Simsbury panel continues McLean retirement-community hearing after contested wetland, wildlife and stormwater debate

A continuation of a public hearing on a proposed 52-unit residential expansion at McLean retirement community, 75 Great Pond Road, drew technical testimony, intervenor challenges and extensive public comment before the Simsbury Conservation and Inland Wetlands Agency agreed to continue the hearing to a special meeting on April 17.

Why it matters: The proposal would place roads and two wetland crossings in Upland Review and wetland soils on a 112-acre property that contains about 1.85 acres of the wetlands targeted by this application. Interveners and several town and outside experts urged the commission to treat the record as incomplete and to require further study of hydrology, stormwater treatment and species-specific protections — including for the eastern box turtle — before any decision.

Applicant engineers and scientists from SLR said the updated plans meet Connecticut DEP guidance for water quality and erosion control. “We do believe that it’s adequate,” said Ryan McEvoy, a licensed professional engineer with SLR, summarizing the team’s view of the erosion- and sediment-control and stormwater treatments. McLean’s team described site changes since earlier hearings: consolidation of two basins, unit relocations that removed buildings from the Upland Review area, reductions in tree clearing and increases in the distance between grading and Hop Brook.

Interveners and independent reviewers disputed…