GOOGLE MAPS
A Google Map showing Ansonia High School and a wooded area leading to Coe Lane and Sunset Drive in Derby.
DERBY — The Derby Planning and Zoning Commission gave a positive referral to a request from Ansonia for easements that will allow Ansonia city government and the Ansonia school district to make improvements to an emergency access road to Ansonia High School.
The commission’s Sept. 15 referral comes with reservations, though. Its members were particularly concerned with language in an agreement that seemed to give Ansonia power over Derby property forever.
The issue will ultimately be decided by the Derby Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen. Their next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 8.
Ansonia High School has an emergency access route on paper. It is unpaved and badly damaged by erosion. The city and school district want to pave the access road and fix the drainage system, which involves Derby-owned land.
The newly-paved road would connect to the area of Sunset Drive and Coe Lane in Derby, in the general area of Witek Park.
Derby neighbors attended two planning and zoning meetings in August and September to oppose the improvements. They are worried paving the road will eventually lead to it being used as a cut through from Ansonia into Derby.
A petition has been circulating collecting the names of Derby residents who oppose the improvements. Derby residents have said Ansonia should use land and roads within Ansonia for the project. Derby residents are worried the road eventually will be used on a regular basis.
Sunset Drive resident Samantha Burgan said the neighborhood already has traffic issues. She, like several of her neighbors, were worried the improved access road would make the situation worse.
“Sunset is already used as an access road between Ansonia and Derby. We have a lot of issues with people speeding,” she said.
Donald Smith, Jr., an engineer hired by Ansonia, said a gate would prevent vehicles from using the road — as it does not. Ansonia could not start using the road even if officials wanted to, he said, because it’s an official and dedicated emergency access route.
Smith said Ansonia wants to improve the road to bolster safety at Ansonia High School. Two ways out are needed, he said.
The P&Z were limited in its jurisdiction over the matter. Their role was simply to issue a positive or negative recommendation to the Aldermen/Alderwomen.
P&Z member David Kopjanski questioned the wording of an agreement between Ansonia and Derby that would grant Ansonia an easement over Derby land. Kopjanski said the agreement was written in a way that made it seem like Derby would be unable to use the road to access its own Witek Park, should the need arise.
He and the commission urged Derby’s Aldermen/Alderwomen to look at the wording of the document.
