Date: Fri 15-May-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-PSD-Naragansett-Edwards

Full Text:

P&Z Rejects Sandy Hook Subdivision Plan

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members have rejected PSD Partnership's

proposed Narragansett Estates/East residential subdivision and have posed

questions about the viability of the development group's proposed Narragansett

Estates/West subdivision proposal.

Narragansett Estates/East was a proposal to create four building lots on eight

acres on Narragansett Trail in Sandy Hook, near PSD's controversial 15-lot

Whispering Pines subdivision.

P&Z member Daniel Fogliano said May 7 P&Z members had problems with the amount

of sand and gravel that PSD wanted to remove at Narragansett Estates/East.

In an analysis of the development proposal, Town Engineer Ronald Bolmer found

the developers wanted to remove more earth material from the site than is

permitted by the P&Z's revised regulations.

The development of Whispering Pines, off Pine and Cherry streets, was the

impetus for the P&Z's March 1977 revision of its regulations, which limits how

much earth material can be removed from or placed onto a building lot.

P&Z member Heidi Winslow admonished PSD, noting that the P&Z revised its

regulations on earth removal after PSD gained approval for Whispering Pines, a

project that involved the massive removal of sand and gravel from that site.

Ms Winslow asked how PSD could propose removing more earth materials than

allowed at Narragansett Estates/East in light of that action.

P&Z members then unanimously rejected Narragansett Estates/East.

West

Later at the May 7 meeting, engineer Larry Edwards, who is a partner in PSD

with Thomas Maguire, presented plans for Narragansett Estates/West, a proposed

subdivision on Narragansett Trail containing seven lots on 11 acres.

In a report on that proposal, Mr Bolmer said the proposal may violate the P&Z

regulations on earth material removal.

More than three acres at the site would remain open space land, Mr Edwards

said. The open space would connect with other open space at Whispering Pines,

he added.

Mr Edwards said the development proposal meets town regulations concerning

earth materials movement.

P&Z member Lilla Dean said slopes on the site are very steep. Mr Edwards

responded the proposal meets town rules concerning the maximum slopes for

driveways.

P&Z Chairman Stephen Koch asked Mr Edwards to provide additional engineering

data on the proposal to Mr Bolmer.

Resident Richard Simonds of 58 Riverside Road said the proposed Lots 1 and 2

are very steep, requiring much soil to be removed for development, adding that

area does not appear to be buildable. Mr Simonds asked why those lots have

proposed driveways extending to Riverside Road.

Mr Edwards said he will consider having a driveway extend from Lot 2 to

Narragansett Trail.

Kathryn Simonds, of the same address, said removing trees at the site could

cause erosion of the sandy soil.

Development work in the area would not affect an existing stream, Mr Edwards

said.

P&Z member Robert Taylor asked that the developers provide computations

describing the amount of earth material they plan to remove from the site.

P&Z members continued the public hearing so Mr Edwards can provide additional

engineering data for review.

Narragansett Estates/East and Narragansett Estates/West would add 11 building

lots on Narragansett Trail near Whispering Pines.