Editor’s Note: This letter was previously submitted to Paul Orzel, Old Lyme Zoning Commission Chair, and members of the Old Lyme Zoning Commission.
To the Editor:
My husband and I have the good fortune to live on Smith Neck Rd, a beautiful spot many town residents visit throughout the year for recreation and relaxation. Our house is at 39 Smith Neck Rd,, just one property away from the proposed structure(s) planned for 43 Smith Neck Rd.
We are worried that the existing well at 43 Smith Neck will not support the current plans for a house of approximately 10,500 sf (with auxiliary structures) that includes 7 baths, 2 laundries, a pool, and an orchard, and, further, that this could result in serious water problems for their closest neighbors, including us.
Because of the water issues we have on our property, I question if this complex of buildings can be supported by the well water available on the site. Our well is a 15 foot dug well. I believe the one at 43 is the same. I do not know this for certain, as there is no public record of anyone in town no one has (sic) bothering to look. What I know for certain is that their well is about 100 yards from ours and our nearest neighbor’s well is in between the two! All three are in a direct line quite close to the Back River which runs past all three of these properties. All three are in a 100-year flood zone. Why is FEMA not involved in this approval process?
When we bought our home 10 years ago, we had a water flow analysis done. Here is a direct quote from the notes concluding that report:
“For a shallow well, the system functioned properly, shallow wells do have limitations. After running 300 gal. the well dropped 3’ indicting low yield of 1.5-1.8 gpm under current conditions. After the water run (sic) during inspection and flow test, 3’ feet or 159 gallons of water remained. System is susceptible to seasonal or drought conditions.”
Our well has run dry twice since we bought the house. Our neighbors on either side of us have also experienced significant water issues. These three households and possibly more have the potential to be negatively impacted by the construction project proposed for 43 Smith Neck Rd.
We fear that our water supply is under threat and ask the Zoning Committee to protect our water rights by –
– Denying approval of this Applicant’s permit as it currently stands.
– Conducting appropriate hydrology studies through the Town Engineer, Ledge Light, and other appropriate entities to determine the amount of water available at the far end of Smith Neck.
We ask the Commission to please slow the approval process until more facts have been gathered, so that the owner and his neighbors have full information on the available water supply before construction begins.
We fear that allowing the permit to go forward in its present form may set a dangerous precedent.
Anyone with an interest in protecting their well rights is encouraged to attend the Zoning Commission hearing at the Town Hall on January 13 at 6:30 pm. If the building application is approved at this meeting, the structures will go forward as planned.
Sincerely,
Claire and John Griffin,
Old Lyme.
How is it possible that a shallow well built for 2,500 square foot 2-bedroom cottage is sufficient for a planned 18,000 estate redevelopment that will require tens of thousands of gallons of water,
The redevelopment of 43 Smith Neck Road must
not proceed until there is a full investigation of the effects of the project on water supplies for all the residents of Smith Neck Road.