Public Hearing Planned for 29-Unit Housing Development in Newtown

NEWTOWN, CT-- Hunter Ridge, LLC is proposing to build 29 single family homes on property located at 41, 43, 45 & 47 Mt. Pleasant Road in Newtown, according to Town of Newtown meeting minutes.

• To sign up for our free newsletter and breaking news alerts for Newtown, click here.
• Like Newtown Patch on Facebook
• Click here for your local, extended forecast for Newtown

The units and associated site construction the company wishes to build and/or change include a driveway, parking, drainage and utilities. According to the Town's website, the 14-acre property is called Rochambeau Woods.

Some residents feel the development would disrupt the scenic view of Taunton Lake and the environment and have been against the development since its proposal. At a public hearing in 2009, area residents spoke out:

• Pat Barkman, 49 Taunton Lake Road, Newtown, Connecticut said she currently sees rock and sediment flow into the lake, which concerns her.
• Kevin Kohn, 75 Taunton Lake Road, Newtown, Connecticut, expressed concern about what he had heard and hoped the Commission to decide with due diligence.
• Frank Hufner, 157 Brushy Hill Road, Newtown, Connecticut, President of the Newtown Fish and Game Club was in favor of the application.
• Jane McEvoy, 51 Taunton Lake Road, Newtown, Connecticut, asked the Commission to consider the suggested changes.

Dr. Michael Klemens, Ecologist, said at the 2009 meeting that he thought this development would unreasonably harm the environment. He described the topography of the site and environmental features. He did not think it advisable to build below the talus rock down to the lake. They thought eleven lots would be preferable.

At the same meeting, Joseph Hammer, Esq., representing Spencer Taylor, the intervenor presented an opposing view of the proposed development. The intervenor wants to protect the talus slope and wooded area on the site to prevent erosion and water runoff into Taunton Lake, according to meeting minutes.

Marc Goodin, P.E., said that lots 15 – 19 should be combined and that there should be no building at all below the talus slope, directing runoff away from the lake.

At their December 2015 meeting, the Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission confirmed that the action taken at its December 2009 meeting found that :

"The Rochambeau Woods re-subdivision as shown on the subdivision plans dated October 1, 2009 is an improvement over the 2005 and 2007 plans. And that the approval of a settlement agreement based on a fee in lieu of open space in the amount of $350,000 is still an acceptable resolution of the appeal. SHALL BE APPROVED Seconded by Mr. Swift. The motion was unanimously approved."

A public hearing is scheduled for April 13, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Town of Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street, Newtown.