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Residents urge Lewisboro to review zoning and consider moratorium on proposed 14‑home plan near Ward Pound Ridge
Summary
At the June 8 town board meeting residents living near 831 Route 35 urged the board to re-evaluate half‑acre zoning and consider a temporary moratorium on approvals after tree clearing and testing began on the 15‑acre Reynolds parcel adjacent to Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.
Residents told the Lewisboro Town Board on June 8 that a proposed 14‑home subdivision on the 15‑acre Reynolds parcel at 831 Route 35 could overwhelm local roads, threaten nearby watershed areas and set a development precedent.
“Nothing official has reached the planning board as far as I know,” said Ed T. Burger of Cross River, who told the board an environmental questionnaire indicates a developer is considering a 14‑house plan. “The density question deserves attention now before the damage is hard to undo.”
Neighbors described recent on‑site activity, including tree clearing and soil testing. Beth Spatola, whose property borders the parcel, said the site has “changed dramatically in the past two months” and urged early engagement once a planning‑board application is filed. Penny Sokai said heavy equipment has created sustained noise and that access from Mark Mead Road could divert traffic onto a narrow, dead‑end street used by children.
Speakers flagged three main concerns: increased daily traffic and safety risks for walkers, cyclists, school buses and emergency vehicles; construction impacts during a multi‑year build; and environmental sensitivity because portions of the parcel drain to the Cross River watershed near Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Several speakers argued half‑acre zoning may not reflect the land’s current carrying capacity and warned that permitting a denser subdivision would make it harder to refuse similar proposals nearby.
Town officials responded that, if and when a site‑plan application is filed, the planning board will handle review and that residents can comment at planning‑board meetings and at the Conservation Advisory Council. The supervisor encouraged early public involvement: “You have an opportunity to review anything that's publicly available and be part of the process,” he said.
Next steps: no formal planning application had been filed at the June 8 meeting; residents were advised to monitor planning‑board submittals and attend the Conservation Advisory Council, which typically meets the Monday before planning board sessions.
