Groton Open Space Association

Lorraine Santangelo, GOSA secretary, said more top-level attention should be paid by the council to environmental matters affecting the town. She also asked that greater weight be given to recommendations of the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development and the Conservation Commission for saving open space, for example the Watrous property and land adjacent to the Jabez Smith House on Route 117.

Ms. Santangelo said the town’s natural assets ought to be inventoried now. She added that though the town’s land-use agencies may feel they are doing a good job of applying regulations, still citizens have felt the need to appeal several decisions.

Edith Fairgrieve, a GOSA director, criticized the Planning Commission for preparing to conduct hearings on a site plan for the proposed Four Winds “Residential Life Care Community” on the Watrous property at the same that the New London Superior Court has before it appeals against Zoning and Inland Wetlands approvals of the project. The Planning Commission is expected to begin processing the site plan at its July 13 meeting, a situation that Ms. Fairgrieve characterized as “troubling and confused.” In addition, she said it is odd that citizens who appeal land-use decisions see their tax dollars spent on legal fees to town lawyers who oppose their appeals. She noted that some other communities leave it largely to developers to defend against any legal challenges of town agency findings that favor those developers. She said the Groton should not file briefs in such cases.

Later, Councilor Peter Bartinik said he doesn’t “know why the town should file briefs” under those circumstances.

Robert Schneider, a GOSA director, expressed concern about an Inland Wetlands Agency decision to allow building of approximately 60 houses, served by individual septic systems, in the watershed of Great Brook, the central connector between the northern and southern portions of the Groton Utilities reservoir complex. He called for creation of a strong regional water authority as a watchdog to protect the watershed and for acquisition of land to limit development.

GOSA Director Joan Smith said that better information should be given to the community on land-use matters. She advocated better viewing facilities for the public at land-use hearings, televising of such hearings, town appointment of experts to testify at such hearings with fees being paid by developers, use of the state’s Environmental Review Team to evaluate projects, welcoming of input from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, longer hours at the Office of Planning and Development Services one evening a week to allow citizens to check subdivision applications, and town use of state programs of financial assistance to acquire desirable land for open space.

Wendy MacFarland, of Mystic, appearing as an individual, characterized the Watrous property as a “mini Garden of Eden” that should be preserved. She said that land-use staff and commissions should show a new commitment to “careful stewardship of the land.” She also urged that land-use regulations be updated and improved.

In response to the speakers, Councilor Paulann Sheets said she shared their concern about the impact on open space and water quality of the onrush of development. She said the council has a responsibility for the environment, in part because it appoints the town manager, who in turn selects the land-use staff. This staff, she said, makes recommendations that heavily influence findings of land-use commissions. The matter of updating land-use regulations was referred to a council committee for study.

Councilor Elissa Wright urged that the 1999 buildout analysis for the town be updated and said that the council should study whether to create an open-space tax classification, similar to that for farmland, that would allow privately held open lands to be taxed below their “highest and best use” valuation.

Councilor Bartinik said GOSA should follow up its presentation with a set of detailed recommendations for council action.