Middletown agency keeps Freeman Road subdivision hearing open amid wetland, culvert concerns

The Middletown Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Agency kept the public hearing open on a proposed subdivision of a 10.3‑acre parcel on Freeman Road to allow the applicant to provide revised plans and to wait for health department comments.

The applicant told the commission the current plan is for a four‑lot subdivision with a shared driveway to serve two rear lots and that one lower lot at the Freeman Road entrance will not be developed now. The agent said wetland flags were completed and that test pits were subsequently dug and shown on the revised drawings; the agent told commissioners, "We're not touching any wetlands," and said the plan is arranged to avoid wetland areas.

Residents and commissioners raised several concerns. A resident pointed to narrow, blind sections of Freeman Road and urged traffic‑management review; another speaker asked for culvert locations, sizes and materials to be shown on the plan. Commissioners noted a discrepancy between a deed reference to six lots and the plan showing four lots and asked for that to be corrected with the town.

Technical concerns were central: commissioners said some test pits near the flagged wetlands showed wetland‑like soils (one model result cited around seven inches at a low point and another at 18 inches, approaching the wetland cutoff), and they asked for the 100‑foot upland review line to be clearly drawn across all lots and for any stream between lots 3 and 4 to be shown. Staff confirmed plans were sent to the health department and public works for review but that health comments had not yet returned to the commission.

Given those open questions, a commissioner moved to continue the public hearing to the agency’s Feb. 4 meeting to allow the applicant to submit revised plans showing the 100‑foot upland review line, driveway and culvert details, and the test‑pit record; the motion carried by voice vote.