Comprehensive Plan Citizen Input Meeting October 7, 2008 

The Town of Easton, reviewing its Comprehensive Plan as required by the State has held meetings for citizen input on the issues of growth and transportation. This was the third meeting on the subject of transportation, with the mayor, two councilmen, and three planning commissioners in attendance, along with 150-200 residents from the Easton Club East (ECE) subdivision and some from Stoney Ridge. Only a few persons outside these communities were in the audience. A strong majority of the audience was of the same mind, as evidenced by almost unanimous applause and groans during the discussions.

Lynn Thomas began by summarizing the idea of the East Side Collector Road as being a way for residents living on the east side of Route 50 to travel around that side of town without going on to Route 50. He clarified three misconceptions.

• The road is not a new bypass on the east side of town.

• It is not an alternative to Route 50 for beach traffic (at which point the audience groaned.)

• It is not paid for by the taxpayers but rather by the developer as was done for Paper Run Rd., Fischer Range Rd., and Beechwood Dr. (although a citizen later remarked that these costs are passed on, and of course the Town has future maintenance costs.)

Lynn explained that the road would have speeds of 25-30 mph, and would have stop signs. It would be part of a grid similar to the streets in the older part of Easton. He called it an arterial road similar to Aurora, Dover, and other main roads in Easton.

Lynn explained that the State wants a traffic circle at Route 309, so a collector would never flow right into Route 50 at the northern end. On the southern end it does flow into Route 50.

If there is no further development on the east side of Route 50 then the continuous connector road would not be built because there would be no developer to pay. Since the pace of development is uncertain the time line is also uncertain.

There was tremendous opposition from the audience to the development of Beechwood Drive.

• People whose homes back up to the proposed Beechwood Drive feared for the safety of children

• Retirees had moved there seeking a quiet neighborhood which would be lost if this road came in

• People felt that they should have been notified of the proposed road “in their back yard” when they purchased their homes. There seemed to be strong sentiment that in the future such notice should be a requirement, and buyer sign-off on knowledge of important issues like roads should even be required.

• Tom Hamilton seemed to be of the mind that the road is in the Comprehensive Plan and the residents should live with it. The audience felt that citizens should have more input as development evolves.

• Collector roads between communities seemed acceptable to the audience, but not within communities.

There were two organizations that had speakers representing them. John Lopes and Clem Clark represented an Ad Hoc Group of the Easton Club East. They had prepared a 25 page report. The opposed any collector road through their community and any road through Beechwood. They stated that they do not want to be “hermetically sealed” and that several small roads connecting together would be acceptable. They had done a petition of the 700 ECE residents supporting their position, reaching 681, and 97.3% supported their position. He noted that Rocks said he does not need the collector road for future development. 63 volunteers helped with the petition. He said most people do not want to live in a “vehicle infested” area, and that it was unfair for their community to change dramatically. He added that his group would fight annexation if their voices were not heard.

Frank Rile, President of the Board of Directors of ECE Community Association had much the same message. There was opposition to the use of Beechwood as a collector, but he felt it was imperative that there be a collector road for the growth that “the town wants and must have. He added that growth should be controlled, with infill in the older part of town first, and then growing out, with no “hopscotching” He noted that the Mayor had suggested that they get people on the Advisory Board and three were on this board. An important question is where did this board come from and what was its role. (Don Hildebrandt, a Rouse Company retiree with experience in planning roads, was part of this Board.)

There were many statements and questions from perhaps 15-20 members of the audience, all opposed to Beechwood Drive as a collector road. A final comment was that the Town should tell the developers what roads are appropriate rather than the developers telling the Town.

Lynn Thomas expects to have the entire Comp Plan draft completed by the end of the year. It then goes to the Planning and Zoning Commission for discussion and public comment, and on to the Town Council for discussion and public comment. John Atwood said there would be one more meeting scheduled for citizen input.