Wetlands Panel Shoots Down Large Simsbury Senior Housing Expansion

SIMSBURY, CT — Plans for a massive addition to a local assisted living/senior housing community have hit a major roadblock following recent action by the town's wetlands panel.

The Simsbury Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency voted 5-0 to deny a wetlands permit allowing for the expansion of the McLean facility on Great Pond Road.

Conservation commission members shot down the project after several public hearings and resident opposition to the project.

McLean Affiliates Inc., a nonprofit operator of the McLean assisted living/senior living community on Great Pond Road, is looking to add 52 new residential units — called "The Meadow Homes at McLean" — at the 75 Great Pond Road site.

Because of the expansion plan's proximity to wetlands, a wetlands permit is required before McLean can apply to the town's zoning board for a permit to build.

A permit application was submitted to the town earlier this year, with the Simsbury Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency taking up the matter in February.

Since the application was first submitted, commission members and town officials have had questions about the project, with some residents nearby expressing concern about the impacts of such a development.

That opposition, however, wasn't why the wetlands board said "no" to the current application.

Rather, the commission ruled, its members said "no" for the following reasons:

• The application did not meet standards of approval, namely that the development would "adversely impact the wetlands and watercourse," adding that a submitted "biological assessment" was "unsatisfactory."

• Concerns that runoff from the site would adversely impact Hop Brook, among other pollutant concerns from runoff there.

• The applicants didn't have "feasible and prudent alternatives" to their proposal to mitigate the commission's concerns.

Much of the discussion by board members was technical in nature and not, really, whether they supported the project or not.

Ultimately, the board ruled, the applicants simply didn't meet the necessary standards to get a wetlands permit.

"It's gotta have almost all the major pieces," said commission member Charles W. Haldeman at the May 28 special meeting. "There's nothing that's really all that clear to it."

While a significant roadblock was handed down to the developers, the commission did offer recommendations to the applicant should it decide to submit another wetlands permit application.

Those actions include:

• A more "comprehensive and relevant hydrologic study."

• Alternative designs for stormwater management.

• A construction plan further breaking the development timeline into smaller phases so as to mitigate environmental impacts.

• A more comprehensive pest management plan.

• And a more comprehensive biological assessment of the site.

For the minutes of the May 28 special meeting of the Simsbury Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency, click on this link.

From April 11: 'Simsbury Retirement Community Plans Major Expansion'