Groton Open Space Association

GOSA Urges saving of Watrous; Queries Re OPDS Procedures

GROTON–Genevieve Cerf, treasurer of the Groton Open Space Association, told the Town Council Oct. 19, 2004, that the proposed development of the Watrous property exemplifies both the “heart-wrenching” problem of sprawl in Groton and growing threats to whole species of wildlife.

Ms. Cerf, in a citizen’s petition, also addressed questions, still unanswered, to the councilors about how the property, recommended for preservation as open space by the Town’s Conservation Commission on Dec. 11, 2001, came to be optioned by a developer March 15, 2002.

Ms. Cerf, who holds a PhD in electrical engineering from Columbia University and said she has gone from “computer geek” to environmental advocate in recent years, appealed to the council for “consensus and compromise” in solving Groton’s environmental problems. She said GOSA’s repeatedly expressed concern about development-related destruction of amphibian life reflects in part the function of amphibians as “the canary in the coal mine,”–that is, as an early warning of threats facing all wildlife and, ultimately, all life on the planet.

“Do we want to be the generation that tells its kids we wiped out what’s left of the wildlife?” she asked. She said, “Sprawl is becoming heart-wrenching. Many citizens going to town land-use commission hearings come out in tears. These people shouldn’t be ignored.”

She noted that the Watrous property is host to a vernal pool of outstanding quality–with 1,350 egg masses counted one spring, more than 50 times the 25 egg masses that are considered the mark of a high-quality pool. The property also features two Class A streams, three historical Native American sites, a rare White Cedar swamp and sensitive species like Wood Turtles and Red-Shouldered Hawks.

She said the Council should get an answer to the question of whether the town Office of Planning and Development Services (OPDS) informed would-be Watrous developer Ron Bonvie that the property had been recommended for preservation before he signed the option to acquire it. She also asked whether the OPDS informed the Council, the Conservation Commission and the Planning Commission of Mr. Bonvie’s interest in the property.

Ms. Cerf sought to counter any idea that GOSA opposes all development. She said that GOSA had fought only about 15% of the housing projects that currently are in the pipeline.

Councilor Paulann Sheets agreed that “it’s baffling” that the property was not saved. She said she backs a more proactive procedure in land protection and hopes “it’s not too late for the Watrous property.”

Councilor Thomas Skrmetti contended the council can’t do anything about the property while it is in litigation and asserted “we’ll get sued if we try to stop it,” meaning the proposed 147-unit Four Winds “Residential Life Care Community” that Mr. Bonvie wants to build on the Watrous property. Mr. Bonvie has sued the town in Superior Court for restoration of a wetlands crossing that was denied by the Inland Wetlands Agency. GOSA is appealing approvals of the project by IWA, the Planning Commission and the Zoning Commission.