The tree-replacement plan for Cranberry Hill Estates is not quite finished.
But it’s getting closer.
After meeting with the developer Thursday evening, Shelton zoning officials were scheduled to meet Friday with John Trautman, an ecological consultant hired by Irving and Nancy Steiner, neighbors of the Cranberry Hill Estates development on Armstrong Road.
The Steiners oppose the development.
Town officials and the consultant will review a revised plan to replant some 40 trees that were cut down one night in April on land approved to be developed as a single-family subdivision.
Rick Schultz, an administrator in the zoning department, said the tree-replacement plan for that development is being finalized. On Thursday, the city and developer John Guedes made some changes to the plan.
Now Guedes plans to include a gravel parking area for residents to use when they want to visit the 6 acres of open space that will be given to the city as part of the development. Guedes has also agreed to put up wooden postings that mark where the private land ends and the open space begins, Schultz said.
The Conservation Commission had requested a fence or stone wall to mark the border.
But the city likely won’t receive extra open space as part of the deal, Schultz said, because that would require Guedes to go back before Planning and Zoning to get the revised development plan re-approved.
Schultz wasn’t sure if the stop work order on the subdivision development would be lifted Friday, but said in order to plant the trees this season work will have to start soon.
“You can only plant trees a certain period of time before the frost sets in,” Schultz said. “That window of opportunity is shrinking as we get to to the winter months. The developers have indicated they want to start it immediately.”
The tree-replacement plan has morphed as it works its way through various city boards. The latest review came from the Inland Wetland Commission, which approved the plan for the portion of the property that falls in the wetlands review area.
Schultz said after he meets with Trautman, he will touch base again with the developer before giving the official approval to the tree-replacement plan.
