On the evening of March 8, Newtown Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) briefly met at Newtown Municipal Center to discuss three applications, including one for a 171-unit multifamily housing development.

IWC members present were chair Sharon Salling, Mike McCabe, Scott Jackson, and Suzanne Guidera. Senior Land Use Enforcement Officer Steve Maguire and Land Use Enforcement Officer Kiana Maisonet were also in attendance.

First on the docket was Application IW #22‐26 by Pedro Valentin, for property located at 182 Boggs Hill Road, for the removal of fill and mitigation of wetlands.

Maguire relayed to the commission that he had communicated with the applicant earlier in the day. Valentin will be withdrawing his application and plans on submitting a new application by the next IWC meeting, which will be Wednesday, March 22.

The commission segued into the next item of the night: Application IW #23‐02 by GRC Construction LLC, for property located at 48 Pine Tree Hill Road, to install a pipe to cross existing watercourse.

Representing the applicant was Greg Carnrick, who shared that the project was previously approved by IWC in 2009 before the wetland permit expired in 2018. As a result, the application was updated with two changes.

According to the meeting minutes, “The first change is the relocation of the crossing. The crossing will now be ten‐feet from the pond. This change is due to the maturing of the pine trees and the natural contours of the land. The second change will be the use of HDPE plastic pipes in lieu of the approved concrete gallery.”

After some discussion among the IWC, Carnrick, and the property owner Robert Mayer, the commission motioned to approve the application. All were in favor.

Housing Development

The last item on the agenda was for Application IW #23‐04 by Teton Capital Company, LLC, for property located at 6 and 8 Commerce Road, for construction of a 171-unit multifamily housing development.

The application had been brought up at the February 22 IWC meeting as an upcoming topic, and it has already started a buzz through the community.

The developer previously applied for a zone change for the property to allow senior housing as a permitted use, and Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission approved it in November 2021.

Maguire relayed to the commission that the immense public interest has already led to the Land Use Agency receiving a letter from Candlewood Valley Trout Unlimited (CVTU).

CVTU President Mike Fatse’s March 6 letter stated, in part, “Our organization has great interest in the project as the property to be developed abuts and drains both surface and groundwater into Deep Brook, which is a Connecticut Class I Wild Trout Management Area. CVTU has expended hundreds of hours and many thousands of dollars in this area of Deep Brook as part of our cold-water conservation mission.

“This work has been completed in cooperation with the Town of Newtown, local Boy Scout troops, Newtown High School Conservation Clubs, and other citizens,” the letter continued. “CVTU is concerned that activities planned for the project may have significant impact on the Deep Brook Watershed in the area of our work and we wish to participate in a Public Hearing on the project.”

The Land Use Agency has also received inquiries from the public and a petition with 44 signatures that requested the IWC conduct a public hearing for the application.

According to the regulations, the IWC must hold a public hearing if it receives a petition signed by “at least 25 persons who are 18 years of age or older and who reside in the municipality in which the regulated activity is proposed…”

With that in mind, the IWC agreed to have a public hearing for Application IW #23‐04. It will take place on Wednesday, March 22, at 7:30 pm, in the Newtown Community Center’s Multi‐Purpose Room #3.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.