Groton Open Space Association

GOSA Asks For Moratorium On Active Senior Housing

GROTON–The Groton Open Space Association asked the Zoning Commission Aug. 3, 2005, to declare a moratorium on approvals of any applications for Active Senior Housing pending adoption of a definition of buildable land that is linked to density limits.

GOSA director Edith Fairgrieve made the request at the commission’s monthly meeting after Planning Director Michael J. Murphy said in a letter dated July 26, 2005, that the Office of Planning and Development Services would come up with such a definition only next year. The Zoning Commission had created the new class of development in Groton called Active Senior Housing Feb. 2, 2005, over the objections of GOSA, which had asked for simultaneous adoption of a buildable land regulation. At the time, Mr. Murphy said the OPDS was working on the matter. The 2002 Plan of Conservation and Development had recommended adoption of a buildable land rule.

After getting expert advice, GOSA has urged that non-buildable land in any project area be excluded from the calculation of total units that can be constructed on buildable portions of the area. Mr. Murphy has said that he contemplates discounting non-buildable land but has not indicated what size discount he has in mind–creating a wide range of uncertainty. Non-buildable land includes steep slopes, wetlands/watercourses and floodplains.