Groton Open Space Association

IWA Sets Hearing For Fee Regulation Change

GROTON — The Inland Wetlands Agency has set April 12 as date for a public hearing on a proposed regulation change that would allow the agency to hire outside experts to help evaluate development applications, with applicants charged for the fees. For details, click on: background.

The proposed change, approved by the panel at its meeting Feb. 22, 2006, was to be sent to the state Department of Environmental Protection, which has up to 35 days to review it. The change then must be presented to the public in a hearing before becoming effective.

The agency also discussed the proposed Groton Highpoint subdivision on Hazelnut Hill and the Kolnaski School, to be built on the King Property.

The IWA noted that the Fire Department has determined that no emergency access road to the subdivision is needed. The agency said it would require 100-foot wetlands buffers on the steep eastern and southern slopes of the development while allowing 50-foot buffers on the flatter west side. This tentative decision would require design changes.

The Office of Planning and Development Services is to draft a document for the agency’s March 8 meeting summarizing discussion results to date but the matter will remain open to further panel discussion.

Regarding the Kolnaski School, Deb Jones of the OPDS said appropriations for cleanup of hazardous materials at the site will be part of the budget for 2008, not 2007. The site hasn’t been tested for radioactive materials, said Greg Smolley, representing JCJ Architecture Inc., designers of the project, in response to a question. Electric Boat has a research and development facility adjacent to the proposed school site.

On other aspects of the project, Mr. Smolley said the final lower 150 feet of the road down from the school to Poquonnock Road has been changed to a gentle 2% grade. Road runoff will go to a swale at Poquonnock Road and proceed downhill, ultimately reaching Birch Plain Creek. Mr. Smolley was asked whether open bodies of water on the site would be fenced off as “attractive hazards.” He replied that children would be bussed to the school.

The agency is expected to vote March 8 on the subdivision and the school after some further discussion of both.