Residents Sound Off On Pawcatuck Condo Plan

John Rain has lived on Mary Hall Road in Pawcatuck for more than 40 years.

He describes a quiet area where it’s common to see wild turkeys and deer run through his backyard.

He worries all that will change now that the Stonington to a plan to build 68-attached houses and seven-single family homes near the intersection of Mary Hall and Greenhaven Roads.

“We don’t like it, we’re totally against it,” Rain said of the development. “It means more people more traffic, it’ll affect the wildlife. There won’t be turkey and deer running through my backyard anymore.”

Rain, who has lived in his home on Mary Hall Road since 1966, is only one of many neighbors grieving the loss of the open space.

“We’re extremely sad, we were in tears over it,” said Mary Hall resident Jenny Brummund.

700 against the plan

After months of , after neighbors created a the plan and after a reported 700 people signed a petition against the plan the PZC unanimously approved the development last week. Neighbors are now trying to adjust to the idea.

Brummund, a Mary Hall resident for 50 years, called the 58-acre site the "blueberry lot," and said she knew she and her neighbors were spoiled that the family that owned the land until recently was kind enough to let the community use it.

“My daughter walks up there—that’s part of her life that is lost,” Brummund said. “We understand you can’t prevent people from developing the land, but with so much I hate to see it developed for no need based reason.”

While most of the neighbors on Mary Hall and Greenhaven Roads Patch spoke with last week said they were unhappy with the decision, on Patch, said he was looking forward to the development.

“My wife and I are in our late 50s, and very close to becoming ‘empty-nesters.’ We have been looking for a development exactly like this in or near the Stonington area of CT for quite some time now, so this is just what the Doctor ordered, so far as we're concerned,” Hubbard wrote. “We want to downsize, and at the very same time move closer to our grandchildren who currently reside in Mystic.”

Will residents leave?

While some out-of-towners may take the opportunity to move into the area, some local residents may move out because of it.

According to Pawcatuck resident Rich McKrell, at least one family on Greenhaven Road said they would leave the area due to safety concerns if the commission approved the development of the site.

“Any development that drives away existing homeowners from a the neighborhood or from the town all together is a serious concern,” McKrell said.

But according to several PZC members there was no reason to not approve the development.

P&Z Commissioner Robert Marseglia said last month the development meets regulations, including the town’s Plan of Conservation Development and at last : “…Not everybody’s going to be happy but I think it’s the right decision.”

No flexibility in regulations

Many of the neighbors are certainly unhappy and questioning the decision.

"I disagree with the Planning and Zoning Commission's statement that traffic and public safety is not their concern,” McKrell said. "On the contrary, the adverse safety impacts of the 68-unit complex on the exiting neighborhood should be one of the Commission's primary concerns. Protecting the public begins with responsible development at the inception of projects such as the 68 unit attached housing complex.  This is especially true when almost 100 percent of the surrounding neighborhood, over 700 residents, have expressed their opposition to the complex for valid reasons.”

Brummund said she would have liked to see the planning and zoning commission have more interpretation of the laws.

“Laws are suppose to be flexible,” Brummund said.

First Selectman Edward Haberek Jr., he understood people were upset and it was difficult process for the Board of Selectmen as they appoint the members to the PZC, but it's up to the commission to enforce the law.

"It seemed like there would be an appeal either way," Haberek said, adding he expected the judicial system to have the final say over the development. Haberek didn't anticipate work on the development would begin anytime soon.