This past Tuesday, there was meeting of the Inland/Wetlands Commission to discuss the possible impact on the environment the proposed Lifestyle Center could have, especially if there is heavy rains as was the case last April.

Wetlands serve a purpose. They act as natures “sponge” so to speak. The plants and assorted flora that grow in wetlands, absorb water that runs off dry land. When the wetlands are disturbed, there could be flooding problems. Man has tried to build its own”wetlands” i.e. dams, culverts, causeways, etc. Some are successful, some are not. Our history is filled with dams that have collapsed because of poor construction. A wetlands never collapses, think about it. A wetlands is natures natural buffer between dry and wet land–period.

I found an article that goes into a little more detail about what a wetlands is.

“Wetlands are unique environments in which the soil is saturated with water for all or most of the year. Often, wetlands include pools of standing water for much of the year, and all wetlands host a multitude of plant and animal species that have adapted to their unique conditions. Wetlands are an extremely valuable natural resource: in addition to offering habitat for plants and animals, they also help protect neighboring land, and reduce soil erosion. For this reason, many countries around the world have embarked on wetlands conservation programs, so that wetlands will be around for future generations.

There are several types of wetlands, depending on where they are located and the chemical makeup of the water in them. In most cases, wetlands form a intermediate area between a large body of water such as an ocean or lake and dry land, although some inland wetlands form in areas isolated from bodies of water. Wetlands tend to form in areas of low ground, which accumulates water readily, and if allowed to thrive without disruption, they have numerous positive affects on the natural environment.

When asked to visualize wetlands, most people think of marshes. Marshes are characterized by low growing plants and reeds and a sense of open space: coastal marshes are salty, thanks to the salt water which floods them. Other types of wetland include bogs, which have a highly acidic chemical balance, and fens, which are very alkaline. Swamps are wetlands which support trees and other large plants, often with limited visibility, and due to their soil saturation and pools of standing water, they are classified as wetlands.

One of the most important functions of a wetland is to act as a buffer zone between a body of water and dry land. Wetlands protect land from flooding and storm damage by absorbing the brunt of it.

 Wetlands protect land from flooding and storm damage by absorbing the brunt of it. In addition, wetlands help to prevent soil erosion, because the plants and trees that live in them form dense networks of roots that hold the soil in, preventing it from washing away. Many wetlands actually create accumulations of rich, nutritious soil upon which plants, animals, and birds can thrive.

Wetlands provide habitat for numerous animals including dragonflies, crayfish, catfish, sculpins, snakes, turtles, geese, herons, frogs, flamingos, and many others. Most of these animals have adapted specifically to living in wetlands. Long legged birds, for example, use their long legs to keep their torsos out of the water, and have long necks and beaks to reach into the water for food such as aquatic plants and insects. Loss of habitat for wetlands animals could be devastating, as they are ideally suited to life in wetlands conditions, and many of them would face dangerous predators and unfavorable living conditions outside of wetland areas. In addition, wetlands play host to numerous plants, not all of which have been categorized and studied.

In addition, wetlands help to prevent soil erosion, because the plants and trees that live in them form dense networks of roots that hold the soil in, preventing it from washing away. Many wetlands actually create accumulations of rich, nutritious soil upon which plants, animals, and birds can thrive.”

Now, I am running a petition given to me by a local resident against the housing part of the W/S plan. There is also a petition against the entire project which will run later.

As far as I am concerned, I am open to all sides. Anyone is welcome to comment on the project and submit their side pro or con. I will try to promote all sides. I have done this in the past. This is what I believe in. I was fired from a newspaper that I was the editor of for doing just that. Promoting all opinions and all sides. This Lifestyle Center is not bad. I just don’t like where it is located RIGHT NOW. I think it is too big a step for Cheshire. I hope to present my alternative at the Nov. 26th meeting.

I am not saying do not build the Lifestyle Center, just take smaller steps. Remember, this is a town that does not even have a sign letting people know where our Community Pool is, as I stated in the recent Candidates Debate. And we are going to welcome people from all over into this Lifestyle Center.? I hope so.

Cheshire’s track record has not been so welcoming, and the people who run this town know what I mean, as I have stated before. Read the old police logs, in plain English–Meriden, Waterbury, Meriden, Waterbury, etc etc. Who do you think will man most of the retail positions at this mall Cheshire Town Government? Sure, there will be many Cheshire High School students, but not all. We will see people from the surrounding towns trying to secure jobs at the Lifestyle Center. It will be another opportunity economically for many. How will we welcome them? Ticket Ticket Ticket? Cop Cop Cop car at the side of the road every 500 feet?

