Following the 4-1 decision regarding 2-4-6-8 Riverside Road, the Planning & Zoning Commission also unanimously voted on an eight-lot open space conservation subdivision at 285 Berkshire Road. Though the mailing address for the development falls on Berkshire, the subdivision will be built along Stone Bridge Trail.

The first public hearing was held on Thursday, October 17. Jason Edwards, the principal engineer at J. Edwards Associates, Engineers and Surveyors, prepared the plans. He explained that “the proposal is an open space conservation subdivision. So this is an R2 zone, but the application is for OSCS, which allows for the reduced lot sizes in exchange for open space. In this case, we’ve got 19 acres of open space proposed, which is about 59% of the property that would be preserved.”

Due to the narrow and rugged nature of Stone Bridge Trail, a few residents expressed their concerns.

Ronald Roman said at the meeting on October 17, “I thought three or four [houses] were gonna go back there. Not bad. Eight? That triples the number of lots on that road. The school bus will be a problem. Deliveries will be a problem. It’s just too much for what that road can handle and has been able to handle.”

Theresa Coelho shared at the November 21 meeting, “Throughout the years, I see a lot of traffic, a lot of people speeding on our road. I’m afraid if you pave this road, it’s going to be worse.”

With the incoming development, some residents created a petition to designate Stone Bridge Trail as a scenic road. Rob Sibley, Land Use Agency director, said to the P&Z Commission, “Some of the folks along the road have made a petition. It’s up to Legislative Council to decide if their petition has been properly filed and properly meets what the ordinance asks for … Once that’s settled, then [the Legislative Council has] to decide if they’re going to approve it under all the conditions of the ordinance. But again, that ordinance is outside of your jurisdiction, so your decision is with this application at this time.”

Greg Rich shared with the commission and those in the room, “I’m definitely sympathetic to the residents’ desire for the scenic road application. Personally, I’d be in favor of it, but it cannot fall within the purview of planning and zoning. So, the applicant is willing to go either way. So, make your pitch to the Legislative Council and I hope they approve your application.”

John Curtis, the town engineer, offered some conditions for the application to take effect. There were seven conditions all together, including the addition of a fire tank, moving telephone pole CL&P #4991 20 feet, stormwater tests, and paving the road only in front of the subdivision.

The last condition caused some discussion between residents and the commission.

Coelho shared, “I’m concerned about you guys taking my property. I’ve been there for 25 years and, you know, we’ve enhanced the look of our yard. The stone wall looks beautiful … Put yourself in my shoes. You’ve made a house look beautiful and now here comes a contractor and wants to go right through your driveway. I’m not happy about that. And nobody else would be happy.”

Sibley explained, “The town is not planning imminent domain to take anyone’s property for road improvement. The road improvements are on the existing road right of way, only in front of the proposed development. No other places. That is what the town engineer is requiring.”

The commission closed the public hearing and put it to a vote, which passed unanimously. The approval shall become effective December 14.

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Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.