Neighbors Remain Concerned About Sunlight Construction Housing Development Plans

Sunlight Construction redrew its housing development plans for Lenox Road in Avon after withdrawing its applications in April following numerous neighbor complaints.

But many neighbors still object to the idea of a housing subdivision near their homes at all even though the new plans drop the amount of housing from 57 condos and houses to a 39-lot single family housing cluster.

Sunlight Construction got the green light from the Inland Wetlands Commission for the Stratfordshire subdivision proposal in September. The developer needs approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission in order to move forward with the project. 

Several neighbors have argued that the development is not consistent with the characteristic of the neighborhood. 

Most members of the public who spoke at the Planning and Zoning Commission's public hearing on the Avon developer's revised applications Oct. 8 were concerned about increased traffic to their streets. 

Before the hearing, Lexington Road resident Robyn Abbate wrote in an email to Town Planner Steven Kushner and Assistant Zoning Enforcement Officer John McCahill that she and her family still oppose the proposal.

"I am staunchly against the proposal, even with the reduced amount of units from the past proposal, due to the safety of my children and the desire to maintain the characteristics of my neighborhood in which I just bought my home 2 years ago," Abbate wrote in the email. "Our area is a quiet residential area with tons of kids, which is exactly why we bought our house on Lexington 2 years ago."

She also addressed concerns about the safety impact to her children and the possible increase in traffic to the neighborhood, which is close to West Avon Road. Her words echo similar complaints neighbors had with the original proposal.

"The noise and danger to our children and the complete removal of the very characteristics of a quiet, safe, and guarded neighborhood in which we bought our homes makes this proposal unacceptable," she wrote in her email, adding that residents on Lexington Road, Lenox Drive, Hadley Drive, Concord Place and Haynes Road "hope that the Commission puts the health and safety of its current residents over and above the desire to obtain more tax revenue."

The Ryan family on Hastings Turn also wrote to Kushner to contest Sunlight Construction's resubmitted application, urging the commission to strike it down. 

"We are adamantly opposed to the revised Sunlight Construction project on Lenox Road," the Ryans wrote in their email. "We chose to live in Avon because of its school system, its spacious neighborhoods, and its overall character.  In our opinion, the proposed project with its cluster houses and condominiums would have an adverse impact on all of those things."

Sunlight Construction developer Bill Ferrigno said at the public hearing that condominiums are not part of his revised proposal. 

Haynes Road resident Drew Liljedahl wrote to the town Tuesday to say that he has lived on Haynes Road with his family for four years and said that connecting Lenox Drive and Haynes Road would "ruin" his quiet neighborhood. He raised concerns that area would become a cut through for traffic "to bypass the light at the end of Hollister Road."

"I would urge you to consider a connection that serves the residents for emergency access and pedestrian traffic only," Liljedahl wrote. "Whether it is bollards, posts, a chain or a gate, we have many options to allow emergency vehicles to travel between the two roads but prohibiting non-emergency vehicles access. I see no negative to this solution. This is also not a precedent-setting decision as this method was used at Peach Tree Village, rails to trails and perhaps other spots in town as well."

He, however, expressed disappointment that the new plan omits a connector between Bronson and Hammersmith roads. 

"I feel strongly if Haynes and Lennox connect, we should follow the entire plan and connect Bronson and Hammersmith regardless of the extra costs and wetland issues involved," he wrote.

He asked for a more expansive engineering study on all options.

"We have visions of our children safely riding bikes on our cul-de-sac to neighboring friends’ homes, something that is not a reality if we become a cut-through," he wrote. "Had we not cared about the quality of the neighborhood we would have perused homes on West Avon, Lovely, or other major roads, and the price would have reflected such. If we knew, or anticipated a street that cut through, I think our home would have sold for less, and we may not have chosen it. In conclusion I would urge all parties involved in this matter to consider an updated circulation plan that would offer ‘filtered permeability’ between the two affected neighborhoods. I see no negative impact on the town, or to residents of either neighborhood."

The Planning and Zoning Commission got more public feedback at the public hearing Avon Volunteer Fire Department Company 1 firehouse.

The commission continued the public hearing to its next meeting, but Kushner said that the item likely will get tabled for the November meeting. 

What are your thoughts on the Sunlight Construction application and how will it affect you and your family? Tell us in the comments!