Groton Open Space Association

Great Brook Alteration Foresees 63 Houses With Individual Septic Systems

GROTON–The Downes-Patterson Corp. has presented a revised concept for the Great Brook subdivision north of Route 184. The original plan was withdrawn because of the state’s objections to sewers at the proposed site.

The new idea, presented Dec. 4, 2003, to a meeting of the Planning Commission, envisions 63 houses, each with its own individual septic system. The road layout would be little changed from that of the now-withdrawn original plan, which had foreseen 104 houses. The concept, not yet developed into a full plan, was presented to the commission by Atty. Timothy Bates and by Clinton S. Brown, a principal of DiCesare-Bentley Engineers Inc., the Groton-based engineering company. Mr. Brown is a former member of the Groton Planning Department staff and is a former director of planning for the Town of Waterford, according to the DiCesare-Bentley website (www.dbengineers.com).

In the commission’s discussion of the plan, the only member of the panel to raise the question of potential impacts of the altered plan on Groton’s reservoirs of drinking water was Michael Kane. It is potential drinking water impacts of heavy development that caused the state to designate the area involved as off-limits to sewers, which tend to promote building of further new houses. Great Brook is a stream that flows into Groton’s reservoir system.

The new idea will be presented next to the Inland Wetlands Agency.