MONROE, Conn. — Homeowners in Stevenson expressed concerns over the impact the Sun Valley Glen cluster housing proposal could have on their wells, but Planning and Zoning Commission members relied on the applicant’s hydrology study, and a third-party peer review of it, when they unanimously approved the plan to build eight homes at 1536 and 1564 Monroe Turnpike.
While deliberating on the application on Dec. 4, Commissioner Robert Westlund said he appreciates the apprehension of the neighboring property owners. However, he said statutorily, a development cannot be stopped based on “the unknown,” such as how the aquifer will be affected.
“I’ve never heard of somebody putting in a house and a neighbor’s well going dry,” Westlund said. “I haven’t heard of that … or a community. I’m sure it’s possibly happened, but it just doesn’t seem like it’s something that’s happening around here, so I don’t believe it’s going to have an effect in that manner.”
An evaluation by the applicant’s expert, Karen DeStefanis, vice president of WSP, concluded that the eight wells to be drilled for the housing “and associated infrastructure, will not likely have an adverse effect on groundwater quantity or quality for on-site or off-site users.”
At the urging of residents in opposition of the development, the commission hired Tighe & Bond Inc., to review the hydrology report. At last Thursday’s hearing, Town Engineer James DiMeo, summarized it.
“For the most part, they didn’t take exception to anything that was presented by WSP,” DiMeo said, adding that, based upon the information WSP provided, Tighe & Bond determined the approach of its evaluation was within normal standards.
The commission and public had requested information on the impact the development could have on existing wells, and DiMeo said Tighe & Bond’s report included what type of test could be done, should the commission want to pursue it.
But DiMeo expressed reluctance for the town to require the test.
He said there are regulations for water quality and to protect an aquifer from contamination, but nothing on the use of an aquifer, “so for us to police that, I think becomes a slippery slope essentially.”
“I think it’s out of our purview to order more tests,” Chairman Michael O’Reilly said during deliberations.
Cluster housing developments are denser, which allows more open space to remain undeveloped. Sun Valley Glen would be build on approximately 30 acres, over 57 percent of which would be preserved as open space.
Commissioner Ryan Condon said he believes the town is getting a lot out of the development of this site that it would not get in a future application. “It seems like we’re preserving as much open space as we can, and this is best for the environment and the animals,” he said.
He noted residents’ fear over their water, but said, “if I lived on Cottage Street and wanted to dig a well, there’s no requirement for me to do a whole survey of the aquifer to figure out where the lines are and stuff, so it would be inappropriate, unfortunately, for us to mandate that. Maybe that changes in the future. I lean towards an approval.”
Voting in favor of the application were O’Reilly, Condon, Dominic Smeraglino, Westlund and Vice Chairman Bruno Maini.
Public comments
Paula Jelly, whose Cottage Street property is surrounded by the developer’s land on three sides, wanted to make sure a swale that is being proposed will prevent stormwater runoff from flowing into her yard.
She pointed to a portion of the drawing that does not show runoff being mitigated should that section be clear cut. A representative of J. Edwards and Associates, the engineer for the developer, later told the commission all of the trees in that area will not be cut down.
Michele Soltiesiak, of Cottage Street, said the developer flat out admitted they do not know whether the new wells would have an impact on the area or not.
“I understand there are some things that you’re just not going to know,” Soltiesiak said. “But if something like this happens, what then do existing residents, who have been here, have to protect us from the amount of building that we’re doing?”
Soltiesiak said she understands that people have a right to build, but asked the commission at what point the overall cost of a development to others will weigh into a decision.
“I feel developers will keep bullying us,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how it affects us.”
Mark Lamont, of Downs Road, said he read Tighe & Bond’s report in its entirety and does not agree with the town engineer’s conclusion.
Lamont noted how the consultant wrote that WSP had not adequately addressed how eight new wells would impact existing wells, and had recommended a fracture trace analysis, should the commission require additional information.
The commission had denied a previous application for Sun Valley Glen, in part, because it found the applicant did not provide sufficient hydrogeological evidence or data to show wells for the new dwelling units would not negatively impact existing water sources.
Donna Konkol, of Manor Drive, said, “we’re not getting any comfort level that our wells will not be affected.”
Christopher Russo, the attorney for the applicant, said their data shows, under drought conditions, the development would put more water into the aquifer than it would be taking out.
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I seem to remember about 30 years ago there was a similar issue. Property containing a large amount of ledge developed leaching field limitations. Some of the homes needed to move their leaching fields but there wasn’t enough ledge free land. The town bought the property at fair market price and the affected owners built elsewhere.