Granby Residents Debate Recreation Area for Dirt Bike [With Poll]

Tracy Cavaciuti believes strongly that compromise is the solution to allowing her son Dylan to ride his dirt bike without causing problems for neighbors. An outcry of support from the community suggests many in the community agree.

With 75 in attendance at the Granby Planning and Zoning Commission meeting Tuesday, 23 people weighed in on the heated topic of whether to establish a recreation area for riding a dirt bike at the property located at 18 Candlewood Lane. Most said the same thing – it should be allowed.

While no resolution was reached, and no decision was rendered by the commission, one thing was made clear by those who spoke: it was a shame the matter had gotten that far to begin with.

“If you have an issue with your neighbor, you should talk to your neighbor, not get the police involved,” resident Scott Kuhnly said at one point during the meeting.

After an hour and a half, when people were through commenting, the phrase “Pandora’s Box” had been uttered four times, while “slippery slope” was said three times.

By way of background, Tracy and James Cavaciuti, the residents of the seven-acre parcel at 18 Candlewood Lane, to allow for their 12-year-old son, Dylan, to ride his 85 cc Kawasaki dirt bike Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 3 and 5 p.m. and for two hours on two Saturdays every month.

The Cavaciutis applied for the permit after receiving a cease and desist order from the town’s Zoning Enforcement Officer Bill Volovski that prevents Dylan from riding his dirt bike in the property’s five-acre horse pasture.

The order was issued after several neighbors of the Cavaciutis, including Susan and James Gnesda of 20 Candlewood Lane and Todd Klein of 19 Candlewood Lane, complained about the excessive noise and dust generated from Dylan’s dirt bike.

The neighbors could not reach an accord on their own as to acceptable times for Dylan to ride his bike, so the Cavaciutis appealed the ZBA’s decision to the Connecticut Superior Court, as well as apply for the permit.

“There has always been an open door policy in our neighborhood, friendly people doing things for each other,” Tracy Cavaciuti said. “[Susan Gnesda] publicly stated that she did not see why she should give anyone her schedule and was unwilling to work with us.”

The vast majority of the people who spoke at the meeting favored allowing Dylan ride his dirt bike on his family’s property, claiming primarily that living in Granby meant having to deal with the occasional dirt bike buzzing on adjoining property.

“This is about restoring what we had, not what we will become,” said Deb Goodridge, a resident of 9 Candlewood Lane, who added that it was just one dirt bike that would be used during limited hours. "Granby is a rural community, not packed lots together. With open spaces, we need to preserve it and use it for families. ... I've never had any issue with [Dylan Cavaciuti riding his dirt bike]."

But many Dylan supporters didn’t necessarily favor the creation of the recreation area, either, as they deem it an unnecessary overreach by the government.

“It’s unfair we’re here,” Robin Soldate of Hartland said. “It just seems a shame; it’s unfair to come up with times for him to ride.”

For some the issue wasn't just over Dylan's ability to ride his dirt bike, but whether they would also have to seek a special exception to ride their dirt bikes, quads, snow mobiles and other motorized vehicles.

"Where does it stop?" Jason Lender asked. "Does everyone need a special permit to ride on their property?"

Those who opposed the creation of the area feel that they have, at best, been unfairly singled out for voicing their objections and, at worst, been made pariahs in the town.

“I own property, I have rights and I have children,” Susan Gnesda said. “My property is where the dirt bike path is and my kids have a fort [close by] and they can’t play there…you don’t stand in my shoes. I’ve been trailed down the street and tailgated. That’s ridiculous.”

Gnesda said that, contrary to what was said at the meeting, she did not assume the risk of having a dirt bike ridden next to her property when she moved to town eight years ago.

"I didn't expect to move next to a recreation area when I moved here, or I would have lived next to Salmon Brook Park," she said. "When I moved here, Dylan did not ride. ...

"We talk about what Dylan wants, but I have children, too. It does bother them."

Cliff Thorstenson wanted to know what would happen once Dylan outgrows his smaller bike, or if another family wanted to apply for the creation of a recreation area with two or three riders.

“Where do you draw the line?” he asked.

Fran Armentano, the town’s director of community development, defended the residents’ right to complain regarding dirt bikes.

“It’s only recently that we’ve started seeing the complaints,” said Armentano, who added that dirt bike tracks built on a specific parcel of land instead of riding the motorbikes around wider open spaces had led to the increase in opposition in town over the last six years or so.

“People have a right in sit in their homes away from the dust an the fumes. We have to consider each other,” he said.

Armentano said that the town was not actively seeking out dirt bike users, but only responding when there are multiple complaints.

“The first thing we do when we receive a complaint is to tell them to talk to their neighbor,” Armentano said.

At times, Planning and Zoning Commission Chair Pamela Johnson had to restore order at the meeting, as people called out responses or voiced their approval, or disapproval, at what was being said without having the floor.

The commission has 65 days to issue a decision, one that members stated that they did not relish rendering.

“I’m not going to enjoy making a decision on this,” Johnson said. "It's a shame ... they were not able to get together."

Still, one resident was still hopeful that a compromise could be reached before the town or a court intervened with a final decision.

"I'm in favor that it's not too late to come to an understanding outside of the board," Mark Lockwood said. "Then we avoid numerous hearings ... set guildelines, hours of operation, decibel levels and the bureaucratic nightmare."