The public hearing on the controversial proposed development of 12 houses on 9 acres of land formerly owned by the American School for the Deaf was postponed until November.
Attorney Lewis Wise, who represents the applicant Sard Homes, said in a letter to the Planning and Zoning Commission that several outstanding issues of "some significance" have yet to be resolved with town staff.
The planning & zoning commission postponed the hearing until Nov. 4.
The application, which calls for 9.6 acres of land behind the ASD to be developed into 12 homes, has been met with significant concerns from neighbors, who fear, among other things, flooding.
One neighbor, who declined to give her name, said that she has lived in the area for 35 years and has had significant flooding - at least 2 feet of water - on six different occasions.
“I live in a 100-year flood plain and in wetlands,” she said.
The proposed development would require the deforestation of the land behind the ASD, the neighbor said, which would also likely mean additional flooding.
Christine and Patrick Farley, who have lived on Brookline Drive for 37 years, said that the Army Corps of Engineers widened Trout Brook in the early 1980s because of significant flooding in that area.
“That’s what it took to stop the flooding,” Christine Farley said.
The clearing of that land and construction of a dozen houses would mean driveways, roofs and patios that create significant runoff and almost nowhere to go, the Farleys said.
“I don’t want my backyard flooded,” Patrick Farley said. “Where is that water going to go? Behind my house.”
Diane Albert, who lives on Montclair Drive, said that her neighbors’ basements were always flooded after two or three days of rain.
Christine Farley said that, in addition to flooding, she was also concerned about the environmental impact the development would have.
“It’s a huge wetlands area,” she said. “The town has a reputation of protecting green areas.”
Despite the commission only considering a motion to postpone the hearing on Monday, Commissioner Jeffrey Daniel said that the application was "significant" and required additional independent analysis.
Patrick Farley said that the commission needs to have that independent analysis take place.
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