Date: Fri 28-Aug-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Walnut-Tree-Hill-condo-wetland

Full Text:

Walnut Tree Hill Plan Hits A Snag

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

Conservation Commission members August 26 turned down a requested wetlands

construction permit for an expanded Walnut Tree Village condominium complex,

citing deficiencies in the application.

Walnut Tree Developers is seeking town approvals to expand the complex at 26

Walnut Tree Hill Road in Sandy Hook from 80 to 226 units.

The developers, Louis DeFilio and George Trudell, are expected to return to

the Conservation Commission with a revised application that addresses the

deficiencies mentioned by the commission in rejecting the application.

In the motion to reject, commission members stated that during a May public

hearing on the application the developers' engineer said that access to some

proposed units could be provided without any disturbance to a wetland, but the

applicant didn't submit an alternative design reflecting that.

Also, during the public hearing several nearby property owners said their

domestic water wells had gone dry since the construction of the first phase of

Walnut Tree Village, but the applicant did not address those complaints as

required by the commission's regulations, according to the conservation panel.

In the motion, the commission stated that municipal sanitary sewers are

required by the design, but as of the closing of the public hearing, the

applicant had not submitted documentation showing the proposed complex has an

approval to connect to sewers.

The developers reportedly now have tentative approval to connect to the sewer

system, but it remains unclear how many new units would be allowed to connect.

In the motion rejecting the application, Conservation Commission members state

that major earthen cuts and fills would be needed to build new units on the

site, but considering the area's high groundwater, the applicant has not

provided enough details on how groundwater that breaks out of the ground at

the earthen cuts would be handled.

Conservation official C. Stephen Driver said the King's Mark Environmental

Review Team will perform an environmental assessment on how the construction

project would affect the area. Mr Driver said he hopes the environmental

report is available to Conservation Commission members before they act on the

developers' second application for a wetlands construction permit.

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

the Conservation Commission that they do not favor the plan 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.

The 34-acre development site lies north of Church Hill Road, east of Walnut

Tree Hill Road, west of Dayton Street, and south of Patriot Ridge Road.

The property is in an EH-10 zone. EH-10 zones allow far greater building

densities than typical residential zones. EH-10 zones are designated for

residences for people over 55.

The site previously was an estate containing a residence, outbuildings, a

swimming pool and extensive landscaping. It is surrounded by residential

areas. The sharply sloped property contains five wetland areas that are

wooded. It has watercourses and man-made ponds.

Besides a Conservation Commission approval, in order to expand the condo

complex the developers need approvals from the Planning and Zoning Commission,

Water Pollution Control Authority, and state Department of Environmental

Protection.