Hartfordadvocate.com

June 14 2007

One Step Closer

The controversial River Oaks development in Simsbury is one step closer to whatever its eventual resolution will be, now that Konover Development has finally submitted its formal application to the town. “We submitted the application on June 5,” says T.J. Donohue, one of Konover’s attorneys.

Chuck Ward of SHARE (Simsbury Homeowners Advocating Responsible Expansion) has not yet seen the application, but based on Konover’s press release expresses grave doubts about the proposal. “Over 70 percent of the lot [will be] covered with impervious objects like asphalt,” he says. Since asphalt (obviously) can’t absorb water, SHARE worries this will exacerbate flooding problems the next time the town’s barraged by heavy rains.

But Donohue says the plan has “the most environmentally friendly” features available, though he doesn’t yet know the specifics of how issues like rain runoff will be handled. According to SHARE, the lot coverage is more than current town zoning regulations allow, so another showdown between Konover, SHARE and zoning officials seems likely.

— Jennifer Abel