It is not pleasant to think about, but for many, that is the reputation of this town. I already told you what was said to me a few weeks ago in a restaurant when I was speaking to a prominent attorneys niece. I was told to go back to New York where I came from and I am not even from New York. I am from Bridgeport and my family for this persons information ,lived in the Cheshire/Wallingford area since the early 1920’s. Some of my family lived on Church Street off the present Rt. 68, which is Yalesville.

Is that the attitude this town is going to extend to the people who come to our Lifestyle Center? I hope not. If the Center is built I hope it will a success. How will it be successful? Lose the “attitude” and lose the welcoming “committee”for starters.

If any of you watch Chriss Angel’s “Mindfreak” at the opening of the show he shouts “Are You Ready? Are You Cheshire? Do some serious soul searching.

I received a copy of the Petition AGAINST the Residential portion of W/S Developments Lifestyle Center. You will have to cut and paste and then print it out. I cannot fit the petition properly on my website, but if you are interested, you can copy the wording and paste it on a word document on your computer and print it out.

Here is the format and wording you can copy onto your own piece of paper if you wish.

NOTICE: ALL SIGNATURES MUST BE IN INDELIBLE INK

PURPOSE OF PETITION: OPPOSE ONLY RESIDENTIAL Of The W/S North End Development

We want to show we oppose the RESIDENTIAL PART proposed by W/S development to the Town of Cheshire
Commissions and Boards that have a role in determining whether or not the development is approved.

WRITTEN SIGNATURE/STREET ADDRESS/PRINTED NAME/DATE

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

7)

I, ____________________________, am the circulator of the foregoing petition. Each person whose name
(name and address of circulator)

appears on this petition page signed the same in person in my presence and is known to me or has been satisfactorily identified to me. None of the signatures on this page were obtained earlier than six months prior
to the date that this page is filed.

I HEREBY STATE UNDER THE PENALTIES OF FALSE STATEMENT THAT THE FOREGOING STATEMENTS ARE TRUE.
______________________________ __________________________________________________
(Date) (Signature of Circulator)
All forms must be delivered by Nov 25 to 747 Mountain Rd

As the deadline draws near for a decision on the proposed Lifestyle Center which would be located near I-691 on the Cheshire/Southington line, questions and concerns linger.

Now I received information from Tim of the Carpenters Union regarding workplace violations that occurred during construction of The Shoppes of Farmington Valley in Canton a few years ago. I have included the hard copy reports for you to read.

Now this story has been in some of the local media, but I thought I would make it available to my readers, because not all of you receive the local papers.

Apparently, some of the companies that did work at the Canton Shoppes did not pay overtime; failed to pay prevailing wage (that sounds familiar) or payrolls were not complete or not filed at all for certain weeks. There was also a failure to pay all monies due.

In fact one violation filed by the Labor Department which you will be able to read on the actual report below involved over $100,000 in non-payment of overtime wages.

There is also the report on the crane accident, where a crane tipped over and a propane fire in the area of the Kohls Department store.

The point? not to bash anyone, especially W/S, but to hold these peoples feet to the fire to make sure proper wages are paid and workplace standards are safe. Now anyone knows things can happen during construction, but these violations could have been prevented. They were not acts of nature or beyond anyones control.

Now as far as the flack about the housing at the Shoppes at Cheshire site, I think I may have a solution. As most of you know by reading my last post “Apartments to Condos? W/S Development is now proposing 140 units of condominiums instead of the original 160 units of apartments which were to be several high rise buildings. I believe they are switching from the apartment idea to the condo’s because of some peoples’ concerns about the housing phase of this project.

To be honest, I would have rather have seen the apartments than the condo’s because most people who rent apartments are single and/or just starting out on their own or just can’t afford or don’t want a home in the first place.

With the condo’s starting at $325,000 and up, I believe this will attract families, albeit small families, but families with children. There is the “empty nester” condo complex being proposed, but how many empty nesters will it actually attract. Remember, to be able to afford a $325,000 condo, a person would have to be making (alone) at least $80,000 per year, so you know these condos at those prices will attract a dual income setup and that usually means a man and woman with a child.

