Date: Fri 13-Aug-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Walnut-Tree-Village

Full Text:

Hearing Set Aug. 19 On Condo Complex Expansion

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

A proposal to expand the Walnut Tree Village condominium complex on Walnut

Tree Hill Road in Sandy Hook from 80 to 213 units is scheduled for a Thursday,

August 19, Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) public hearing.

The hearing is scheduled for 8 pm in Room A-107 in the Newtown High School

expansion wing on Berkshire Road. A P&Z business meeting starts at 7:30 pm.

Walnut Tree Village is the first local condominium complex, having started

construction in 1995. It is intended for residents over age 55.

Walnut Tree Developers gained a wetlands construction permit and tree-cutting

permit for the expansion project from the Conservation Commission earlier this

year. That approval came following a public hearing at which residents raised

a host of questions about the development project, including queries on tree

cutting, drainage, blasting, aquifer protection and the development's

appearance.

In 1998, Conservation Commission members reviewed and rejected the developer's

initial proposal for a 150-unit expansion project, citing various

environmental concerns about construction work proposed for wetland areas. The

developers then revised and scaled down the proposal based on the commission's

concerns and the results of an independent environmental review of the

project.

Unlike the relatively level 18-acre first phase of Walnut Tree Village where

construction began in 1995, the proposed new condos would be built on a steep,

adjacent 34-acre site. In the proposal to expand the complex to 213 units, the

applicant is seeking a special exception to the zoning regulations. In such

cases, P&Z members have broad discretion in ruling on the appearance of

construction.

Walnut Tree Developers has said the proposed 133-unit expansion project will

be built with an eye toward aesthetic concerns, such as leaving mature trees

on the site and having the multiple-unit buildings blend in with their

surroundings.

Still Pending

Still pending before the P&Z is the developers' request for many amendments to

their construction plans for the 80-unit first phase of Walnut Tree Village.

They are seeking a P&Z endorsement for construction changes which have already

been made to the first construction phase. The matter is listed as a P&Z

agenda item for the August 19 business meeting at 7:30 pm. It is unclear

whether P&Z members will discuss and/or act on that matter.

In July, P&Z members sharply criticized Walnut Tree Developers for making many

construction changes without first gaining P&Z approvals. The developers have

responded that they had made town staff members aware of those construction

changes.

The requested amendments include work involving sidewalks, exterior lighting,

stone retaining walls, guard rails, a pond aerator, sewage treatment, walkout

basement window and door options, fire hydrants, trees, bushes, signage,

lighting, a gazebo and a falling rock problem.