Date: Fri 09-Aug-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-subdivision-Oak-Ridge

Full Text:

Subdivision Neighbors Worry About Their Water Supplies

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Residents living near a 28-lot subdivision proposed for the Oak Ridge Road and

Eden Hill Road area have told Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members

they fear the proposed development would cause drainage and water supply

problems on their properties.

Nick and Gino Vona have applied for Oak Ridge, Phase II, on 83 acres. The P&Z

held a public hearing on the proposal August 1. Commission members are

expected to act on the proposal at an upcoming session.

Representing the applicants, Jack Curtis of Jack Curtis and Associates of

Monroe, said the application is an extension of Oak Ridge, Phase 1, an 18-lot

development which was presented to the P&Z in 1988 and later approved.

In 1988, the Vonas had 106 acres at the site. With the acquisition of another

42 acres, the Vonas now hold 148 acres there, according to Mr Curtis.

The Vonas now have road frontage on Eden Hill Road, allowing Oak Ridge Road,

which currently is a dead end street off Hattertown Road, to be extended to

Eden Hill Road. A spur road off Oak Ridge Road, known as Vona's Way, would be

built as part of the development.

The developers have had a hydrogeologic study of the area performed as part of

their application to learn potential effects of the development on domestic

well water supplies in the area, according to Mr Curtis.

The developers received a wetland construction permit from the Conservation

Commission last February.

Each of 27 of the 28 lots in Phase 2 of the project would range in size from

two to three acres, Mr Curtis said. One lot would be 11 acres, he said. The

11-acre lot would allow for a potential future residential resubdivision, he

said.

Houses in the development would have deed restrictions requiring minimum house

sizes of 3,200 square feet. The buildings would generally have a colonial

design. Garage doors wouldn't face the street.

Houses there would cost approximately $500,000 to $1 million each and would be

similar to homes already constructed in Oak Ridge, Phase 1, Mr Curtis said.

Building lots in the Phase 1 section cost $151,300 each, according to Gina

Vona of Fairfield. The cost of completed houses varies depending upon the

quality of materials used in construction, he said.

A traffic study on the proposed development indicates that all road

intersections would provide safe traffic flow, Mr Curtis said.

The hydrogeologic study shows the proposed development would cause no

significant foreseeable domestic well water problems concerning water quality

or water quantity, Mr Curtis said.

The developers have worked with the Newtown Bridle Land Trust, the real estate

arm of the Newtown Bridle Lanes Association, to provide easements for

horseback riding and hiking across open space areas of the development, Mr

Curtis said. Such easements prohibit the use of motorized vehicles on the open

space areas.

Residents' Concerns

George Miller of Eden Hill Road said that during the development of Oak Ridge,

Phase 1, construction made the intersection of Hattertown Road, Eden Hill Road

and Oak Ridge Road a difficult intersection to negotiate.

Maureen Malovany, representing her father, Marty Goldberg of Eden Hill Road,

voiced concerns that the development would damage underground water supplies

and cause drainage problems.

William Hine of Farm Meadow Road, an owner of property which abuts the

development site, said it appears that water runoff from the site would drain

toward his property. He expressed concerns about potential drainage, sewage

and water supply problems. Mr Hine said he fears new development in the area

will damage his 16-acre property and hurt his property value.

James Doherty of Eden Hill Road said he is concerned about increased

development in the area, noting that after the Poverty Hollow area was

developed, Poverty Hollow Road became a commuter route to lower Fairfield

County.

David McCauley of Rock Ridge Road, representing the Newtown Bridle Lanes

Association, said the association appreciates efforts the developers have

taken to allow horseback riders to use the development site.

Lisa Elsenhans of Farm Meadow Road she's concerned about potential drainage

problems caused by the proposed subdivision, adding a new development would

make for a dramatic change to the neighborhood, as well as decreased property

values.

The Developers Respond

In response to the residents' concerns, Mr Curtis said the developers have

spent 18 months drawing plans for the project to ensure it meets applicable

local land use rules.

The topography of the site won't cause drainage problems on nearby properties,

he said.

Although the intersection of Hattertown Road, Oak Ridge Road and Eden Hill

Road is somewhat awkward for traffic flow, the town required the developers to

configure it that way, he said.

Mr Miller had suggested that stop signs be posted on Hattertown Road at the

intersection to better regulate traffic flow.

Traffic engineer Len Liss, representing the developers, however, said posting

stop signs on Hattertown Road would prove impractical because drivers would

tend to ignore them. Mr Liss said the proposed intersection of Oak Ridge Road

and Eden Hill Road should pose no traffic problems due to low traffic volumes

in the area.

Russell Cyr, an engineer for the developers, explained the proposed

development's drainage design, describing the steps to be taken to prevent

damage to neighboring properties.

Charles Dimmick, a geologist representing the developers, explained the water

supply dynamics of the proposed development. Although approximately 120 people

would live in Phase 2 of Oak Ridge when home construction is complete, there

is sufficient underground water available to supply about 1,200 people,

according to Mr Dimmick.