Developer, tribe file wetlands application for RV park in Preston
Preston — Plans for an RV park along Route 2 have been filed with the town’s Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, which officially will receive them when it meets Tuesday night.
Blue Water Development Corp. of Ocean City, Md., and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe are seeking an inland wetlands permit to develop tribe-owned property at the intersection of routes 2 and 164 near Avery Pond. The property, just north of the tribe’s Foxwoods Resort Casino, is listed as 451, 455 and 495 Route 2.
The proposed RV park was unveiled publicly in June, drawing objections from residents concerned about its potential impact on the environment and the traffic it might generate. Blue Water officials hosted a public forum on the plan at the Poquetanuck fire station.
Town Planner Kathy Warzecha said the wetlands commission will review the plans at a future meeting. If it approves the permit application, the Planning and Zoning Commission would next consider the project, which would be located in a resort commercial zone, Warzecha said.
The planning commission would decide whether to issue a special exception permit, a process that requires a public hearing, she said.
In a news release, Blue Water said the proposed RV park would resemble “many of the successful campground resorts” the company has designed and developed over the past 20 years. Blue Water has completed eight projects of similar size and scope across states from Maine to Florida and has partnerships with such brands as KOA (Kampgrounds of America) and Jellystone Parks, as well as private brands liked Massey’s Landing.
The Preston proposal calls for more than 300 camping sites, a pool, a waterslide and a splash pad; tennis and volleyball courts; a camp store and a pavilion. According to Blue Water, the campground would be serviced by a water supply and a sanitary sewer discharge system maintained by the Mashantucket tribe.
Jason Guyot, Foxwoods’ president and chief executive officer, acknowledged in an interview posted online that the tribe was moving forward with the project by seeking local approvals. He said Foxwoods has long sought to provide casino patrons with a “high-end RV option.”
He used the term “glamping,” meaning a form of camping that provides access to amenities and luxurious facilities.
Day Staff Writer Claire Bessette contributed to this report.
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