Date: Fri 24-Jan-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Wedgewood-Maguire-Edwards

Full Text:

Land Group Seeks Wetlands Approval For Scaled-Back Wedgewood Plan

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

M&E Land Group is seeking Conservation Commission approval for wetlands

construction work at a scaled-back version of its proposed Wedgewood

subdivision off Taunton Hill Road.

The proposal submitted to the Conservation Commission involves creating 13

lots on 27 acres. M&E is seeking approval to discharge stormwater into a

wetland area and cross a wetland with a driveway.

M&E recently sued the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) over its December

rejection of a 15-lot version of Wedgewood.

The less intensive 13-lot development plan involves creating fewer lots at the

end of an 1,800-foot-long dead end street proposed for the site.

The Conservation Commission is slated to act on the wetland construction

license request by the end of March. The commission approved wetlands

construction work for the 15-lot version of Wedgewood last year before the P&Z

rejected subdividing the land.

In the lawsuit pending in Danbury Superior Court, Attorney Robert Hall,

representing M&E, claims the P&Z acted illegally, arbitrarily and in abuse of

the discretion vested in it in rejecting the 15-lot proposal. In reaching its

decision, the P&Z misapplied a law concerning drainage traveling off the

development site to an adjacent property owner's land, the lawyer claims.

Through the lawsuit, M&E seeks to have a judge sustain its appeal of the P&Z's

development denial; order the P&Z to approve the 15-lot Wedgewood plan as it

was submitted; and grant other relief.

Thomas Maguire of Golden Pond Road and Larry Edwards of Easton are general

partners in the M&E partnership which acquires raw land, subdivides it, and

then sells the building lots to home builders.

Wedgewood was among the most controversial residential development projects

submitted to the P&Z during the last year, with discussion of the proposal

running from August to December.

Before the P&Z's vote to reject the 15-lot Wedgewood, P&Z members recommended

to the developers that an independent environmental expert be hired to analyze

the potential effects of Wedgewood.

But the developers didn't agree, instead preferring that the P&Z make a

decision on the development application at that time.

The P&Z cited potential drainage problems stemming from Wedgewood as its

reason for rejecting the project.

A main concern expressed by nearby residents at past P&Z sessions is that

creating Wedgewood would deplete their domestic well water supplies.

Taunton Hill Road residents told P&Z members they strongly oppose the

development because it also would overcrowd the area, cause drainage problems,

and create added traffic hazards.

The site eyed for development is on the east side of Taunton Hill Road, just

west of Cannon Drive. Cannon Drive is a dead end street that extends westward

from Birch Hill Road toward Taunton Hill Road.