Date: Fri 20-Nov-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

walnut-tree-village-Kings-Mark

Full Text:

Environmental Report Raises Questions About Walnut Tree Village Expansion

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

A team of environmental scientists that has reviewed plans to expand the

Walnut Tree Village condominium complex from 80 to 213 units is cautioning

that adequate steps must be taken to prevent environmental damage at the site.

The report, prepared by the King's Mark Environmental Review Team, describes

the 35-acre Walnut Tree Hill Road site as a fragile piece of land that would

be stretched to its full capacity by the proposed development project.

Town officials asked the team to study the land to decide what measures should

be taken to prevent environmental damage.

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 to Walnut Tree Developers, the project's applicants.

The recommendations made in the King's Mark report support the Conservation

Commission's decision earlier this year to deny the developers' initial

application for a wetlands construction permit for a high-density project on a

fragile piece of land, said town Conservation Official C. Stephen Driver.

The steps outlined in the King's Mark report affirm that such a high-density

development must be done properly to minimize environmental damage, he said.

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.

A new wetlands application is expected to be submitted by early next year.

In October, Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) members endorsed

providing municipal sewer service for an expanded Walnut Tree Village. WPCA

members granted preliminary approval to provide sewage treatment capacity for

an additional 133 condominium units. WPCA members made the preliminary

approval at the request of Louis DeFilio and George Trudell who are doing

business under the name Walnut Tree Developers. Walnut Tree Developers

initially wanted to expand the complex to 230 units.

At a May public hearing, 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.

Expanding the condominium complex still requires approval from the

Conservation Commission, the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z), and the

state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), a process that is expected

to take more than six months.