Pawcatuck Subdivision Plan Draws Crowd

Build it and they’ll come. But they won’t be happy when they do.

More than 40 neighbors of a proposed 68-unit attached housing development slated for a 46-acre site at Greenhaven and Mary Hall roads in Pawcatuck showed up at the Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing on the application Tuesday night.

The land is owned by the Richard Panciera Remainder Trust II.

Trust treasurer Thomas J Ligouri Jr. laid the groundwork copiously detailing the project highlights—three years of study, plans, permitting, and requisite approvals—and then introducing the project architect and engineers who described the types of homes that will fill the site, attached townhouses with varying designs but representative of styles found in Stonington Borough, the landscaping plan that includes deciduous native trees, a traffic study that found “minimal additional traffic” will come with the development and a real estate consultant that said the type of “village condo feel” is a desirable one especially for people from New York and Boston looking to commute or telecommute to work and perhaps live there part time and he said the units would range in price from $275,000 to $310,000.

“We believe we have an application and testimony that complies with all regulations and requirements,” Ligouri said. “None of the impacts on the neighborhood is greater than in a traditional single family subdivision.”

After nearly two hours of testimony from the applicant, the PZC, with only four members present, two of whom were recently seated alternates, opened the public comment portion of the hearing.

Sitting PZC chair Ben Tamsky said the commission would “start with those in favor of the application.”

“Oh, there are none. Okay, then those against.”

One by one neighbors and abutters voiced their disdain for the proposed development dubbed Crescent Club, with complaints that ranged from concerns about blasting that could affect abutting structures and taint wells to worries about the units being sold as investment properties with the townhouses ending up as rental apartments.

“This is going to be an apartment complex with decent upgrades. It’s just out of character with the neighborhood,” said Neal Madden, who lives on Mary Hall Road.  

Neighbor Rich McKrell, whose house is across the road, argued the developer has no understanding of the community.

 “The developer doesn’t know the area or doesn’t care about the character of the area. He’s willing to sacrifice 250-year-old character to maximize his profits,” he said.   

The architect showed slide after slide of houses in Stonington Borough as part of the inspiration for the Club, which will include a clubhouse, pool, recreation areas, benches, open space, pathways and flagpoles.

“I’m insulted,” said McKrell. “Why didn’t they take pictures of the old Victorian on Mary Hall Road. That’s our character. Talk about dissing the neighborhood. We’re not Stonington Borough. It’s ridiculous.”

Another neighbor, Jane Hefel, said the project “just feels all wrong.”

“It’s like this thing just landed here. It’s a blow to the integrity of the neighborhood.”

Still another abutter called the plan “urban housing” and ventured that if the units don’t sell, the whole community will suffer.

“If it turns south, we’ll be left with a hideous blight,” said Peg Moran.

The matter will be continued and at the next meeting, the applicant will have an opportunity for rebuttal.