Preston — The developer of a controversial proposed 302-unit RV park resort at the junction of routes 2 and 164 abutting Avery Pond described changes to reduce wetlands impacts, but residents at Tuesday’s inland wetlands public hearing remained strongly opposed to the project.

Maryland-based Blue Water Development Corp. has proposed the $25 million RV park and campground resort under the name Blue Camp CT LLC, on three parcels totaling 65 acres owned by the Mashantucket-Pequot Tribal Nation. The project would have a welcome center, three bathhouses, a swimming pool, volleyball, tennis, squash and bocce areas, a floating dock in Avery Pond and a 12-foot-wide boardwalk near the pond.

The Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission continued the hearing to its 7:30 p.m. meeting March 15 at Preston Plains Middle School.

Tuesday’s session started with project design engineer Will Walter explaining revisions made to reduce impacts on wetlands and near Avery Pond. The developer switched all roadways and RV parking areas and campsites, except in the entrance and welcome center areas, to gravel surfaces, rather than asphalt. That allowed Blue Water to reduce the size of stormwater retention ponds.

Walter said no motor vehicles would be allowed to access the nine safari tent camping areas at the pond's edge. Walter said the design for the proposed elevated boardwalk was revised to “wrap around the topography” rather than disturb the soils. Only three 10-inch-diameter trees would be removed. The boardwalk would be for golf carts only, with no motor vehicles allowed.

“We really worked hard to pull in the limited disturbance,” Walter said of the wetlands.

Project attorney Harry Heller said Blue Water would create two new wetlands, totaling 16,000 square feet, removing invasive plant species and planting native wetlands species that would provide additional wildlife habitat.

Heller said the project's original design was “significantly different,” with “fairly intense development” near the pond, with all parking lots and roadways paved. The original 314 campsites has been reduced to 302, he said. More revisions were made since Blue Water submitted its initial wetlands application in October. That initial plan had showed a “significant amount” of vegetation to be removed and much more land grading.

A proposed sand beach at Avery Pond in the original plan was removed, Heller said.

“We’ve eliminated about 100,000 square feet of disturbance in upland review areas,” he added.

The commission has permit authority for all activity within 100 feet of wetland areas, the upland review area. Heller said the plan proposes no disturbance within 25 feet of wetlands, as recommended by the town’s hired wetlands review consultants.

Heller submitted a financial analysis of the project comparing anticipated revenues from the proposed 302 campsites to a reduced 270-unit project. He said Blue Water plans a capital investment of about $25 million, making it financially unfeasible to reduce the number of campsites significantly.

The changes to the plan did not appease residents who have voiced strong opposition to the project, calling it too big for the sensitive Avery Pond area with too much of a disturbance of nearby residential neighborhoods.

Gary Piszczek, chairman of the Preston Conservation and Agricultural Commission, urged the commission to reject all activities within 100 feet of wetlands.

Resident Peter Leibert, a 55-year Preston resident, asked, “what is the saturation point?” for development in town. He said increased development already has put a heavy strain on the town’s emergency services.

Lynn Drive residents Jennifer Hollstein and Susan and Timothy Hotchkiss have filed for intervenor status in the permit review process, allowing them to submit expert testimony and reports. Lynn Drive is located along the western shore of Avery Pond. A letter from Milan Bull, senior director of science and conservation at Connecticut Audubon Society, stated that project reports did not adequately consider potential impacts on birds and other wildlife, which are part of the wetlands and pond system.

At one point, several residents held up poster-sized photos of eagles, osprey, a heron and a snow goose from the pond.

George Knoecklein of Northeast Aquatic Research recommended a complete study of Avery Pond and said the project’s studies of wetlands vegetation and stormwater impacts on the pond were incomplete.

“It is completely beyond me how this can be considered to be the most feasible and prudent alternative,” Knoecklein wrote. “It is my opinion that squeezing in the most possible development per square foot is the maximum alternative not the most feasible and certainly not the most prudent.”

Resident Andrew Stockton objected to proposed kayak rentals for Blue Water campers. He said heavy use of the shallow pond by kayakers would disturb lily pads and be detrimental to fish. He also questioned the proposed use of Preston Plains Water Co. — owned by the Mashantucket tribe — to serve the project and the proposed connection to the tribe’s sewer system.

Stockton asked the commission to hire a water expert to determine whether the company has an adequate long-term water supply for its residential customers and Blue Water.

The Planning and Zoning Commission will continue its public hearing March 22, also at Preston Plains Middle School, on special exception permits needed for the project in the town’s resort commercial and residential zones. Portions of the property lie in each zone. The PZC held a 3½-hour hearing session Feb. 23.

c.bessette@theday.com