Date: Fri 11-Dec-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Walnut-Tree-Village

Full Text:

Condo Expansion Plans Resubmitted

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

The town has received wetlands construction plans from Walnut Tree Developers

for an expanded Walnut Tree Village, a construction proposal which would

increase the number of condominium units at the Walnut Tree Hill Road complex

from the currently-approved 80 units to a total of 213.

The development plans submitted to the Conservation Commission address

concerns raised in a recent environmental study of the project by the King's

Mark Environmental Review Team, said C. Stephen Driver, town conservation

official.

In response to the report, the developers seek to avoid disturbing some

wetland areas which they previously had eyed for development.

In an earlier version of the construction proposal, the developers sought to

build 150 new units at Walnut Tree Village.

In October, however, Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) members decided

the town would provide municipal sewer service to a maximum of 133 new units.

When the complex was initially proposed in 1994, the developers sought to

build 90 condos. Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members cut that number

to 80 units, citing the physical limitations of the site.

In its report on the proposal to expand Walnut Tree Village to 213 units,

King's Mark cautions that adequate steps must be taken to prevent

environmental damage there.

The report describes the 35-acre Walnut Tree Hill Road expansion site as a

fragile piece of land that would be stretched to its full capacity by the

proposed development project. The original 80 units are on 18 acres.

The report concerns wetland resources, storm water management, erosion and

sediment control, aquatic resources, natural diversity, wildlife resources,

forest vegetation, archaeological resources, and transportation engineering.

The report makes a range of recommendations on preserving environmental

quality.

Those recommendations support the Conservation Commission's decision earlier

this year to deny the developers' initial application for a wetlands

construction permit.

Since August, when the Conservation Commission turned down the initial

wetlands application, the developers have been revising their plans to address

the commission's environmental concerns.

At a public hearing last May, Walnut Tree Hill Road area residents made it

clear to the Conservation Commission that they do not favor plans to expand

the condo complex. The residents said they believe that an expanded complex

would damage their quality of life and hurt their property values.

Conservation Commission members are expected to conduct a public hearing

sometime in January on the Walnut Tree Village expansion project.

If the developers gain Conservation Commission approval for the expansion

project, site development plans would be submitted for P&Z review and action.