Date: Fri 19-Feb-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Walnut-Tree-Village

Full Text:

Hearing Slated For Revised Walnut Tree Village Expansion Plan

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

A revised version of the proposed Walnut Tree Village condominium complex

expansion project will be aired at a Conservation Commission public hearing

scheduled for Wednesday, February 24.

The hearing is slated for 7:30 pm at the town land use office at Canaan House,

Fairfield Circle South, Fairfield Hills.

Conservation Commission members rejected an initial version of the expansion

project last August.

Applicant Louis DeFilio is seeking both a wetlands construction permit and a

forest practices license for the site on Walnut Tree Hill Road in Sandy Hook.

The developers want to expand the existing 80-unit complex by 133 units to

bring the project up to 213 condos.

The development plans submitted to the Conservation Commission address

concerns raised in a recent environmental study of the project made by the

King's Mark Environmental Review Team.

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

wetland areas which they previously had eyed for development.

The developers had been seeking to build 150 new units at the complex, but

last October the Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) decided the town

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

In its report on the expansion proposal, King's Mark cautions that adequate

steps must be taken to prevent environmental damage.

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 expansion project. The original 80 condo units are on an adjacent 18

acres.

The environmental report addresses wetland resources, storm water management,

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

resources, forest vegetation, archaeological resources, and traffic issues.

The report makes a range of recommendations on preserving environmental

quality.

Those recommendations support the Conservation Commission's decision last

August to deny the developers' initial application for a wetlands construction

permit. Since then, the developers have been revising their plans to address

the commission's environmental concerns.

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

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

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

would damage their quality of life, hurt their property values and jeopardize

their domestic well water supplies.

If the developers gain Conservation Commission approval for the expansion

project, site development plans would be submitted for Planning and Zoning

Commission review and action.

Walnut Tree Village is the first condominium complex approved in Newtown.

Situated in an EH-10 zone, it is designated for residents who are at least 55

years old.