East Lyme ― A revised proposal for a 55-plus housing development on Route 1 is back in front of the Zoning Commission, however this time with fewer buildings on 11.4 acres bordered by Latimer Brook.
Drawings for the 91 Boston Post Road development now show three buildings rather than nine, with an existing home and outbuildings to be demolished.
The commission last month voted 5-1 to reject the initial proposal for 25 units spread out across six duplexes, two apartment buildings and one existing house.
Attorney Paul Geraghty, representing developer Kristen Clarke, presented the rejected concept at a public hearing spanning multiple meetings amid opposition from people concerned about the environmental and traffic implications.
When commission members denied the “conceptual site plan” application, Zoning Officer Bill Mulholland warned them the move wouldn’t preclude the developer from coming back a week later with another application.
It took a little longer than that, but Geraghty on April 24 submitted the revised plan under a provision in the state affordable housing statute allowing applicants to submit “proposed modifications” to a rejected proposal that must be treated as an amendment.
Geraghty said the modifications are a response to concerns raised by commission members in their initial rejection. They cited environmental issues related to the potential for stormwater and septic runoff into Latimer Brook, as well as traffic concerns on busy Route 1.
The revised design cuts down on paved surfaces ― and the potential for stormwater runoff ― by narrowing the existing road through the property. Geraghty said the road would be reduced from a width of 25 to 30 feet currently to 22 feet, which he said exceeds recommended guidelines for low traveled roads.
The proposal said Clarke has hired Rema Ecological Services LLC to ensure best practices in stormwater management. The integrity of the brook that discharges into the Niantic River less than a half mile from the property emerged as a preeminent concern of members of the public and the commission.
The ecological services firm also conducted a wildlife habitat survey that will be presented to the commission with potential habitat enhancement projects, according to Geraghty’s letter.
The attorney said additional documentation from the state Department of Transportation will be presented to support the plan for entering and exiting the site. The commission in denying the application the first time around said the plan presented a “dangerous situation” in a place where the speed limit is “seriously ignored.”
Commission members at their regular meeting Thursday were surprised to see the proposal back on the table.
Member Michael Foley expressed skepticism that any modifications would be sufficient to address traffic concerns “unless they’ve figured out how to relocate Route 1.”
Mulholland said a public hearing will be scheduled, with a tentative date of June 6.
He told The Day on Friday he will be consulting with commission attorney Michael Carey on Monday to get a legal opinion on whether the modification provision cited by Geraghty is applicable or if a new application is required.
e.regan@theday.com
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