Wilton Approves Residential Projects, Seeks Review of Senior Housing Plan

WILTON, CT — The Wilton Inland Wetlands Commission on Jan. 8 approved three applications involving residential construction and septic work, and agreed to seek an independent, third-party review of a proposed large-scale senior housing redevelopment on Belden Hill Road.

The commission unanimously approved a permit for the demolition of existing structures and construction of a new single-family home at 127 Nod Hill Road. The application included new drainage and septic systems.

Tom Quinn, an engineer with Peak Engineers LLC, reviewed existing site conditions and nearby wetlands, explaining that roof runoff and a portion of the driveway would be directed into an infiltration system. Kate Throckmorton, of Environmental Land Services LLC, said most of the work would occur outside regulated wetland areas and that the project had been revised in response to Conservation Commission comments.

Those revisions include expanding a 20-foot buffer to a 30-foot meadow buffer and increasing the size of proposed shade trees. With no further public comment, the hearing was closed.

Frank Simone, vice chair of the commission, moved to approve the application with standard conditions and additional requirements, including retention of an extra 10 feet of stream buffer as meadow and submission of a revised planting plan. The motion passed 4-0.

The commission also unanimously approved a septic tank replacement at 38 Woods End Drive. Mike Conklin, Wilton’s director of environmental affairs, said the replacement would occur in roughly the same location as the existing cracked tank.

A third application, involving a residential addition, screened porch and deck expansion at 51 Washington Post Drive, was also approved by a 4-0 vote. Property owner Michael Battema told the commission that erosion controls would be in place, gutters would be installed around the home, and the gravel driveway would remain a pervious surface. Commissioners discussed whether stormwater mitigation should be required, but Conklin said the proximity of an adjacent swamp left insufficient room for infiltration measures.

In other business, the commission formally received two new applications, including a “corrective action” proposal at 144 Cheese Spring Road to address unauthorized grading and fill in a regulated area.

Commissioners also received an application from Hines SL Wilton Associates, LP for the consolidation and redevelopment of properties at 329, 331 and 345 Belden Hill Road into a senior living facility with a principal building and 248 residential units. Conklin said the scale and complexity of the proposal could warrant outside review.

Commission members agreed to retain a third-party reviewer and directed staff to solicit an expert consultant, with costs to be borne by the applicant.

The commission approved amended minutes from its Dec. 11, 2025 meeting by a 3-0-1 vote, with Janis Sposato abstaining because she was not present at that meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 8:21 p.m.