Farmington West Estates: A Subdivision Saga of Drainage Drains and Traffic Troubles 🏘️🚗
The Farmington Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on May 20, 2024, to discuss the application submitted by Farmington West Estates Limited Partners for a 10-lot subdivision called Governor’s Pride. The proposed development, located off Snowberry Lane, is part of phase 6A of the larger Farmington West Estates project.
Attorney Ziogas, along with engineers Seth Bovino and Andrew Quirk from Kratzert, Jones and Associates, presented the application to the commission. The 12.88-acre property, zoned as AH (Affordable Housing), will be served by public water and sewer. The proposal includes the construction of two new detention basins to achieve zero runoff increase and a waiver request for a 3% road grade within 50 feet of the Snowberry Lane intersection.
The Farmington West Estates development has a long history, with the first drainage studies dating back to April 1993. Subsequent studies were conducted in June 2005, March 2007, April 2007, and March 2021, with the most recent summary provided by David Whitney on January 6, 2021. The applicant received wetlands approval for the entire site in December 2023.
Engineer Andrew Quirk provided a detailed explanation of the stormwater management plan, which addresses both water quantity and quality. The project utilizes the SCSTR55 model to ensure that post-development runoff rates match or reduce pre-development rates. Quirk stated, “For watershed one, which is that area that goes to Snowberry Lane, we have reductions from four to 15 percent for the various storms, for watershed two, which is the area to the easterly edge of Governor’s Pride, a reduction of seven to 17 percent, where that connects into that portion of the storm drainage system watershed three, which is the majority of the project that passes through the central stormwater basin before going out through the westerly end of Governor’s Pride has reductions from three to 11 percent.”
During the public hearing, several residents expressed concerns about the project’s impact on drainage, traffic, and home designs. Ralph Passrow, a resident at 7 Cobble Court, noted that the recently built houses have different exterior designs and materials compared to the earlier phases of the development. He expressed concern that this change might negatively impact property values.
Catherine O’Sullivan, living at 660 Plainville Avenue, raised significant concerns about drainage issues affecting her property. She stated, “My big big issue is drainage my yard is sinking sinking and I’ll invite anybody to come into my yard but there are two pipes that run under the road through that development I have a small swath of land from my property line to the back end of I believe there’s four five six single homes and you can see those pipes and we’ve had a lot of rain so naturally the water is going to collect from the weather but also those pipes water coming out is collecting in there that side of my yard is now extremely wet when I mow the lawn you can see the tire tracks I have a septic system I am not fortunate to be hooked up to the sewer because it just misses my property I have my septic pumped out four times a year because it has changed the whole water table of my property.”
Sunil Swamy, a resident at 16 Snowberry, expressed concerns about traffic, stating, “The entire farmerton west estate currently has 101 single family home and all most of them open on the snowberry lane which is almost quarter of a mile now so 101 homes including the private lanes and the snowberry they have access to 101 homes on the contrary there are 57 new homes coming and they have only two exits and those two exits are all both on the southern end of the snowberry what that does that there are six houses that get sandwiched between those two exits and consider the 57 houses traffic at least 57 cars or maybe double will be flowing through that small section of houses so so so there will be a lot of traffic right in front of those houses therefore we request one my consideration about the traffic on specifically on the south side of the snowberry if we can get an access on the north side.”
In response to these concerns, the applicant’s team provided additional information and context. Steven John Barberino Jr., the developer, emphasized the comprehensive engineering work done for the entire project, stating, “I said sevi sevarino I said I want all the engineering for this whole lots even though we’re only here for so many tonight I said I want the whole thing done complete it because I don’t know how much the road in front of me is going to be and I want to make sure everything’s done so the board can feel confident that everything was taken in consideration for all of the lots in here which I think was about 59 57 whatever it is we lost a couple lots to make sure we had the zero runoff and so forth that they’ve talked about but I just want to make you aware of that I’ve been concerned to make sure it’s right.”
The commission ultimately decided to continue the public hearing to the June 10, 2024 meeting, allowing the applicant to address the remaining engineering comments and finalize the waiver decision. The applicant’s team stated that approximately 75% of the comments had been resolved, and they were working diligently to address the remaining issues.
As the Farmington West Estates development moves forward, the commission and the applicant will need to work together to address the concerns raised by residents, particularly regarding drainage, traffic, and home design consistency. The continued public hearing on June 10, 2024, will provide an opportunity for further discussion and potential resolution of these issues.
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