Date: Fri 26-Feb-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Walnut-Tree-Village

Full Text:

Residents Raise Concerns About Walnut Tree Village Expansion

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

Residents attending a February 24 Conservation Commission public hearing on

the proposed expansion of the Walnut Tree Village condominium complex from 80

units to 213 units raised a host questions about the development project,

including queries on tree cutting, drainage, blasting, aquifer protection and

the development's appearance.

Walnut Tree Developers presented its proposal to expand the condominium

complex on Walnut Tree Hill Road before an audience of about 50 residents.

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.

Conservation Commission members are expected to act on the developer's request

for a wetlands construction permit and tree cutting permit at an upcoming

session. If approved by the Conservation Commission, the developers would then

submit site development plans to the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) in

seeking a special exception to the zoning regulations.

Last year, 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

developer has revised the development proposal based on the commission's

concerns and the results of an independent environmental review of the

project.

In a memorandum to the Conservation Commission, C. Stephen Driver, town

conservation official, wrote that proposed construction changes made by the

developer would reduce the expansion project's effect on wetlands. Mr Driver

recommends that the first stage of the proposed construction project be

physically stabilized before any tree cutting is allowed in the second

construction stage. Similarly, he recommends that the second construction

stage be physically stabilized before tree cutting is allowed in the third

stage. Such measures would minimize erosion and sedimentation problems on the

site.

Questions

Resident Mary Burnham of 24 Walnut Tree Hill Road raised many questions about

the proposed expansion project. Ms Burnham lives next door to the entrance of

the age-restricted condo complex.

In a prepared statement, she said, in part, "We ask that you stipulate that

the developer provide controls that exceed the minimum standard for this

massive project. Careful consideration of how and where trees are cut down on

the property will make a significant difference in mitigating the impact of

this massive undertaking. We ask that you stipulate that a state-licensed

arborist or state-certified forester be hired to work with the developer to

identify clusters of worthwhile trees throughout the property in order to

protect as much of the remaining forestation as possible. We ask that you put

forth standards that exceed a minimal standard allowing for a better chance of

protecting the viable future of the Pootatuck River. It is within your power

to deny this application, or at least, require the developer to meet high

standards so that fewer units will be built and the wetlands will be better

protected."

Ms Burnham especially urged that the nearby Pootatuck River be protected from

damage.

One Walnut Tree Village resident urged that as many trees as possible be left

on the development site to create a natural barrier for the development.

Walnut Tree Village resident Joan Crisona said she has had problems with rocks

falling from a rockface near her property. She urged the town to strictly

enforce construction regulations for future building at the complex.

Village resident Homer Hopkins urged that the Pootatuck Aquifer be protected

from any damage stemming from construction.

Conservation Commission member Sally O'Neil said she has heard complaints from

village residents about blasting and blowing dust stemming from it. Also,

residents weren't notified of the blasting schedule, she said.

Resident Christopher Hopkins of 10 Walnut Tree Hill Road asked about the

appearance of the proposed construction.

Response

Engineer William Carboni, of Spath-Bjorklund Associates, representing the

developer, said a dike would be built to prevent sedimentation problems in the

Pootatuck River. The development site sits on a drumlin and would have no

direct effect on Pootatuck Aquifer water quality, he said. The developers

would hire an arborist for advice on tree cutting, according to the engineer,

and he said blasting will be required in the proposed project, which would

take three to five years to complete.

Attorney Stephen Wippermann, representing the developer, said the problems

posed by rocks falling from a rockface near Ms Crisona's yard will be solved

through work based on advice from a geologist.

Also, developers would notify village residents of new blasting to be done for

construction, he said.

The new complex would contain single-level buildings on a hillside. The

structures would have a slightly different design than the existing complex,

Mr Wippermann said. More trees will be left on the site, he added. The P&Z

will have review powers over many aspects of the site development plans, he

said.

Mr Carboni said the revised plans do not provide an access to the site from

Church Hill Road as was previously proposed. An additional entrance to the

site would be added on Walnut Tree Hill Road.

In the revised plan: a previously proposed roadway crossing over a wetland has

been eliminated; the hydrological dynamics of the project have been analyzed;

a town approval for a sewer connection to serve 133 new units has been

received; and there is much less proposed earthen cutting and filling on the

site, Mr Carboni said.

Hydrogeologist Russell Slayback, representing the developer, said it's unclear

whether excavation that was done to install sanitary sewers for the first

section of the complex caused several nearby shallow dug water wells to fail.

Mr Slayback suggested a construction design under which the developers would

channel stormwater drainage back into the soil to restore previously existing

groundwater conditions. Such an arrangement would counterbalance the presence

of impervious surfaces such as roofs, driveways and roads on the site, he

said.