I remember the development that I moved to in 1984 which is also near Southington, was supposed to have over 300 homes. That never materialized because the developer abandoned the project. This developer had grandiose plans: he dug a moat around the entire development for starters, and had plans for a heliport and a SCHOOL.

You know what, that may be the solution to the people who are concerned that the housing proposed at the Shoppes at Cheshire may overcrowd the school system. Have the developer build a school– a combined middle/high school, because more than likely the children who may live in this condo housing will be middle or high school age, and construct a small firehouse substation.

The developer did offer the Cheshire Police Department room for a small police substation, quit thinking about it and take the developer up on the offer will you?

Let’s face it, most people move to Cheshire because of the school system. They don’t move here to work unless they work for the prison or the town government, but that is a small minority of people. The majority move here so their children can go to the Cheshire schools, period. So when housing is available, I am betting 9 out 10 people will have a child.

Having the developer construct a school is not that  much of an off the beaten path of an idea, because as I stated above, it was being seriously considered by the original developer where I reside.

In fact when Stew Leonard was going to build a store in Orange on Marsh Hill Road, he offered to widen that road from one lane to four at a cost of millions of dollars!!

If some people really believe our school system will be overwhelmed or burdened by this housing proposal than having the developer construct a small school may be what is needed. We definitely will need a firehouse or have to make a deal with Southington, so just expand the idea. People must remember, this development will take place on just one parcel, 100 acres out of a 400 acre piece of property.

So it is highly likely that more housing may be constructed in the future, so another school built by the developer in that area right from the get go, makes sense.

So here is the report.

P.S. I hope to have my drawing of the reconstruction of the Ball and Socket Factory into my version of the Lifestyle Center finished before the end of the week.

Click Here to read the report.

It is Friday night, and I have just received word that the vote on the Lifestyle Center/Condo complex will be delayed until January.

 As most of you know, the new Planning and Zoning Commission, which now will have six Republicans and three Democrats, will take over on December 3.

It will be interesting to see how the new members vote, since in all honesty, they have not had that much time to ponder this issue and are really jumping into the fray in midstream.

I also will be posting some information on workplace violations that occurred while the Lifestyle Center in Canton was being constructed. The Meriden Record did run something on this issue, but I hope to be posting some of the paperwork I was given by the Carpenters Union Representative, Tim.

See you later

Ok, I just got back from the latest Planning and Zoning Commission meeting where again we heard from W/S Development spokesman Lou Massiello who is now proposing a change from a multi-storied apartment “complex” of 160 units to a “townhouse”complex of 140 units

According to Massiello, the townhouses would be “less intense” with two zones of housing: one zone would consist of “live-work” units with an ownership modeled floorplan less than 1200 square feet of not more than two bedrooms, to be placed on the second floor of the townhouse and including a garage and driveway.

THESE townhouses would be aimed towards the young professional with a proposed pricetag of $320,000 with some units being “much more affordable” whatever that means.

The second zone of townhouses would be geared towards the empty nesters with the one bedroom located on the first floor and the second floor to be used for an office or a guest bedroom.

The young professional townhouse would be approximately 1200 square feet and the empty nester townhouse would be 1300 square feet. WHAT??

It is a nice proposal, it looks nice and W/S Development spent a lot of time on these changes but my question is: why would the empty nesters (like with NO children) need more room?

And what would prevent a “young professional” with children from buying the bigger unit and putting in another bedroom upstairs, making it a three bedroom townhouse, to accomodate more children?

Another change to the residential is the proposed extension of this walkway that would allow people to walk from the residential to the shopping center. I think this is a great idea, but devil’s advocates would ask who would want people constantly walking through your housing development, especially in a retail environment where the potential for criminal activity is ripe?

According to Lou Massiello, the walkway would also be extended and be paralled by a nature walk.  People would be able to walk along the heart of the residential units.

There was also a question from the audience by P and Z alternate member Ms. Marinaro regarding the roadway in and out of the shopping and residential areas. Her question was good and basically raised a concern about people driving through the residential portion of the complex.

I can just see it now, “hey honey, we have nothing to do today and how many times can we shop at Old Navy and eat at Panera, so lets drive through the residential just for the hell of it. Ok that sounds like a fine idea,” yeah you and thousands of others.

The proposed solution to that problem is to have one driveway for the residences that would not be easy to cut through because that road would have islands and medians in it.

