Groton Open Space Association

GOSA, Neighbors Appeal IWA Approval of Mystic Woods

NEW LONDON — The Groton Open Space Association and two neighborhood parties have appealed the Inland Wetlands Agency’s conditional approval of a plan to build a big Active Senior Housing project atop Fort Hill.

Besides GOSA, the plaintiffs are Anna Sullivan and Rachel and Michael Jasenek. Ms. Sullivan and the Jaseneks own separate properties close to the projected construction site for the 200+ unit ASH project.

The appeal to the New London Superior Court requires a reply by the IWA by Oct. 30, 2007.

The Oct. 4, 2007, action, prepared by Atty. Frank B. Cochran of the New Haven firm of Cooper, Whitney, Cochran & Francois, contends in part that:

–the commission ignored evidence that the Mystic Woods access entrance on Flanders Road would impair a significant wetland near the road.

–the applicant, Hawthorne Development Partners LLC, failed to show that no feasible and prudent alternatives existed to the project as planned.

–the IWA didn’t get answers to questions regarding the impact on wetlands and watercourses of proposed controls on stormwater, erosion and sedimentation.

The Mystic Woods proposal has moved on from the IWA and currently is subject of hearings by the Zoning Commission. At a Zoning hearing Oct. 15, 2007, Hawthorne Atty. Harry Heller said that conditions imposed by the IWA will reduce the number of planned units to 204 from the 211 applied for. The hearing has been continued to Nov. 7, 2007.