Groton - Efforts to remove dead trees from a property off Sandy Hollow Road to help protect the forest will have to go to a public hearing and be approved by the Town Council later this month - even though the work is already done.

Sandy Hollow Road, as well as River Road in Mystic, is designated by the town as "scenic," which sets forth strict rules for any changes to the road, including removal of stone walls, and mature trees.

Forester Chris Casadei of CTF Forest Products, who is in charge of a timber harvest on the Leuba property off Sandy Hollow Road, apologized to the town recently because he was unaware that gaining access to the property through a stone wall had violated scenic-road regulations.

"I truly believe there was no ill intention here on anybody's part," Town Manager Mark R. Oefinger told the Town Council.

But the town will still hold a public hearing on the matter, as required by ordinance, and should set forth a plan for the owner to gain access to the property in the future, Oefinger said.

Casadei said in a letter to the town that the trees removed were killed by successive defoliation from gypsy moths over the past two years. The operation was designed to eliminate any impact to wetlands and promote the health and aesthetics of the woodland.

Casadei said he accessed the property through a stone wall, where he believed there was pre-existing access, though planning director Michael Murphy said no breaks existed to the extent that the current operation accessed the property. Casadei intended to restore it to its original state.

But Oefinger said the council should decide whether it wants the wall brought back to its original state or propose an alternative.

"I don't know that there is another driveway to this anywhere," he said.

The property is the same parcel where a controversial daycare center had been proposed, but the daycare center was denied a special permit. Casadei assured the council his activity was unrelated to the proposal.

Sandy Hollow Road received its scenic designation in 1999. According to the ordinance, scenic roads must meet at least one of the following criteria: unpaved, bordered by mature trees or stone walls, the traveled portion no more than 20 feet wide, offering scenic views, blending naturally into the surrounding terrain or crossing over brooks, streams, lakes or ponds.

Mayor Harry Watson said there have been a few hearings over the years for proposed changes, but none recently.

The hearing has been set for 7:30 p.m. July 21 at the Town Hall Annex.

k.warchut@theday.com