeting.

The 16-lot proposal now pending before the P&Z is the second version of the

Whispering Pines project. In April, P&Z members rejected a 19-lot version of

the plan, citing concerns over erosion, sedimentation, excavation, drainage

and grading. The modified construction proposal involves removing 38,000 cubic

yards of sand and gravel from the site instead of the initially proposed

50,000 cubic yards.

Nearby residents say they are concerned that new home construction in the area

would deplete existing domestic water wells, increase the housing density in

an already densely-built area, worsen traffic woes, and put strains on the

public school system, among other concerns.

Applicant M&E Land Group, headed by Thomas Maguire and Larry Edwards, refused

to grant a time extension on the subdivision review process which was

requested by the Rocky Glen Area Association. The association is a

neighborhood group to which the P&Z has granted "intervenor status" in the

review of Whispering Pines.

Attorney Robert Hall, representing M&E Land Group, summarized the findings of

the environmental assessment prepared for M&E by Kenneth C. Stevens, Jr,

president of Soil Science and Environmental Services, Inc, of Cheshire.

The report recommends that: 12-inch diameter and larger trees should be

flagged in areas proposed for clearing for construction. Attempts should be

made to preserve those trees and other vegetation to ensure the integrity and

character of the land and surrounding development. A dense planting of wetland

shrubs should be placed along the northern and southern edges of a driveway

wetland crossing to buffer the wetland from activity on the driveway.

According to the environmental assessment: "The narrow, deciduous wooded swamp

corridor that extends through the site provides wildlife habitat, flood

control and nutrient and sediment trapping and removal."

"It is not expected that the proposed road crossing and storm water discharge

into the wetland will adversely impact the functional quality of the wetland

if natural buffers are preserved, careful erosion control measures are

observed, and a vegetated screen is established north and south of the wetland

driveway crossing where clearing will occur," according to the report.

Obeda

Barbara Obeda of EIS, Inc, of Brookfield, representing the Rocky Glen Area

Association as an expert witness, wrote in her environmental report "With the

steep slopes and cuts and fills needed to construct an access road, it is

tempting fate to develop such a site as this. Why not just begin by calling it

a gravel bank and let it go at that. Certainly, to stabilize the cut slopes

will require considerable additional removal of material. We have all seen

what happens in a gravel bank as it is excavated, and this site is no

different than any other with comparable features."

Ms Obeda, a geology professor at Western Connecticut State University in

Danbury, said the material deposited at the development site is glacial in

origin. Soil conditions are an important factor to consider in developing such

property, she said, adding the site has too little humus to support a vigorous

growth of vegetation. The steep cuts needed to develop the site will affect

the soil's stability, she said. The amount of cutting proposed for the land is

"excessive," she said.

If development continues in areas with existing marginal water supplies, new

residents and existing residents will experience water supply problems, she

said.

Ms Obeda said soils in the area aren't adequate to support proposed septic

systems. She predicted there would be more disturbance of soil at the site

than is indicated by the plans, adding that the site would become a sand and

gravel mine.

Unless careful erosion and sedimentation controls are in place during

construction, sediment from the site will wash down a brook headed toward the

Pootatuck River, she said.

Mr Hall sought to have Acting P&Z Chairman Heidi Winslow allow him to

cross-examine Ms Obeda about the environmental report she prepared and

delivered on behalf of the Rocky Glen Area Association. Ms Winslow denied the

request for cross-examination, but allowed Mr Hall to pose questions to the

P&Z which were then relayed to Ms Obeda for reposnses.

Mr Hall then questioned Ms Obeda on various aspects of her presentation as an

expert witness.

Later, Jack McGarvey, president of the Rocky Glen Area Association, sought to

be allowed to question Mr Hall on the report prepared by Soil Science and

Environmental Services, Inc. However, because, Mr Hall isn't considered an

expert in the environmental field, Ms Winslow didn't allow the interrogation.