Sewer Fees Established For Two Major Developments

By Andrew Gorosko

The Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) has established sewer connection fees for two multifamily developments – Walnut Tree Village, Phase II, on Walnut Tree Hill Road in Sandy Hook, and The Homesteads at Newtown on Mt Pleasant Road in Hawleyville.

 The WPCA set the per-unit sewer connection fee for Walnut Tree Village at $10,347. Because 110 units are planned for the second phase of Walnut Tree Village, the per-unit connection fee would translate into $1,138,170 in sewer connection fees for the town.

The per-unit sewer connection fee levied by the town for the initial 80 condominiums at Walnut Tree Village was $9,562, which translates into an overall fee of $764,960.

The first residents at Walnut Tree Village moved into condos there in 1996. The 80-unit first phase of the development is complete. Work has begun on the 110-unit second phase. The complex is intended for people over 55.

Fred Hurley, town director of public works, said this week the increased sewer connection fee for the condo complex is based on cost-of-living increases that occurred during the past several years.

In a sewering matter related to Walnut Tree Village, the WPCA has approved a request from Duane Jones of 16 Walnut Tree Hill Road to link his property to the municipal sewer system. Walnut Tree Developers, Inc., has agreed to make the sewer connection for the Jones property, which borders the Walnut Tree Village, according to the WPCA.

The developers’ extending a sewer to the Jones property stems from the settlement of a lawsuit which Mr Jones had filed against Walnut Tree Developers and the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) over the P&Z’s having granted the developers permission to build the 110-unit second phase of the complex. The developers agreed to provide Mr Jones with the sewer connection, among other items, to settle the lawsuit.

The Homesteads

In another matter, the WPCA has established the combined sewer connection fee for Phases I and II of The Homesteads at Newtown at $720,000.

Phase I, which is under construction, consists of 100 assisted-living apartments in a large building. It is a 94,500-square-foot building containing eight studio apartments, 64 one-bedroom apartments, eight two-bedroom apartments, and 20 apartments designed for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Phase II, which has not been built, is projected to be a 160-unit congregate care facility. The Homesteads is intended for people over 55.

Also, WPCA members established the per-unit sewer connection fee for 38 condominium units at The Homesteads at $10,347. The condo connection fee would translate into a fee of $393,186 for the 38 units. The condos are now being built.

The two sets of multifamily sewer connection fees which were approved by the WPCA reflect the increases in the properties’ values based on their access to sanitary sewers, as determined by a real estate appraiser.

Also, WPCA members have endorsed sewer service agreements and sewer connection fees for two major industrial firms – Rand-Whitney Container at Edmond Road, and Pitney-Bowes Distribution Center at Edmond Road.

WPCA members also made adjustments to two sewer assessments.

The Misty Morning Children’s Center at 10 Commerce Road, a child day care center, received a reduced sewer assessment. The current owner, Whelan Realty, LLC, had requested a downward adjustment.

The WPCA reduced the sewer assessment from $106,740 to $70,000, based on an analysis by a real estate appraiser. The 6,000-square-foot brick building was constructed in 1988.

 Also, WPCA members reduced the sewer assessment of the 3,200-square-foot Masonic Temple on Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook Center from $21,420 to $11,500. The building was constructed in 1904.

The sewer assessments represent the amount of principal that property owners are required to pay the town across a 20-year period as their share of the capital costs of municipal sewer system construction. Such assessments reflect the increase in property value derived from a property’s access to sanitary sewers.