Neighborhood upset over building lot plans

BRIDGEPORT, Sep 17, 2009 (Connecticut Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- ZZHOJ | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Plans to build on a Moss Street property across the street from the Elton Rogers Park continue to spark concerns among Lake Forest area residents about the possible impact of construction on the park wetlands.

The problems began in the spring when property owners Jennifer Lestrange and Daniel Scinto cut down about 14 trees on the otherwise-empty lot at 74 Moss St., a road that exists only paper. Lestrange said she received the green light from several city departments to cut down the trees, which she contended were diseased.

"All the trees cut down were rotten and they were hanging over the wires," she said.

Once the city discovered the tree clearing, a cease-and-desist order was issued to the developers. In a recent hearing before the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency, the developers were admonished for cutting down the trees, but were ultimately granted approval for plans to construct a single-family home on the property.

"It was an incorrect vote. It was also an unenlightened vote because of the location of the Rogers Park wetlands," said Jeff Kohut, a Lake Forest resident who spoke out strongly against the development.

Michael Voytek, leader of the Ungag the People Committee also spoke against the proposal, citing the need to protect neighboring wetlands. City Council members AmyMarie Vizzo-Paniccia and Michelle Lyons also sent a letter to the wetlands agency opposing the development.

Kohut said he had even met

with Mayor Bill Finch and state Rep. Christopher Caruso to express his concerns.

In an interview last week, Finch said after going on a recent tour of Rogers Park with Kohut and members of the Lake Forest Association, he decided to pursue funding to acquire the Moss Street property for open space.

"I would love to be able to do it. Right now money is the obstacle on that one. We want to get people back there. It's the park city for crying out loud," the mayor said.

Finch said he recently toured the park with Kohut. "It's very beautiful. You wouldn't know some of that land that's wooded is not part of Rogers Park. We're looking at these kind of creative deals wherever we can. The trick is always money," said Finch.

The mayor said after state officials told him there would be no money available to purchase the land, his staff approached Scinto and Lestrange about a possible land swap.

Lestrange, reached by phone at her Trumbull home, said the properties the city offered to swap "is land you can't build on." She said she felt "bullied" by Kohut and other neighborhood residents to drop her plans to construct on the property.

Lestrange said although she felt they "made it more difficult for me to get approved," her plans would move forward. "We're going to build on that property. It's always been a building lot," she said.

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