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Simsbury hearing on McLean proposal ends; agency schedules Feb. 3 deliberation
Summary
The Simsbury Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency closed the public hearing on McLean Affiliates’ application to add 40 residential units at McLean Retirement Community and scheduled deliberation for Feb. 3, 2026; presenters and a third‑party reviewer described plan revisions and technical findings.
Attorney Joe Williams, Esq., of Shipman & Goodwin LLP told the Simsbury Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency on Jan. 20 that McLean Affiliates revised plans for Application CC #25-25, a request to construct 40 new residential units at the McLean Retirement Community, 75 Great Pond Road, in Zone R-40.
Dennis Quinn, a herpetologist with Connecticut Herpetology; Tom Daly, an engineer with SLR Consulting; and Matt Sanford, a professional wetland scientist with SLR Consulting, presented technical analyses for the project, including the proposed wetland crossing and associated upland review area disturbance. Johanna Duffy, Senior Managing Scientist at Barton & Loguidice, summarized the third‑party peer review and the plan changes the applicant made in response to that review.
Several intervenors and numerous residents spoke during the hearing. Intervenors included Kevin Grigg, Jessica Franks, Andrew Grossman and John Bunn. Public commenters recorded in the minutes who spoke in support included Beverley Earle, Larry Schmitt, Anthony Fastaia, Lynn Wadhams, Ruth Kahn, Connor Hogan, Jean Miles, Dave Nagy, Linda Schofield and Robert Miles. Sharon Anne Byron and Matt Sturdevant are recorded as speaking in opposition; Susan Masino is recorded as neutral. The minutes list speakers and addresses but do not include verbatim testimony.
Commissioners asked follow-up questions of the applicant’s consultants and the peer reviewer about technical details and the revisions. After a brief recess, commissioners resumed questioning and then voted to close the public hearing and to take up deliberation at a future meeting. Commissioner Michael Luzietti moved, seconded by Commissioner Sue Brittell, to close the public hearing on Application CC #25-25 and schedule deliberation for Feb. 3, 2026, at 7:00 P.M. at the Simsbury Public Library; the motion passed 5-0-1 with Commissioner Charles Haldeman recused.
The Agency reserved further discussion on the application for its next meeting. The minutes record procedural motions earlier in the meeting, including unanimous approval of the Dec. 16, 2025 minutes and a five‑minute recess; the meeting adjourned at 11:38 P.M.
