-----date----- ---name---- ------------comment------------
Mon Jun 20 23:18:05 2005 administrator Archived the old comments. See above.
Tue Jun 21 09:57:32 2005
Great Commentary from the Courant. Cut and paste this link into your browser... http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/commentary/hc-plcsevigny0619.artjun19,0,7591060.story?coll=hc-utility-commentary
Fri Jun 24 11:57:32 2005
So...what's going on? Did anything happen at the wetlands meeting on Tues? Are they going to planning yet?
Fri Jun 24 22:08:33 2005
What is going on down the street ?? Why didn't you try to stop THAT development ? ?
Sat Jun 25 22:53:23 2005 formerfangonesour all i can say is that this is not surprising in the least given my knowledge about how business is run by certain parties, and this is a tough model to be putting forth to the next generation of civically-engaged, politically motivated young women. making decisions without representative input...
Mon Jun 27 07:50:41 2005
The conservation commission did not vote on the wetland map amendment last Tuesday, June 21. The citizens' group intervened in the process. This allows them to present their own data and cross-examine Landquest's presenters. The citizens' group says their soil scientist has found missed wetlands that are not on the Landquest map. The commission extended the hearing until July 12 and requested that the soil scientists meet on the property and try to come to a consensus then present their findings on July 12. EWS stated that they are currently not willing to grant a time extension to the commission. The commission will therefore need to take action on the map amendment at this next meeting before the allowed 35-day window closes.
Tue Jun 28 21:20:17 2005 Susan I'm not sure if they have to take action AT the meeting. But unless EWS grants an extension of the public hearing July 12 is the last opportunity for public comment.
Wed Jun 29 14:13:34 2005
Help
Wed Jun 29 14:14:15 2005
help
Wed Jun 29 20:31:17 2005 John In response to the person who asked, "Why not stop THAT development down the street?, that site was zoned for business use many years ago. The town defeated an earlier proposal for housing on that site in the hopes that a tax producing business would build on the parcel. That did not occur and thus we have this fairly dense residential development. (approximately 185 units in four "villages" on 110 acres) My family moved to Simsbury in 1962 and the liberal open space requirement, wetlands and the presence of state parks and town forests seemed to assure that the town would always have undeveloped areas. The problem is much of that land is fragmented. The importance of the EW parcel is that it is contiguous to other open space AND it constitutes a large unfragmented tract that provides wildlife with uncompromised habitat. And am I the only one who finds the concept of "wildlife corridors" laughable? Deer, for example, will continue to travel along established trails even when confronted by development often to their detriment. I wish Ethel Walker would better appreciate this irreplaceable asset.
Thu Jun 30 10:05:32 2005 Mary HI! This message is for Rev. Dave and Jack. I have reviewed the Health Dept. Criteria for Septic Systems. A max. 450 gal/day discharge is equivalent to a 3 bedroom home, not including a bonus room over the garage. A bonus room is considered another bedroom.
Thu Jun 30 10:10:33 2005 Mary A McMansion has an average of 4-5 bedrooms with a bonus room. This would equate to a maximum of 900 gallons/day wastewater discharge, not considering a jacussi in the bathroom or a garbage disposal, add another 250 gallons/each to the tank size not on a daily basis though. Although the health dept standards give criteria for increase the septic tank it has changed it's position on increasing the field size. I still increase my field sizes or put notes on the plans that disposals or oversized tubs are not allowed without furthur review. Any questions e-mail me.
Tue Jul 5 05:32:40 2005 Jack Message for Karen, Mary and Rev. David: Considering Mary's comments of 6/30 Simsbury's Zoning Regulations, Article 10 Special Regulations, J. Aquifer Overlay Zone, 4. Prohibited Uses and, 5. Restricted Uses, 6. General Design Requirements for Uses in an Aquifer Protection Zone may present a serious discharge limitations for any planned homes that may have septic systems. Assumming the reg. as posted on Simsbury's web site is still current, it imposes among other conditions and limitations the following: "Residential sanitary wastewater discharge to on-site septic systems at a rate greater than 450 gallons per 40,000 sq ft per day," Residential uses greater than one unit per acre," and "Individual lots with on-site septic systems shall be at least 40,000 square feet in size or connected to a public sewer." The regs also cover the need to cover by permit excavation, filling, or the removal of dirt and stormwater drainage design. We obviously need to monitor any attempts to get variances from these regs.
Sun Jul 10 20:31:09 2005 Diane the Flamig Farm event was a great forum for Keep the Woods I know the Chases and Bill H were involved in putting together the presentation Whoever did all those maps, overlays, and the notebook...Great! I think we managed to get the message back to Ethel Walker...at least to have some questions answered.
Sat Jul 16 11:47:31 2005
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-highlands.artjul16,0,4243963.story?coll=hc-big-headlines-breaking
Thu Jul 21 22:02:01 2005 administrator http://keepthewoods.csideaworks.com/?p=1#comments ---Try that link. Some have had trouble posting comments using this interface. My apologies. The above link is to a more robust comment system dedicated to our efforts. It it not hosted by this web server.
Sat Jul 23 17:48:53 2005 AyeTeach We would like to know why one of our more vocal opponents to this development can in good conscience take this position while they have an un-finished monstrosity in their back yard because they are too cheap to hire a contractor? How can they oppose real progress while they live in Simsbury like it is a Mississippi trailer park with a basketball goal that's been laying in their front yard for months and rusty pieces of scrap metal they try to pretend is art and sell out of their front yard like a hillbilly flea market?????
Mon Jul 25 14:30:45 2005 Mary This is in response to AyeTeach. While you may view another 120 McMansions as progress, most of the town would not. If this property was being used for the Children's Science Center then I would have to agree with you. That would be progress! And the best kind of development for the land. However, this is not the real issue we all are fighting for. It for the quality of YOUR drinking water and life.
Tue Jul 26 13:15:56 2005 John I agree, Mary. Sadly, AyeTeach deflects from the serious issues at hand. Once developed, this pristine forest is lost forever. Perhaps you read the NY Times article about a similar matter in that state. On Friday Governor Pataki announced that the 500 acres (over 100 McMansions had been proposed) had been purchased for open space. Let us hope the same result is achieved with regards to the Ethel Walker property.
Tue Jul 26 18:12:35 2005
http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/year05/july22_05.htm Thats the announcement not the Times article...
Tue Aug 9 20:48:19 2005
Group Appeals Panel's Ruling - K. Melone's Hartford Courant article - http://www.courant.com/news/local/fv/hc-simselect0809.artaug09,0,1524815.story Cut and paste the above link into your browser...
Wed Aug 10 14:27:15 2005
Today, 8/10/05, is the first time I have been able to get on your web site. We live in Washington, D.C., but my husband, Tom O'Toole, is from Simsbury, and we visit his mother and the town's beautiful natural spaces often. Last Fri. I discovered heavy machinery making roadways in the EW woods. Is it a done deal?
Wed Aug 10 16:49:26 2005
It is far from a done deal. The heavy machinery you saw was digging pits for soil testing.