Groton Open Space Association

GOSA, Developer File Separate Appeals Of IWA Decision on Four Winds

GROTON–The Groton Open Space Association and a would-be developer each have lodged separate appeals against the Town of Groton Inland Wetlands Agency in connection with the IWA’s approval of a 147-unit “Residential Life Care Community” on 105 acres of the Watrous property off Noank-Ledyard Road.

GOSA and four individuals, who had acted as intervenors at the hearings, asked in an appeal dated July 13, 2003, that the June 25 IWA decision be declared null and void. The appeal, which takes the form of a lawsuit against the Agency, has a return date of Aug. 19 in Superior Court at New London. A lawsuit is the standard form of appeal against town agency and commission decisions.

The suit by Mystic Active Adult LLC, a would-be developer which was joined in the action by Wolfebrook Development LLC, the land owner, is dated July 14. It has a return date of Aug. 12 in Superior Court, New London. Ron Bonvie of Mashpee, MA, is identified in the suit as a member of Mystic Active Adult LLC, and Stephen Watrous of Warwick, R.I., is identified as a member of Wolfebrook Development LLC.

GOSA and the individuals allege, among other things, that the IWA stipulated conditions that are either without sufficient standards or are unenforceable. The suit also says the IWA failed to consider reasonable alternatives and didn’t find that the development wouldn’t do unreasonable harm to the environment or destroy public trust in the natural resources of the state.

The plaintiffs in the developer/owner suit are asking that the IWA reverse its decision to disallow proposed wetlands crossing “C” and that the IWA allow the applicant to fill 824 square feet of wetlands associated with the crossing. The disallowing of the crossing entailed the elimination of 12 units from the plan. Two further units were eliminated for other reasons.

Groton’s Zoning Commission is weighing the evidence it heard during three hearings on the project. The Town Council’s Commitee of the Whole is scheduled to consider at a future meeting a recommendation by the Conservation Commission that the town acquire the Watrous property and preserve it as open space.