38-Lot Proposal—

IWC Rejects Sherman Woods

By Andrew Gorosko

Based on environmental concerns, the Inlands Wetlands Commission (IWC) this week unanimously rejected the controversial Sherman Woods project, a 38-lot residential subdivision proposed for a 158-acre rural site in Sandy Hook.

Developer William H. Joyce of Shepard Hill Road has proposed Sherman Woods for generally rolling, open and forested land in the area surrounded by Berkshire Road, Sugarloaf Road, Sherman Street, Still Hill Road, and Toddy Hill Road.

The proposal, which was the subject of seven IWC public hearings between June and September, had drawn strong opposition from nearby residents who had warned that such development would have adverse environmental effects on the area.

At an October 14 session, IWC members voted unanimously to reject the Sherman Woods project. Voting in opposition were Chairman Anne Peters, Dr Philip Kotch, Katja Pieragostini, and Edward Bryan.

 IWC members decided that the applicant had not provided the IWC with complete detailed plans describing the extent of the project’s environmental impact and also the restoration of a physically disturbed area.    

Also, the applicant had not provided the IWC with complete significantly detailed alternative development plans describing the extent of the environmental impact, as had been requested by the IWC.

The IWC decided that there is the “potential likelihood” for short-term and long-term adverse effects on wetlands and watercourses due to a lack of assessable, feasible, and prudent alternative designs.

The IWC mentioned the prospect for adverse changes in the shape of stream channels and the quality of surface water on the site as a reason for rejecting the plans. Additionally, the design of stormwater treatment systems did not conform with applicable state standards, according to the IWC.

IWC members decided that the application lacked drainage reports concerning water that flows onto the site.

At the October 14 session, Ms Peters said that she was “disappointed” by the various design alternatives for the site that had been submitted to the IWC for review. The agency did not receive sufficient detail in those alternative designs to gauge their worth, she said.

Also, the developer had not provided the IWC with sufficient information concerning the presence of steep slopes on the site, she said.

It was disappointing that the IWC did not receive the level of detail that it had requested from the developer, Mr Bryan said.

Ms Pieragostini expressed concerns about water quality on the site, especially water quality at a five-acre pond there.

Civil engineer Larry Edwards, who represents the developer, had no comment on the IWC’s rejection of the Sherman Woods project.

The developer now has the options of submitting a revised version of the project for IWC review, appealing the rejection in Danbury Superior Court, or dropping the project.

Public opposition to the Sherman Woods proposal from people living near the site largely focused on the potential for environmental damage to the area, especially wetlands and watercourses, caused by terrain changes and new uses of the property. Other people have mentioned adverse changes to the area’s rustic character as a reason for their opposition.

The proposed 38-lot complex would include 36 new single-family houses, plus two existing houses. New streets serving the project would intersect with Toddy Hill Road and Still Hill Road. The developer proposed constructing about 3,550 linear feet of new roadways on the site.

Sherman Woods is the largest residential subdivision proposed for town in nearly a decade. The 52-lot Cider Mill Farm, which is situated on 137 acres adjacent to Lower Paugussett State Forest in Sandy Hook, was proposed in June 2000. It gained final approvals in November 2002.