Norwich - Norwichtown Development LLC will have to withdraw and revise their controversial proposed 185-unit active-adult community housing complex after the inland wetlands commission rejected the application Thursday.

The commission voted unanimously against issuing wetland permits for the project and asked the developer to consider alternatives to several wetlands crossings required to bring a sewer line along Lawler Lane to the project. The commission also asked that the developer try to improve storm-water storage and dissipation.

Neighbors who have strongly opposed the project since last summer were pleased with the vote, but realized that it would not kill the project.

”It's a temporary reprieve,” said Carolyn Horton of 131 Hansen Road. “I don't think it's a win for anybody.”

Property owner Thomas Abele said the group plans to withdraw the current application, rework it to satisfy the commission's requests and resubmit in the near future. The developers are confident project engineers can make the changes and submit new plans very soon, Abele said.

Project engineer Patrick Lafayette declined to comment after the meeting.

The developers are in a race with the clock locally and, perhaps, at the state level.

The controversial project was proposed under the city's relatively new active-adult community zoning regulation, which allows denser development on 10 or more acres. The project land, the former Wilcox farm and sawmill, has 60 acres, including about 20 acres placed into a conservation trust several years ago.

The City Council on Jan. 5 will hold a public hearing and consider repealing the entire ordinance that allows active-adult community development in any residential zone. Plans currently on file - a 90-unit project on Hunters Road would be the only one if the Scotland Road project is withdrawn - would be grandfathered under the existing regulation.

”We shouldn't have any problem applying before that time,” Abele said Thursday.

After vocal and organized opposition from neighbors along Scotland, Hansen and White Plains roads and several surrounding neighborhoods, the City Council asked the state Continuing Legislative Committee on State Planning and Development to change the designation of the property to rural lands, a move that effectively would prohibit Norwich Public Utilities from extending sewers to the property.

Abele said it's possible to design the project with an on-site septic system instead of the sewers if necessary.

Wetlands commission member Arthur Sharron said he especially was concerned about a proposed mile-long high-pressure sewer line running from the area of the John Moriarty School on Lawler Lane to the project site directly across from the Lawler Lane intersection with Scotland Road. The line would have to cross Byron Brook and other wetland areas.

Commission member Douglas Lee asked the developers to consider alternatives to that path, including running the line along another piece of property. Abele said an alternative route might require the developers to acquire additional property.