Horse Country—

Equestrian Group And Developer

Reach Subdivision Access Pact

By Andrew Gorosko

The Newtown Bridle Lands Association (NBLA) and the applicant for an 18-lot residential subdivision on a horse farm on Hundred Acres Road have reached an agreement concerning future equestrian access to the 72-acre Foxview Farm Estates site, as was requested by the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) before it acts on the development proposal.

Attorney Robert Hall, representing property owner and subdivision applicant Judith Holmes of 25 Hundred Acres Road, told P&Z members August 19 that Ms Holmes and the NBLA have reached a multipoint agreement specifying conditions for a horse trail easement on the Foxview Farm Estates site.

Under the terms of that pact approved on August 13, an area of rock ledge outcropping located at the junction of the proposed Lots 1, 4, and 5 would be made safely passable for horses and passive recreational uses through digging, drilling, or a slight relocation of the horse trail easement. The 20-foot-wide horse trail would be cleared of trees, boulders, and brush to make it passable. A series of one-foot-tall concrete marker posts would be installed to delineate the course of the easement on each private property through which it passes. Horse trail easements on individual private properties would be recorded in the town land records.

The agreement is signed by NBLA President Beverley Marr, NBLA Vice President Deanna Davis, and by Robert Holmes, on behalf of himself and his wife, Judith Holmes.

Ms Davis said the equestrian group appreciates the Holmeses providing a horse trail easement across the property to the organization for its use. Foxview Farm has long been the site of local equestrian events.

At an August 5 public hearing, P&Z Chairman William O’Neil had asked that the Holmeses and the NBLA reach such a pact before the P&Z acts on the development application.

Ms Holmes proposes subdividing 72 acres of the Foxview Farm horse farm into 18 lots. Fifteen of those lots would be sites for new houses. Three lots would hold existing structures. The development would contain more than 12 acres of open space land. The site contains almost seven acres of wetlands.

Ms Holmes proposes construction of a 900-foot-long dead-end street known as Holmes Farm Road. That road would extend into the property from Hundred Acres Road, near its intersection with Dug Hill Road, which is a narrow dirt road. Eight house lots would be created on the proposed Holmes Farm Road. Other lots would have frontage on Hundred Acres Road. Overall, the development would have 12 frontage lots and 6 rear lots.

The rolling Foxview Farm is on the east side of Hundred Acres Road. The farm boards horses for equestrians. Mr Hall described a future horse boarding plan for the site at the August 19 P&Z session.

Resident Gary Tannenbaum of 36 Pond Brook Road said that any P&Z approval of the subdivision application should list the actual course of the horse trail easement across the site. Mr Tannenbaum urged that some type of device be installed at the entrance to the horse trail to prevent its use by people riding all-terrain vehicles (ATV).

P&Z member Robert Poulin asked how ATVs can be practically prevented from using the property.

Ms Dean responded that there are methods to block ATV access to the site, which would still allow people who are riding horses and bicycles to use the trail.

Mr Hall said police should enforce trespassing laws to deter illegal use of private property.

Resident Wesley Gillingham of 30 Hundred Acres Road inquired about the design of the intersection of the proposed Holmes Farm Road and Hundred Acres Road. Mr Gillingham lives near the site of the proposed new intersection.

Mr O’Neil said stop signs would be installed on Holmes Farm Road at its intersection with Hundred Acres Road, and also on Dug Hill Road at it intersection with Holmes Farm Road. Also, traffic warning signs would be posted on Hundred Acres Road on the approaches to a sharp, blind curve in that road near the proposed intersection of Hundred Acres Road and Holmes Farm Road.

At a June public hearing on Foxview Farm Estates, three main issues arose among the approximately 35 people who attended.

Residents raised concerns about traffic safety at the new intersection.

Some Hundred Acres Road residents also expressed concerns about potential drainage problems arising from the proposed development. Engineers for the applicant have responded to those concerns.

A large contingent of Maltbie Road area residents said they fear that subdividing and developing Foxview Farm could potentially result in a road linkage connecting Dug Hill Road to the currently dead-ended northerly section of Maltbie Road, causing increased traffic and travel safety problems on Maltbie Road.

P&Z action on the Foxview Farm Estates subdivision application is expected at an upcoming session.