Date: Fri 11-Oct-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Butterfield-Woods

Full Text:

13 Lots Proposed For Butterfield Woods

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

The developers of Butterfield Woods, a proposed 13-lot residential subdivision

on 40 acres, have presented their construction plans to the Planning and

Zoning Commission (P&Z) for review, but some nearby residents say the project

would overdevelop an area with wetlands.

M&M Development, LLC, presented its construction plans to the P&Z at a October

3 public hearing. Developers Michael Burton and Michael Leone want to build

the housing in the vicinity of Butterfield Road and Georges Hill Road. A new

dead-end street, called Briarwood Road, also would be built.

P&Z members are expected to act on the proposal at an upcoming meeting.

P&Z Chairman John DeFilippe granted a request from John and Jackie DeFlumeri

of Georges Hill Road, designating them as intervenors in the subdivision

application. Intervenors are allowed to comment on environmental aspects of

development proposals.

Attorney Leo Vine of Shelton represents M&M. "M&M has had to go through sort

of an obstacle course," Mr Vine said of the many land use requirements the

developers met before bringing their proposal to a P&Z public hearing. Each

proposed house lot has at least two acres, he said. The developers have sought

to satisfy concerns raised by abutting property owners, Mr Vine said.

"If you meet the requirements of the subdivision regulations, you should

receive an approval," Mr Vine told P&Z members.

Land engineer Larry Edwards, representing the developers, said the

construction density at the site would be more than three acres per house

built. Three lots would front on Georges Hill Road, while the other 10 would

have frontage on the proposed new road. The right-of-way that carries the

Algonquin and Iroquois natural gas pipelines runs through the site, he said.

There are 5.6 acres of wetlands on the property. Conservation Commission

members thoroughly reviewed the development project before granting it a

wetlands construction license, Mr Edwards said.

The developers have proposed deeding three parcels of land to adjoining

property owners in light of issues the property owners have raised over the

construction project, he said. Butterfield Woods would have "no adverse impact

to the public health, safety, and welfare," Mr Edwards told P&Z members.

Intervenors

Mr DeFlumeri raised various concerns about the development project.

Among those issues: the development poses a threat to domestic water supplies

in the area; construction will cause drainage problems and the erosion of

steep slopes; the placement of septic systems will cause environmental

problems; the proposed road is in an undesirable location; noise pollution

will be caused by development; wetlands are aren't marked on the property; and

no feasible alternatives to the proposed subdivision have been submitted by

the developers.

Mr DeFlumeri asked that the housing density be decreased by eliminating some

building lots. He also asked that wells be drilled before houses are built to

ensure adequate water supplies are available.

Mr DeFlumeri said the property proposed for construction is difficult land to

develop. "There's too many lots being asked for," he said.

Barbara Obeda, an environmental analyst hired by the intervenors, said the

construction project would decrease plant diversity in wetlands.

The site is inappropriate for the number of lots requested, she said. "It

seems to be an awfully high (housing) density," she said.

Developers think only of the "short term" in requesting subdivisions, she

said. The P&Z must think about the "long term" effects of granting development

approvals, Ms Obeda said.

Resident Christina Salerno of Butterfield Road requested that a water supply

study be performed to learn the development's possible long-term effects on

area water supplies. The development would worsen water supply problems in the

area, she said.

Margaretta Kotch of Butterfield Road said she's lived on that street since

1974. When she moved in, there were eight homes there. Nineteen homes have

been added in the past 22 years, she said. New development would place added

traffic stress on Butterfield Road which is narrow and winding, according to

Mrs Kotch. More traffic in the area would compromise the safety of people,

animals and vehicular traffic in the area, she said in calling for a traffic

study.

Jane Macomber of Parmalee Park Place said "This particular development is very

unwise. It's very wet."

Response

Mr Edwards responded to comments made against the proposed development.

The developers are confident of their septic systems designs for the property,

he said. Flags demarcating wetlands on the property had been in place on the

site six months ago when Conservation Commission review of the project was

underway, he said. Proposed water wells would be more than 800 feet away from

a resident who had voiced concerns over underground water depletion due to the

project, according to Mr Edwards.

The sanding and salting of Briarwood Road wouldn't damage nearby wetlands, he

said. Visual screening will be provided to obscure the development from the

view of neighbors, according to Mr Edwards.