Date: Fri 29-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Avalon-agreement

Full Text:

Developer Tries To Reach Accord With Neighbors

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Applicants for the proposed Avalon residential subdivision and nearby

residents concerned about increased development in their area have been

meeting in an effort to iron out their differences.

Applicants John and Nancy Kalas, the owners, and Avalon Developers, LLC, the

proposed developers, want to subdivide 54 acres into 16 lots off High Bridge

Road, near the Monroe town line.

The Avalon proposal was to have been the subject of a November 21 Planning and

Zoning Commission (P&Z) public hearing. The project has gained a wetlands

construction license from the Conservation Commission.

But instead of conducting a typical public hearing, the P&Z, at the request of

a lawyer representing the applicants, opened the hearing and then continued

the hearing for up to 30 days in the hope that the applicants and nearby

residents can resolve their environmental differences over the development

project.

Attorney James White, representing the applicants, said the developers have

had extensive meetings with Rowledge Pond area residents over their objections

to the subdivision. The applicants and the residents have reached "a

conceptual, verbal agreement" to resolve their differences, according to the

lawyer.

The project proved controversial when it was before the Conservation

Commission, requiring several public meetings to discuss environmental

sticking points.

Even though the developers' subdivision plan is a good one, an agreement

between the developers and the nearby residents would address legitimate

objections the residents may have about the project, Mr White said.

Because the Avalon proposal was submitted to the P&Z before September 30, it

won't be subject to recent land use regulations which require new subdivisions

to have water storage tanks present for initial fire suppression, Mr White

said.

But if the developers and nearby residents can't come to formal agreement over

Avalon, the developers would have to comply with the firefighting water tank

regulations under the terms a second subdivision application, according to P&Z

Chairman John DeFilippe.

Mr White, however, said such a second submission would amount to a

"modification" of the first submission and not be subject to the fire

suppression regulations.

The public hearing will be continued to December 19 to let the developers and

nearby residents seek a formal agreement resolving their differences.

The Avalon property holds a black spruce bog, an unusual environmental feature

at a latitude this far south. Also, there are concerns that development in the

area will hurt water quality in the Halfway River watershed and Rowledge Pond.

The Avalon site is across High Bridge Road from DeVivo Industries.