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!!