Planning Commission opens Duval Partners subdivision hearing, then unanimously continues it to Aug. 11

The East Lyme Planning Commission opened a public hearing on July 14 for an application by Duval Partners LLC (assessor map 50.7, Lot 30) proposing a subdivision along Holmes Road, then voted unanimously to continue the hearing to Aug. 11 after the applicant's attorney said critical staff and health-district comments were received too late for an adequate response.

Paul Garrity, speaking on behalf of the applicant, told the commission that he received comments from Planning Director Gary Gachell and a late email from the Legilite Health District's chief of sanitation the afternoon of the meeting. Garrity said those submissions included concerns about well-and-septic testing and other technical matters and asked that the commission open the hearing but not take testimony from the public or the applicant until his team and staff had time to review and respond.

"We just received at about 05:00 this afternoon, comments from Mr. Gachell on the application," Garrity said, and asked the commission to "open the hearing and continue it" so that adjoining municipalities and the public have complete information before giving testimony.

Commissioners and staff then discussed procedural timing: whether the application acceptance and receipt dates started the statutorily required review clock, the 65-day period for moving public hearings, and a GIS measurement that suggested the site is about 468 feet from the neighboring town boundary (less than the 500-foot distance listed on the application), which affects intermunicipal referral timing. Staff told the commission that materials were amended (the proposal was reduced from 20 lots to 10 lots by June 9) and recommended the applicant be allowed time to correct deficiencies and provide updated plans and technical responses.

Planning Director Gary Gachell said he had prepared a memo identifying deficiencies and was recommending the applicant be allowed 30 days to revise materials so the commission has a sufficient record to judge public health, drainage, environmental resources, access and long-term affordability. "I'm recommending that the applicant revise the application materials to address the deficiencies," he said.

After discussion the commission made a motion to continue the public hearing until the August meeting (Aug. 11). The motion passed by voice vote, recorded by the chair as 6-0 in favor.

What happens next: The applicant will revise materials and address staff and health-district comments; the continued hearing is scheduled for Aug. 11. Members of the public who cannot attend were told they may submit written testimony by email to be read into the record at the continued hearing.

Vote at a glance: Motion to continue public hearing to Aug. 11 ' Outcome: approved; vote: 6-0 (recorded by voice).