By Susan MacEachron

Changes requested by Haystack Woods, a planned affordable-housing project on Old Colony Road, were the primary matter discussed at the May 3 Inland Wetlands Agency public hearing. 

The original plan for the project was approved by Wetlands and Planning and Zoning (P&Z) in 2019, but it needs new review and approval because of two changes requested by the Foundation for Norfolk Living. 

Kate Johnson, president of the foundation, explained that the first change stems from the foundation’s revised request that access to the property be via a town road and not by a private drive, as originally approved. Town roads must meet more stringent requirements, including a less steep pitch and wider turning radius. Johnson explained that the foundation believes the potential to receive funding for the project from the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program would be enhanced by including a town-maintained road. Selectman Matt Riiska estimates the roadway maintenance expense to be $3,500 per year. The town applied for CDBG funding over a year ago for the 38-acre site acquisition and installation of the road and utilities, i.e. the basic infrastructure. The application process is lengthy, and the town and foundation have been engaged in discussions with the state, as the Connecticut Department of Housing determines which affordable housing developments will receive the federal program funds.

The second change, said Johnson, is that the foundation is now only requesting approval for Phase 1 of the project. The original plan was for 19 homes, including a mix of market-rate and affordable residences; the first phase involves 10 homes. Johnson speculated that eight of the 10 homes could be affordable housing. She noted that these would likely be positioned for individuals earning 80% of adjusted median income (AMI) since anyone at a lower income level is not likely to find the homes affordable. For a family of four, 80% of AMI for Litchfield county is $82,080.

The meeting was held in-person under a tent in front of town hall on a rainy night. People also attended by Zoom, including Ken Hrica, a professional engineer and licensed land surveyor advising the foundation. Hrica presented the revised plan with a town road. Hartley Mead, chair of the agency, said he had visited the site just prior to the meeting and had a question about the retaining wall that will be required to hold the swamp water and wetlands runoff from the property. Hrica said the road would need to be lowered between two and three feet to meet town road-grade requirements, and the retaining wall will need to be four feet high. He noted that the peak runoff envisioned in the original report would be reduced because only Phase 1 is currently being proposed. 

Hrica also noted that the initial phase of the development will require removal of 23,800 cubic yards of gravel-like material, from the site’s previous use as a gravel bank.  It was estimated that trucks employed for this use can carry up to 20 cubic yards per load, so this will require approximately 1,200 trips to remove the material.   In response to a question about where the material will be disposed, Hrica said it would be off-site and not in a wetlands area.  The agency members decided they should hire an independent engineer to review the revised plans being presented by the foundation.  The public hearing was continued to the next Wetlands meeting on June 7.