Neighborhood opposition is building against Shelton developer Mark Romano’s proposal to build 23 new homes off Castle Lane.
It is a wooded area of town near Seymour that has well water. One of the concerns residents in the neighborhood have is that their wells will run dry.
Neighbors said they were planning to attend a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on the issue at City Hall Monday night (July 25).
“It could impact our wells. We have a big problem with it,” said neighbor Jesus Cruz, of Castle Lane.
“We’re on wells and they’re going to destroy our wells,” said neighbor Heather Lee, of North Prospect Street Extension.
“It’s a rural community. There’s not enough room for them to build a subdivision as far as traffic,” neighbor Noreen DeCiucis said.
She expressed doubts the sunken housing market can support the project.
“There’s a house on Castle Lane that has been sitting empty for a year. What makes them think the houses will sell?” she asked.
DeCuicus posted on the Valley Indy’s Facebook wall Monday afternoon, saying she hoped to organize a protest against the project.
The land is about 15 acres, near Colony Pond. Romano wants to subdivide the land into 23 lots, and over a period of two years or so build 23 single-family homes there.
The city’s Inland Wetlands Commission approved the proposal this month. Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission were scheduled to start their review Monday. it is time for the Planning and Zoning Commission to begin processing the application, said Bart Flaherty, chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
P&Z chairman Bart Flaherty said the proposal will be referred to staff for study and they will report back in August.
A public hearing will be set for September.
Romano said the houses will be Colonial-style and raised ranches. They’‘ sell for no more than $299,000, which he believes is an attractive price point. There will be three to four bedrooms each. They will sit on half-acre lots.
Romano said he will try to relieve the neighbors’ anxieties about any legitimate problems that arise.
“There’s no proof our wells will damage any wells and we’re doing a study to show 15 acres can support 23 wells,” he said. He also said local contractors will be used so it will be local people back to work.
The issue is sticky because most of the available land in Ansonia has been developed. Some 30 houses are also under discussion on Coe Lane — but a formal development application has yet to be submitted to the city.
First Ward Alderman Robert Duffus, a Democrat who is one of two Aldermen that represents that ward, said he is gathering the facts on the issue before making an opinion on the Castle Lane plan.
He was told of the opposition that is growing in the neighborhood.
“The residents have every right to protest, they have a passion about what they believe in. At the end of the day, its is their right to do so,” Duffus said of the neighbors.
First Ward Alderman Edward Adamowski, a Democrat, said once it goes to a pubic hearing, he will be able to speak on it.
“I have to find everything out before I comment on it. I’m a fire chief in Ansonia so one of the things I’ll look at in the plan is the fire protection,” Adamowski said.
Castle Lane is a dead end road starting over the border from Seymour.
