At its Thursday, November 6 meeting, Newtown Planning & Zoning Commission heard several applications once more. The first application the commission heard was 25.21 for a 67-unit apartment building called Kelmendi Apartments at 128-130 Mt Pleasant Road.

The application is an 8-30g application, or an “affordable housing” application where 21 units will be set aside for those who make 60-80% of the median area income. The title of this proposal is “Kelmendi Apartments.”

Attorney Tim Hollister was the first to address the commission. He first explained that Town Engineer John Curtis and Michael Mazzucco, an engineer representing the applicant, have had discussions back and forth relating to “technical matters.” Hollister provided copies to the commission of those discussions for the record. Mazzucco also added signage to the bottom of the driveway that would instruct residents that the turn out of the exit is a right turn only, as this was a concern brought up by members of the commission during previous meetings.

A big point of concern from members of the public and the commission is that, if approved, this site would serve as a “cut through” from Hawleyville Road to Mt Pleasant Road using Hillcrest Drive. Hollister explained that he will work with Newtown Police Commission, Newtown’s local traffic authority, as to what the signs should say at the Hillcrest Drive entrance of this development.

Hollister responded to Commissioner Barbara Manville’s point last meeting when she asked if the applicant would be planting trees to create a visual buffer between the proposed complex and the residents on Hillcrest Drive. Hollister said the planting plan has been updated to “provide a visual screen.”

Hollister explained that the applicant voluntarily went to Newtown Design Advisory Board (DAB) to get input from board members. This is not a step that has to be completed by applicants filing under 8-30g. This statute only applies to towns with less than ten percent affordable housing, and under this statute, local zoning regulations do not apply.

DAB returned a “very extensive comment letter, it was not all complimentary,” as Hollister put it. He said the applicant is working on landscaping and adding trees to the front of the retaining wall. DAB wanted the applicant to start all over again and create “smaller, New England style buildings,” but Hollister said no. DAB also inquired about sidewalks, but Hollister said that he does not think sidewalks around the development would be “the right way to approach pedestrian safety.”

Joe Allen, an architect from Architectural Design Services, then gave a short presentation about what DAB suggested and how those suggestions would be implemented into the current design. Allen said that the biggest thing DAB pointed out was the building height.

“We wanted to create an illusion of pulling [the building] down,” Allen said. He explained that they recreated the roof to be a “hip roof in a Mansard style,” and it “gives [the building] the illusion of bringing that roof line down.”

DAB also suggested using mixed colors on the complex to make it look like different buildings. Allen said he achieved this in two different ways: by using three colors and three different textures.

Hollister then spoke briefly about pedestrian safety once more, “I hope everyone understands that the applicant is committed to safety in the area … we don’t want to create an unsafe situation.”

The issue of water was brought up by Hollister before he ended his comments as well. He explained that Aquarion Water Company has asked for Newtown Planning & Zoning Commission’s approval of the project before it issues a “will-serve” letter to the applicant. Hollister said he did not want the commission to vote on something when there was still one major aspect in limbo, so he asked to have the hearing extended to the next meeting on Thursday, December 4.

Chair David Rosen thanked Hollister for going to DAB as he recognized that the applicant did not have to do that under 8-30g. He then opened the discussion up with other members of the commission.

The Great Traffic Debate

Rosen kicked off this great debate by asking Kermit Hua, the traffic engineer on the project, if Hillcrest Drive can “handle extra traffic volume, however minimal, [as] pointed out by the traffic engineer.”

Hua started his answer by saying that he gave a “ballpark picture” of future volumes. He reiterated that Hillcrest is a two-lane road and said the maximum capacity of it is 1,200 vehicles per hour. He expects 40-50 vehicle trips per hour with the development. Hua believes the complex will not create an “unsafe situation” and that Hillcrest will “safely serve its purpose.”

Commissioner Connie Widmann then spoke. She explained that she drove out to Hillcrest Drive that afternoon and while she did not measure the road, she said that she had “encountered an Amazon” delivery truck and had to “pull over off to the side of the road” for the truck to pass by.

Widmann said, “Signage, as we know, doesn’t necessarily change people’s habits or reactions … [it] would be very easy for people to enter into Hillcrest and pass through [the complex] and take the right out on the other side. I don’t see how we stop that … That road is in poor condition, to start with, there’s many potholes in the road, it’s steep, has a hard angle on it when you get halfway up the road … What’s to stop anyone from going through a sign?”

