P&Z Environmental Protection Rules

Slated For Public Hearing

By Andrew Gorosko

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) will conduct a public hearing next week on proposed land use regulations that would require the submission of environmental impact reports on development applications involving subdivisions, resubdivisions, site development plans, and special permits.

The session is scheduled for 7:30 pm Thursday, November 5, at the town offices at 31 Peck’s Lane.

When P&Z members initially discussed a preliminary version of the proposed regulations at an October 1 meeting, they considered creating such environmental rules for subdivisions and resubdivisions of land. Such applications most commonly involve residential property, but also may include industrial and commercial sites.

A revised version of the environmental regulations expands the scope of the regulatory proposal to include the categories of “site development plans” and “special permit applications” as types of proposals which also would require environmental impact reports. Such applications typically involve commercial and industrial development.

The P&Z is considering creating such land use rules to ensure that new development projects do not harm the environment.

Currently, the Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) reviews development proposals with an eye toward environmentally protecting wetlands and watercourses, plus protecting the flora and fauna present in those areas.

The environmental protection of land proposed for development reemerged as a topic recently as the P&Z has been reviewing the environmental aspects of Hunter Ridge, a 14-lot residential resubdivision proposed for a 30-acre site lying in an environmentally sensitive area between Mt Pleasant Road and Taunton Lake.

Environmental protection issues also surfaced as the IWC was reviewing Sherman Woods, a 38-lot residential subdivision proposed for a rural 158-acre site in Sandy Hook in the area surrounded by Berkshire Road, Sugarloaf Road, Sherman Street, Still Hill Road, and Toddy Hill Road. The site has extensive wetlands and watercourses.

Residents living in that area stressed to the IWC the importance of environmentally protecting the rustic area in view of its proposed residential development. The IWC rejected the Sherman Woods proposal on environmental grounds on October 14.

According to the proposed P&Z land use rules on environmental protection, the scope of a given environmental impact report would be determined by the land use agency director and the applicant for a project.

The environmental study would include a assessment of issues including: ecosystem fragmentation; plant and animal habitats; wildlife corridors; the transfer of water among watersheds; forest ecosystems; a natural resources inventory; species diversity; the presence of flora and fauna; the presence of threatened and endangered species; food chain disruptions; diminished species populations; changes in predator-prey relationships; and broadly, the environment, public health, and public safety.