Come on, do you see the way some people drive? They don’t even slow down for speed bumps. I know when I pick my daughter up sometimes at the high school, I see people trying to go around the bumps by driving on or near the edge of the sidewalk, or they just go full speed over them. Making an island or curve in the road is not going to stop people from being curious, let’s face it.

I proposed at least having a gated community. Make it where people can see the residential units, (potential buyers), from the shopping area, but have it gated so you don’t have constant noise and traffic or worse case scenario a lovers lane situation or worse.

I know some people are thinking this is a small victory over the proposed apartments, because they will be smaller in scale and less of them. But, you know what will probably happen, “oh look, we sold out all our units, and there is so much demand, I guess we wil just have to build more and the land is available–OK”  Just get the old foot in the door and BOOM, that is what will happen.

Now W/S has put a lot of work into this project, but they are still trying to say that the land where all of this development will take place has been disturbed by man made activity for some time, so it is not like they are destroying virgin property or making a negative impact on any historical artifacts that MAY be found in the area.

 Man has already messed this place up with the building of the Farmington Canal in the 1820’s and the construction of the culvert (arch); the great fill in of 1941; the gravel excavation for I-691 in 1985 and the ATV use in the 1990s and so on and so on.

They will have a “Heritage Park” which will preserve the culvert and great fill area. There will also be a passive public space consisting of a green lawn on the banks of the 10 mile river and the conversion of the canal bed to a pedestrian connection to encourage “access and educational opportunities.”

W/S also plans on installing a timber bridge on both sides of the 10 mile river. They proposal a wooden trestle-like bridge which would “fit in” with the historical past of the area.

W/S is also recommending another study where 140 pits will be dug by shovel on three portions of the site where they believe “something of historical significance COULD be found.”

Massiello said if any historical artifacts were found, (but he doubts it because of all the past man made activity), these artifacts would be donated to libraries and museums.

The three areas where pits would be hand dug would be located in a triangle of land near the 10 mile river; near the pine stands near the river and at the eastern bank of the 10 mile river.

W/S spoke about making this project a “Green” no not tons of money project, an environmentally friendly project, by installing water saving toilets and encouraging bike usage to and from the Shoppes as much as possible by installing bike racks and encouraging the connection, via Southington, of the Linear Trial.

  Also, light pollution reduction by constructing lighting with a reflective dish which allows the light to be reflected downwards not upwards into space.  In other words, energy used to light only what is needed to be lit; enivormentally friendly materials such as adhesives and paint which emit low toxins into the environment; disposing of construction waste properly and in an effort to minimize the hauling away of dirt from the site, encourage the re-sue of top soil and vegetation dug out from the area.

P and Z Chairwoman Patti Flynn Harris asked W/S whether the stores would try to look alike in their design. Lou Massiello said that for the most part the smaller stores built and designed by W/S would follow a certain pattern, but the exceptions (and there are always exceptions) would be the bigger tenants that would build their own structures.

So at that point, I got tired and left the meeting. But I hope the Planning and Zoning and Inland Wetlands will hold W/S to these ideas and keep the developers feet to the fire.

In closing, I just have to say that Tuesday nights Town Council meeting was probably one of the liveliest meetings I have seen in my 20 something odd years of living in this town. OMG, they actually had a flat out emotional discussion of departing Councilman Dave Schrumm’s idea of having the town council act as some sort of intervenor in this Lifestyle Center project.

The plan almost made it, especially when a Mr. Calabro from Peck Lane got up and told the council of all the flooding problems he has had in the past. He said he would take legal action if he had these flooding problems again.

After that the mood on the council changed quickly. It almost seemed as if Dave Schrumm would win out. You see, that is WHY WE NEED TO HAVE A MAYOR OR A FIRST SELECTMAN. Because he or she could take it upon him or her to act as a representative because he or she would be ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE and would have the authority to do so.  A Town Manager is NOT ELECTED, so that cannot happen. The Town Manager has to take directives from the Town Council who appoints him or her.

Something to think about. I agreed with Mr. Schrumm on that issue of the Town Council acting as a  “representative” or “intervenor” which incidentally, really means having the legal right to speak or get involved in the process.

 Now I went to bed after Mr. Calabro spoke, but my significant other told me the plan crashed and burned at the last minute. I will definitely be posting that discussion when I can get the DVD of it, on my website. This will go down in Cheshire Town Council history, I know it.

Goodbye to Dave Schrumm, Dave Orsini and Diane Visconti–Bon Chance!! And Thanks for the Memories!!