Hua responded, “Obviously the applicant wants to make it work for everyone, but I don’t think it’s his responsibility, or anyone’s, other than the Town of Newtown, to maintain and improve the road. I think that’s just unfair comment to say the poor condition has anything to do with the applicant or the application itself.”

Hua also questioned how much time someone would really save by going through Hillcrest and the complex instead of waiting at the light at Hawleyville and Mt Pleasant Roads. He, again, said he “stand[s] by [his] professional opinion” that Hillcrest can support this extra traffic.

Commissioner Barbara Manville then spoke. She said that due to the exit being a right-turn only, those who live at the complex and wish to drive into Newtown will have to leave through the back, aka Hillcrest Drive, and go through the light. She believes that will generate more traffic, which Hua agreed with and informed her she was correct. Then Manville talked about the gas station that will be going in around the area as well, creating more traffic. She then told Hua to go to that intersection “and spend 20 minutes. It’s crazy.”

Hua reminded the commission that the gas station “has nothing to do with this applicant.” Manville cut him off, saying that the combination of the apartment complex and the gas station will “add a lot more traffic.” Hua again said that the gas station was approved by the commission years ago. Manville again said that there will be a lot more traffic in the area due to both applications.

“We are a small part,” Hua said of the traffic generated by the proposed 67 units, the gas station, Covered Bridge apartments, and Grace Family Church.

Hollister then stepped in, obviously noting the debate that had started, and made a few notes: “I suppose we can agree that Hillcrest is not a perfect road, and it could use some improvement, but it is an existing condition. The point is this applicant is not intending to make it worse with the small volume of additional trips our traffic engineer just described. No one has a greater interest in making sure there are no cut-throughs than my clients.”

He reassured the commission that his clients will “ensure” there are no cut-throughs and that it “is enforced.” Hollister also reminded the commission that they have to assume people will follow the rules.

Commissioner Roy Meadows then asked to talk about sidewalks, another aspect of the great traffic debate. He brought up a letter from October 30 in which the applicant said they would put in sidewalks on the east side of the complex if P&Z asked for it. He also talked about a sidewalk along Route 6 down to the intersection, which is currently on the plan.

Meadows said, “The only other sidewalk that I’m concerned about and I don’t believe you committed to is a sidewalk that goes from the upper parking lot down the hill so that people can get down to Route 6 and then into the trails … is that correct? You’ve not committed to that sidewalk yet?”

Hollister replied, “Correct.” He explained that he believes there is a grading issue there. Meadows said he did not think it would be “any steeper” than the road and wondered if steps could be added for access.

With pedestrian safety in mind, Hollister said, “If it’s not a safety issue, we will be happy to do it.”

Public Comment

Janet McKeown spoke first. She pointed out that there is already a sign that says Hillcrest is not a through road and thinks that people will not obey another sign. She does not want Hillcrest opened up as an access point for the complex.

Vern Gaudet said, “I’m a little bit confused. There’s six houses on Hillcrest Drive and there’s 67 apartments going in. Doesn’t that increase traffic ten times?” He then pointed out that Covered Bridge is not yet finished, and the owner is declaring bankruptcy. He believes that the unfinished development is “a health issue.”

Braeden Wilson raised concerns about residents on Hillcrest being able to leave safely, as a tree company had to inform residents on Hillcrest that they would not be able to get out and around the trucks safely as work was being done.

Deborah Heath asked if there would be blasting, which was answered right away. Blasting would not be a part of the development.

Joshua Reef commended Widmann for driving up to Hillcrest and checking out the road, and then talked about the intersection of Route 25 and Route 6, or Hawleyville and Mt Pleasant Roads. He noted that the intersection is a level F service and “all we’re doing is adding to that already failing level of the intersection.”

Nicole Coakley then told the commission that her “garbage man won’t even come up the rest of [the] hill.” She said that there is no turn around and “not a lot of room” for bigger vehicles.

After public comment, Rosen asked for a motion to continue the public hearing to the next meeting, which passed unanimously. The next meeting is on Thursday, December 4, 7 pm, at Newtown Municipal Center in the Council Chambers.

Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.