East Lyme wetlands commission to consider resolution on "Twin Valley" proposal at September meeting
East Lyme — The Inland Wetlands Agency on Monday moved closer to a decision on the 23-lot Twin Valley re-subdivision proposal that would approve the application with a list of conditions the developer must meet, including the relocation of a proposed cul-de-sac.
The agency directed town staff and a town attorney to revise a draft resolution to reflect Monday’s discussion. The document should be ready by the next regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 17 for the commission to likely then take a vote on whether to approve the resolution.
The commission has held several public hearings on the application from Bob Fusari Jr., of Real Estate Service of Conn. Inc., to build the road, utilities and drainage improvements for the re-subdivision at Green Valley Lakes and Spring Rock Roads.
The application represents a revised version of an application for a 25-lot re-subdivision that the Inland Wetlands Agency rejected last year. The developer had filed an appeal in state Superior Court over the denial.
During the public hearings, neighbors, as well as experts hired by an abutting property owner, Brian Lepkowski, raised concerns over the proposed development’s impact on wetlands and the Four Mile River, while the developer’s representatives said the proposal would have no direct impacts on the wetlands or watercourse.
On Monday, the Inland Wetlands Agency discussed a draft resolution and decided to revise it to reflect that the commission determined that a feasible and prudent alternative exists to relocate the proposed cul-de-sac outside the 100-foot upland review area of a wetland or watercourse and consolidate a shared gravel driveway for three lots.
The commission discussed wanting to relocate the cul-de-sac to address concerns over splitting two wetlands systems — which were raised by an expert hired by the abutting property owner — and to minimize clearing during construction.
The draft resolution includes a list of other conditions that the developer must meet, including that the developer should follow the erosion and sedimentation control plan and construction sequence and to notify the conservation officer at least two days before construction to allow for inspection.
The Planning Commission’s public hearing on Fusari’s application remains open, according to East Lyme Planning Director and Inland Wetlands Agent Gary Goeschel II.
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.
