Groton Open Space Association

GOSA Suggests Changes In Groton Planning Process

GROTON–GOSA has proposed basic changes in Groton’s planning structure and regulations.

In a citizen’s petition delivered at the July 20, 2004, Town Council meeting, GOSA recommended that the town:

–Split the planning and economic development functions, currently contained in one department, into two departments, and firmly and clearly reemphasize the environmental protection aspect of planning.

–Adopt a measure allowing developers to be charged for independent expert advice to land use commissions in evaluating developers’ plans.

–Overhaul land use regulations with an eye to making Groton a model of intelligent and environmentally sensitive development. Adopt a policy of preserving environmentally valuable lands for open space.

–Save the 160-acre Watrous property while protecting the property rights of the owner, option holder and other interested parties.

GOSA said the current organizational structure–dating back to 1993–is allowing economic development to trump planning. Two examples of this, it said, are:

1. The town’s disregard of a Conservation Commission recommendation in 2001 that the Watrous property be saved as open space. The property now is slated to be developed as a 147-unit condo facility for seniors.

2. Failure of the Office of Planning and Development Services (OPDS) failure to advise developers that a proposed housing project in the Great Brook watershed, to be served by a new sewer line, was in an area designated by the state as non-sewering. The designation is intended to limit development in the area and thus protect the public water supply. Great Brook is the main aqueduct by which water travels from Groton Utilities’ upper reservoir to the lower system.

GOSA asserted that these examples reflect a desire to raise tax revenues at the expense of the environment. The town’s environment needs a separate steward and advocate, in the form of a planning director who reports independently and directly to the Town Manager and who is evaluated in substantial part on his or her ability to protect the town’s biologically valuable lands for future generations, it said.

GOSA urged the town to adopt a regulation similar to Old Saybrook’s Ordinance 71, which empowers the town to hire independent experts in such areas as engineering, law, biology, soil science and traffic for evaluating developers’ plans, with the developers paying the bills.

GOSA said that at present developers in Groton hire the vast majority of experts, whose findings predictably support the developers. The only other advice comes from experts hired by GOSA, whose financial resources are limited. Partly as a result, public hearings are biased in favor of developers.

Further important necessary actions, GOSA said, are strong town efforts to save the Watrous property and a general overhaul of the town’s land use regulations with the aim of making the Groton of 20 to 30 years into the future a model blend of natural and man-made environments.

GOSA’s comments came in response to a Council request for specific suggestions for actions to follow up more general remarks from GOSA at the July 6 meeting.