Housing plan raises flooding concerns
NEW MILFORD — A proposed affordable housing development is under review by town officials, but some residents have raised concerns over the property’s wetlands and effect on neighboring houses.
Nelson DaSilva Jr., who owns property on Crawford Road, has proposed building five multifamily buildings that include 27 housing units over his 10 acres. The housing would be developed in three phases, according to the proposal, which DaSilva is putting forward
because he thinks the town needs more housing.
“Rent is getting too expensive. I think affordable housing is going to help the community,” DaSilva said.
DaSilva worked with engineer Jason Edwards from J. Edwards and Associates to develop the three-phase plan. The first and second phases aim to construct two buildings housing 12 townhouse units on the northern and eastern portions of the property in eight to 12 months per phase, the proposal said.
The third and final phase — estimated to last eight months — on the southwest section of the site would produce the fifth structure containing three single-floor units accessible to the handicapped. Each of the five buildings will have separate septic systems and driveways, according to the proposal.
The proposal is before the Inland Wetlands Commission, which has raised concerns about wetlands on the property and in the surrounding area. Additionally, several residents have also voiced concerns, writing letters to the commission about how the development might affect traffic, drainage, woodlands preservation and home values should the affordable housing plan move forward. A petition calling residents to “say no” to the construction has circulated on social media.
Tammy and Tom Reardon — homeowners across the street from the Crawford Road property— have repeatedly had to reconstruct their driveway due to flooding in the area, they said. They fear the town’s “current drainage infrastructure cannot handle the increased water flow” from the development and may make matters worse.
DaSilva, however, said the town’s runoff is being dumped onto his property from Park Lane, running down the lower side of the site and often overflowing the catch basin at the end of the road, causing flooding. Edwards suggested constructing an underground pipe to manage the runoff and direct it to the basin to avoid future flooding.
In a letter, the town’s consultant, Ryan McEvoy, advised the commission of DaSilva’s proposal needing revisions detailing further plans for drainage alternatives, groundwater control measures and the potential septic systems among other regulatory concerns.
DaSilva said he is working with engineers to address the commission’s concerns and prevent flooding. The commission is scheduled to revisit the proposal on Feb. 11, DaSilva said.