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Norwich - City
officials and residents in the Scotland Road area
urged a state legislative committee to keep the area rural by not allowing sewers to be extended to a proposed 185-unit active
adult community.
The hearing by
the Continuing Legislative Committee on State Planning and Development, which lasted more than two hours Monday, is part of
an effort by city officials to reverse the state's decision last summer to change the designation of the land from rural to
neighborhood conservation.
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The change would
allow sewers, necessary for the controversial housing project, to be extended to the project. Norwich Public Utilities would
risk losing millions of dollars in state and federal grants if it extends sewers to rural areas.
The July decision
sparked strong opposition by residents who criticized city officials for waiving the city's right to a public hearing. The
City Council responded to the complaints by filing a separate application to change the land back to the rural designation.
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Attorney
Dwight Merriam, representing developer Norwichtown Development LLC, conversely urged the committee to stick to its July 10
decision, saying the committee would discredit itself by reversing an important decision just five months later. He also pointed
out that this would be only the first step in a long permit process. Residents would get the chance to comment on various
aspects of the project in other settings and several agencies would have jurisdiction over it.
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Committee Co-Chairman
state Rep. Art Feltman, D-Hartford disagreed, saying the hearing ensured that all parties were heard on the project, noting
that the public did not get the chance in the first case. The audience of nearly 100 people erupted in applause, which prompted
Co-Chairman state Sen. Eric Coleman, D-Bloomfield, to ask that people refrain from applause.
Residents argued
that the project would dramatically change the character of their neighborhood. |
Resident
Barbara Doherty displayed a three-panel poster board showing a colored map of the city, along with photos showing the character
of the northern area of Norwich and denser residential development
elsewhere.
Longtime resident Pierce Browning called the project proposal “spot zoning,” because
it would be the only dense development surrounded by greenspace. Browning placed much of his own farm property just north
of the project land into permanent conservation status.
State Sen. Edith Prague, D-Columbia, whose district includes Norwich,
asked Doherty if any neighbors were aware of the controversial project at the time of the July 10 legislative committee meeting.
The audience answered in unison, “no.”
The land is zoned for two-acre minimum residential development, but the developers would be using
a relatively new zoning regulation that would allow dense development of age-restricted housing on at least 10 acres in any
residential zone.
Alderman Robert Zarnetske said the committee should change its policy regarding public hearings
and simply hold hearings on all projects to avoid mistakes and “manipulation” of the process. Zarnetske said keeping
the Scotland Road area rural would allow the city
to retain greenspace in a mostly urban city.
”The
people who live in this area like it rural,” Zarnetske said. “They chose to live in a rural part of an otherwise
very urban city.” |
