Date: Fri 11-Jul-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-England-Heights-Bradley

Full Text:

Residents Express Concerns About Development Off Bradley Lane

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

Some residents living in the vicinity of the proposed New England Heights

resubdivision in Sandy Hook have voiced concerns about aspects of the

residential development project.

The 30 acres proposed for the resubdivision lie north of Bradley Lane and east

of Great Ring Road. Pond View, LLC, is the applicant.

At a July 2 session, resident Joel Fitzgerald of 43 Great Ring Road told P&Z

members his property abuts the development site. Mr Fitzgerald sought

assurances from developer Jay Keillor that stone walls and large trees in the

area will be preserved when the land is resubdivided.

Mr Keillor, of Land Engineering Associates of Monroe, said no section of a

stone wall along Mr Fitzgerald's property will be disturbed. One large, dead

red maple tree will be removed as part of the project, Mr Keillor said.

Resident David Lizak of 6 Farmery Lane voiced some concerns about the

development project.

Resident Dan McAloon of 11 Farmery Lane asked that he be provided with

sufficient time to study the development proposal, noting that he had only

learned of it that night. He expressed concerns over the presence of rear lots

in the proposed resubdivision.

Mr Keillor pointed out that the proposed building lots meet the town's zoning

regulations. Like some of the neighbors of the project, Mr Keillor said he's

unhappy over the proximity of a Northeast Utilities electric substation to the

site.

Resident Bruce Moore of 37 Bradley Lane questioned the wisdom of having

heavier traffic on Bradley Lane, adding there will be accidents there. The

proposed development would extend a new dead-end street off Bradley Lane.

In response to a Bradley Lane resident's question about how New England

Heights would affect area stormwater drainage, Mr Keillor responded the use of

a stormwater detention basin on the site will prevent problems.

Resident Penny Meek of Butterfield Road expressed concerns about the handling

of stormwater runoff, saying it would result in the channeling of pollutants

into the ground. Ms Meek also raised issues about public safety in light of

the presence of a detention basin.

The developers have signed a town road work agreement explaining what they

will do to improve town-owned roads near the development site. Bradley Lane

would be widened to improve traffic flow. The first phase of the New England

Heights project was developed in 1989-90.

Notification

At the outset of the July 2 P&Z session, P&Z Chairman Stephen Koch explained

the commission had held a public hearing on the New England Heights proposal

on June 5 and closed the hearing on June 13.

At the June 5 hearing, the public made no comments on the development project.

It was later learned that the developer hadn't formally notified nearby

property owners of the June 5 hearing as required, Mr Koch said.

The developer later sought to rectify the lapse by notifying the property

owners the development project was pending, indicating they would be able to

comment on it at the July 2 meeting.