The town's Planning & Zoning Commission will discuss a proposal to build off of Long Shore Lane during a special meeting Thursday.
Jeff O'Connor, a neighbor who lives in the area, said there are some in the neighborhood who are concerned about the current proposal.
"The town is proposing giving rights to a developer to expand Longshore Lane onto town property which is the Exchange and Lowrie fields to get him to drop a lawsuit against the town. This would allow him to increase the number of lots he can develop on a parcel that sits on tidal wetlands," O'Connor said. "In the past, proposals to swap or sell town property have been quite controversial and as have those to develop on fragile wetlands (such as Madison Beach Hotel and Constitution Park) and this is proposal is giving away rights with no compensation to the town."
In addition to Long Shore Lane, O'Connor said this proposal could potentially affect surrounding neighborhoods as well, including Maplewood, Shorelands, and houses along the Boston Post Road in that area.
First Selectman Fillmore McPherson said the town is proposing to allow the developer to expand Long Shore Lane into town property. The developers were trying to sue the town to force the town to make Long Shore Lane into a public road, at considerable expense to the town.
McPherson said it was in the town's interests to keep it a private road. He said upgrading it to a public road would have cost the town about $1 million to $1.5 million. Also, if it was turned into a public road, it would have affected the adjacent playing fields. Instead, the town is proposing a deal where the road will stay private, but that the developer will improve it at his own expense, using part of the town property.
"We wanted to make sure that Long Shore Lane stayed a private road," he said. "It will be improved at the expense of the developer. It return, he gets to build some building lots. It now goes to the Planning & Zoning Commission."
The Planning & Zoning Commission will determine how many lots should be allowed, he said, along with other details of the deal.
The notice for the meeting is as follows:
Thursday, July 11th
Planning & Zoning: Special Meeting 8:00 pm @ Town Campus (A)
Description
AGENDA
PUBLIC MEETING:
1. 13-06+CSP. 78 Longshore Lane. Map 25, Lots 74 & 74-1. R-2 District. Owner: Shorelands, LLC & Long Shore, LLC; Applicant: Edward Zimmerman. Review and potential approval of Settlement Agreement in Civil Action known as Long Shore, LLC et al. v. Town of Madison, et al., Judicial District of New Haven, Docket Number: NNH-CV08-4031391-S, for property located at 78 Longshore Laneand 107 Longshore Lane. Such settlement agreement shall include consideration and approval of a proposed six-lot subdivision and consideration and approval of the Settlement Site Plan.
2. Review and potential approval of a Coastal Site Plan Application filed by Long Shore, LLC for property located at 107 LongshoreLane.
3. Review and consideration of proposed improvements to the town-owned travel way known as Longshore Lane and the granting of easements for ingress and egress to the proposed new lot owners, as set forth in the proposed Settlement Agreement. Pursuant to a letter from the First Selectman, dated May 29, 2013, the Commission shall issue a report regarding the proposed improvements as specified under Section 8-24 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
4. Review and consideration of a proposed conveyance of a 14,514 square foot parcel to the Town of Madison for highway purposes associated with the extension of Maplewood Lane. Pursuant to a letter from the First Selectman, dated June 4, 2013, the Commission shall issue a report regarding the proposed conveyance as specified under Section 8-24 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
Location Details
Town Campus (A)
8 Campus Drive
Madison CT 06443 US
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