Sandy Hook Center—

Condo Complex Fails To Get

Police Commission Backing

By Andrew Gorosko

Concerned that traffic generated by the presence of a proposed 23-unit condominium complex would worsen existing difficult traffic conditions in Sandy Hook Center, the Police Commission, acting as the town’s traffic authority, is recommending against the construction of Edona Commons at 95-99 Church Hill Road.

Following review of the traffic aspects of Dauti Construction, LLC’s, proposal for Edona Commons on June 6, Police Commission members decided to make a negative recommendation on the project to the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z). The P&Z is scheduled to resume its ongoing public hearing on Edona Commons at 7:30 pm June 15 at the town offices at 31 Peck’s Lane.

At a May P&Z hearing, public protests continued over Danbury developer Guri Dauti’s proposal to construct the project, which would be a five-building complex on a steep, rugged 4.04-acre site, where seven of the 23 dwellings would be reserved for moderate-income families.

Potential traffic problems have been among the major complaints lodged by nearby residents. Other complaints involve school bus safety, emergency access to the site, the historic character of the neighborhood, the removal of trees, and general aesthetics.

Edona Commons would contain 57 bedrooms and take 18 months to construct. The Edona Commons site abuts the 52-acre site of the 189-unit age-restricted Walnut Tree Village condo complex.

On June 6, three Police Commission members reviewed the traffic aspects of Edona Commons. They were Chairman Carol Mattegat, Richard Simon, and Gerald Finnegan. All three commission members said they believe that the traffic generated by the proposed condo complex would adversely affect traffic conditions in Sandy Hook Center.

Traffic engineer Don Tone represented the developer at the Police Commission meeting.

Ms Mattegat said motorists face great difficulty near the development site when seeking to make a left turn from southbound Walnut Tree Hill Road onto eastbound Church Hill Road due to congested traffic conditions, resulting in lengthy waits to make that turn.

Mr Finnegan noted that there are no sidewalks near the development site. Pedestrians and bicyclists use the side of the road when traveling through the area, he said. Of the traffic that a condo complex would add to the area, he said, “I think it’s a real danger.” The increased volume of traffic in the area would pose dangers to pedestrians, he stressed.

When motorists on eastbound Church Hill Road would seek to make a left turn into the Edona Commons driveway, it would result in lengthy traffic backups, if vehicles are parked alongside the eastbound curb, Ms Mattegat said.

Mr Simon said, “The road [Church Hill] is only so wide.” He predicted that the presence of a condo complex would generate heavier traffic on nearby side streets. The additional traffic in the area would burden people, he said.

“This is on our mind tremendously,” he said. The proposed development would create dangerous traffic conditions, he said.

“It’s a bottleneck…We’re just going to make it worse and worse and worse to have this [condo] complex come in,” Mr Simon said.

After the session, Mr Tone said he was disappointed that the Police Commission did not endorse the traffic aspects condo project, adding that he hopes the P&Z views the matter differently.