Groton Open Space Association

WITH UPDATE: GOSA’s Planning Appeal On Four Winds Turned Down

NEW LONDON–A Superior Court judge has turned down GOSA’s appeal against the Groton Planning Commission’s approval of the site plan for the projected 147-unit Four Winds “residential life care community” on 105 acres of the Watrous property.

GOSA has 20 days from Dec. 23, 2005, the date of Judge Joseph J. Purtill’s decision, to file a request for an Appellate Court review.

UPDATE: GOSA filed Jan. 11, 2006, a request for Appellate Court review. GOSA’s petition for certification contended, among other things, that environmental issues fell between the cracks as land-use agencies improperly delegated responsibilities to each other.

Judge Purtill found that the Planning Commission’s approval of site plan Sept. 28, 2004, was “reasonably supported by the record” of its study of the project.

GOSA had contended in its appeal against the Planning Commission and the developer, Mystic Active Adult LLC, that the Planning Commission:

–failed to consider prudent and reasonable alternatives to the developer’s plan.

–didn’t weigh the project’s impact on the environment.

–didn’t recognize that Four Winds is not a “residential life care community.”

The Watrous property is site of one of New England’s most biologically productive vernal pools, as well as home to sensitive species like wood turtles and red shouldered hawks.

Mystic Active Adult LLC is headed by Ron Bonvie, developer of an active adult community, Southport, in Mashpee, Massachusetts.

GOSA’s previous appeals against Four Winds, involving approvals by the Zoning Commission and Inland Wetlands Agency, have been turned down by the Superior Court, and the Appellate Court has declined in each case to provide a review. However, the Appellate Court has agreed to review Judge Purtill’s finding in favor of Mr. Bonvie in a related case. That involves Mr. Bonvie’s appeal against the IWA’s decision to disallow a wetlands crossing on the north side of the Watrous property.