Proposed 24-Unit Condo Complex Under Environmental Review

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Oct 17, 2008 12:00 am

By Andrew Gorosko

Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) members are considering the wetlands and watercourses protection aspects of a 24-unit condominium complex proposed for a relatively flat 10.2-acre site on the west side of Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook Center, adjacent to the Pootatuck River.

IWC members plan to soon tour the site at 12 through 20-A Washington Avenue, comparing technical information presented by the developer with the lay of the land.

The IWC conducted a public hearing on October 8 on local builder/developer Michael Burtonâs proposal for The River Walk, a project where eight of the dwellings would be designated as âaffordable housingâ and be sold to owners or rented to tenants at prices significantly lower than the 16 âmarket rateâ units in the complex.

Only one resident posed a question at the IWC public hearing.

Resident Tami Zorzanello of 324 Great Quarter Road inquired about the storage of plumbing parts at a Washington Avenue property adjacent to the site.

IWC Chairman Anne Peters responded that the issue does not pertain to The River Walk condo proposal.

At the 90-minute hearing, the developerâs technical staff described the project.

Attorney Christopher Smith, representing the developer, said the proposal meets the requirements of the Planning and Zoning Commissionâs (P&Z) existing regulations on affordable housing. The project also will be subject to P&Z review.

Under the development plans, five existing land parcels would be combined into one 10.2-acre parcel, Mr Smith said.

The site has been âvery disturbedâ over the years, having served as a sand and gravel mine, and as a mill pond location, as well as having been excavated for the installation of a natural gas line and a water line, he said.

Two existing driveways on the property would serve as condo complex accessways, he said. Six new buildings would be constructed. Five buildings would hold four condos each. One building would contain two condos. Also, two existing houses would function as condos.

Three wetland areas would be reviewed by the IWC, Mr Smith said. The project would result in no adverse effects on the wetlands, he said.

The proposed construction meets the state Department of Environmental Protectionâs (DEP) guidelines for sedimentation and erosion control, he said. Similarly, the stormwater control system proposed for the site meets DEP guidelines, he added.

âItâs a neat site to be developed,â he said.

Civil engineer Alan Shepard, representing the developer, said the locations proposed for the six new buildings place them outside of the area that would be flooded during the worst flooding of the Pootatuck River that could be expected during a theoretical 100-year-period.

Soil scientist James McManus, representing the developer, said the existing wetlands on the site are not particularly environmentally sensitive wetlands.

The majority of development would occur in an area that already has been physically disturbed, he said. The planned development would not damage the wetlands and watercourses at the site, he said.

The IWC plans to resume the public hearing on October 22.

Besides the environmental protection issues affecting the adjacent Pootatuck River and the wetlands at the site, the IWC will review the measures that the developer would take to protect the underlying Pootatuck Aquifer. The site is in the townâs environmentally sensitive Aquifer Protection District (APD). The IWC makes aquifer protection recommendations to the P&Z.

Also, Conservation Official Rob Sibley will be reviewing the construction plans for compliance with flood prevention regulations.

The developer plans a condo complex at which half of the units would be sold to owners, with the other half rented out to tenants. In the proposed complex, 11 of the new multifamily units would be one-story, two-bedroom ranch-style residences, with the other 11 new residences designed as two-story, three-bedroom townhouse units.

The condos would have no basements. The complex would not have garages. About 3.15 acres of the site would be developed. The condo complex would be served by sanitary sewers.

The application submitted to the IWC indicates that the condo complex would be completed by the winter of 2012.

Plans call for a pedestrian bridge spanning the Pootatuck River, which would link the site to the business area at 102 Church Hill Road.

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The Editor suggest a meeting between the "Rock This Democracy " and the Police Commission. As a former Police Commissioner the Chief should have followed the chain of command and discussed this with the Police Commission. The Chief reports to the Elected Police Commission not our Republican First Selection. Can't help but feel this is Republican politics again making an issue out of a non issue.

Assembly Ordinance?

I support Chief Kullgren’s request to explore permitting, and cost-sharing for large gatherings. The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I fully support the constitutional right to free speech and assembly. However, where and how often these protests occur matters. Main Street is not just a symbol — it’s a vital artery for daily life in town. When events are held there monthly, and at increasing scale, they cause disruption to residents, businesses, and traffic. While the Rock This Democracy group may describe these protests as unique or urgent, the frequency — roughly once every two weeks this spring — suggests more of a recurring series than a singular, spontaneous moment of civic expression. This isn’t about silencing anyone. It’s about fairness, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. Every time a protest happens, our police department is forced to assign resources, often on overtime. That expense adds up quickly. If any group wants to use public space regularly, particularly in a way that impacts traffic and requires police presence, then it’s reasonable for the town to consider permitting and cost-sharing — just as we do for other organized events like races, festivals, or parades. Let’s protect everyone’s rights — including the right of the community to function smoothly and the right of taxpayers not to bear undue cost for repeated events. I trust the Council to consider a reasonable path forward that balances speech with responsibility.

David, your passion for transparency would carry more weight if it weren’t routinely wielded like a cudgel. Let's set the record straight: no one is against easier access to documents or better online availability—we all want an informed public. But there's a difference between constructive advocacy and the kind of grandstanding that costs this town time, morale, and taxpayer money. You cite Ridgefield’s practices—great. Let's talk about that like adults. But instead, what we see is a steady stream of accusatory posts, legal challenges, and FOIA blitzes aimed less at solving problems and more at creating headlines. It’s not “slander” to point out that your approach often does more to divide and exhaust than to help. I’ve been at the very meetings you claim are inaccessible or opaque. I’ve seen your group turn logistical hiccups into conspiracy theories. I’ve watched as staff—who already work overtime—are dragged into another fishing expedition while real civic needs are left hanging. You’re not just pushing for access; you’re using the tools of open government to grind its gears to a halt. That’s not progress. That’s obstruction dressed up as advocacy. And the people paying for it—literally—are your neighbors. Let’s stop pretending it’s just about uploading PDFs. The issue here is how we engage. We can have real conversations about modernization without constant accusations, FOIA skirmishes, and Facebook pile-ons. Until then, I’ll continue to call out tactics that undermine, not uplift, our town.

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The bottom line is this: costs are up, and no group—including teachers—is exempt. Ignoring Anthem’s recommended 22% increase last year may have directly caused the $2 million shortfall. Everyone has to share in the fix. That might mean higher premiums and leaner benefits. Complaints alone won’t solve the problem—realistic solutions will. I urge all Newtown Teachers to email their Union leaders and express their support for higher premiums.

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Its really easy to make assertions and cast doubts from behind a keyboard....a little too easy aparently. You might try conducting the actual research BEFORE doing it next time. If you do, you too will find that there's no need to imagine such a policy to improve public transparency and participation. Take a look at Ridgefield's P&Z meeting agendas on their website for starters. They are just one town that provide links to electronic copies of applications and other public documents, so that their commissioners and residents can easily access them and be well-informed, before meetings and public hearings occur and without making them drive to town hall (during business hours) to ask their land use staff to pull the files and make copies of them, saving everyone time (time is money), and gasoline, and missed work. Most applicants alrleady submit electronic copies, and for those who don't, it's a lot easier for a staffer to scan them once, than to have to make copies every time someone asks for them. And please don't misrepresent or slander those who advocate for smart, low impact & sustainable development policies and practices as 'anti-development'.

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Proposed 24-Unit Condo Complex Under Environmental Review

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