To Be Continued: Tuller Road Subdivision Hearing Not Over

A developer’s plan to by the old Tuller School off Fairfield Woods Road continued Thursday night at a meeting of the Inland Wetlands Commission at Osborn Hill School. And it's not over yet -- an engineer representing neighbors of the subdivision requested additional testing of the area.

Several residents who live near the former school arrived in Osborn Hill School’s gymnasium Thursday night to hear a continued presentation on the plan, which had started at the commission’s March 3 meeting. The public hearing is being continued to May 5.

Little Brook Road residents have hired Alan Shepherd, a professional engineer, who told the commission he thought the applicant should provide more test information, specifically soil testing. Shepherd, who submitted a letter, said his concerns are based on the applicant’s data, high ground water and asked for more testing.

Shepherd also expressed concern about maintenance of the drainage and asked for groundwater monitoring.

“Based on the testimony that was presented, the applicant’s engineer indicated he would go out and conduct a few more tests,” Conservation Department Administrator Annette Jacobson told Patch.

William Fitzpatrick, the attorney for Christopher Cocco and Malgorzata Piekarski, who bought the 4.53-acre property at 144 Tuller Road for $990,000 in October 2009, had filed revised plans for the development and asked that the March 3 the hearing be postponed.

In a Feb. 24 report, conservation staff recommended “approval with conditions” on the subdivision construction grading and drainage within a regulated area. The conditions set forth by conservation include revised plans of drainage details and a storm water detention easement. Conservation officials said if the association doesn’t maintain the drainage systems, the town would have to do so, and would then charge back the association for any related costs.

The old Tuller School, at 144 Tuller Road, dates to 1733 and would be converted into a house under Cocco’s and Piekarski’s proposed development.

The commission is expected to vote on the subdivision plans at the May 5 meeting at Osborn Hill School. If the commission approves the development, it also would require approval by the Town Plan and Zoning Commission, which has jurisdiction over traffic and whether the proposed homes will be in harmony with the neighborhood.