Date: Fri 14-May-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-aquifer-protection

Full Text:

Commission Reviews Aquifer Protection Rules

BY ANDRW GOROSKO

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members have begun revising their

proposal to beef up the town's aquifer protection regulations to protect water

quality in the Pootatuck Aquifer.

On May 6 P&Z member attorney Heidi Winslow suggested various wording changes

to the proposed regulations, stressing that the rules should avoid vagueness

and be specific in explaining the P&Z's standard of judgment concerning land

uses in the town's Aquifer Protection District (APD).

The proposal to strengthen aquifer protection regulations drew both criticism

and support at recent P&Z public hearings. The proposal would greatly expand

and more explicitly state the rules P&Z uses to protect groundwater quality in

the town's APD.

The APD, which was approved by the P&Z in 1981, contains the Pootatuck

Aquifer, an area of varying width which generally follows the course of the

Pootatuck River through town from its headwaters in the vicinity of the Monroe

border northward to Sandy Hook Center.

Developers, builders and businessmen have voiced concerns that the proposed

revisions are too strict and would create too many business prohibitions in

the APD. Some residents have strongly endorsed the proposed rule changes,

noting the environmental benefits.

Based on comments made at the public hearings, commission members should

discuss the activities that would be prohibited in the APD, Ms Winslow said.

She questioned why the P&Z should ban printing plants and the storage of

commercial vehicles in garages in the APD.

Ms Winslow noted that certain activities now underway in the APD would not

have to conform to the proposed regulations. Ms Winslow asked whether certain

changes should be made in those non-conforming activities to make them more

environmentally sound after the new rules are approved.

"It's a whole area that needs a lot more discussion," she said.

P&Z Chairman Daniel Fogliano pointed out that revised aquifer protection

regulations could be changed if it can be shown that certain activities aren't

harmful to the aquifer.

P&Z member Michael Osborne urged that the revised aquifer regulations be

readable and easily understood.

P&Z members agreed to have a special meeting June 9 to further revise the

proposed regulations.

Water Protection

The proposed revisions call for a cooperative relationship between the

Conservation Commission and P&Z under which both agencies would review

development proposed for the aquifer district.

The proposed regulations would foster a clean water supply by prohibiting land

uses that can contaminate groundwater, and by regulating other land uses that

can potentially contaminate or downgrade existing and potential groundwater

supplies.

The proposed rules apply to "stratified drift" aquifers, or those such as the

Pootatuck Aquifer, in which subterranean water supplies are contained within

layered bands of sand, gravel and boulders.

The Pootatuck Aquifer has been designated the town's sole source aquifer. It

is the source of two public drinking water supplies.