Morgan Estates Applicant

The Morgan Property at 30 Orchard Road, East Haddam, Connecticut is owned by Alan Hanks of East Haddam, and Jeffery Becker of Avon, Connecticut. Collectively they are the Applicant. Hanks has been the lead on the project; Mr. Becker has never presented himself to the neighbors nor the IWWC.

When Hanks first approached the abutting Morgan property landowners, neighbor's claim that he stated his intention was to convert the property to a horse farm for his daughter. Subsequently he invited all of the adjacent landowners to a meeting where he presented a picture different than the initially described horse farm.

At that meeting, Hanks told neighbors that he had retired and had become involved because he wanted a project. He told the group that he had two approaches to the development of the property. One was more intensive than the other.

The less intensive approach involved the installation of a long, common driveway to serve some four lots on the interior of the property. The more intensive method involved the installation of a road that would meet town standards and therefore be more expensive. More lots would be required to justify the road.

Hanks asked the neighbors to support the less intensive approach. The group subsequently approached the land use official, Jim Ventres, and asked if the less intensive approach was feasible under the town's regulations. His answer was no, it was not feasible.

Later, when the application was submitted based on the more intense development - seven four-bedroom homes and a new road, Hanks stated that he had to go with the more intensive approach because someone went to town hall and 'rattled the cage'. He implied that, because the neighbors had gotten involved, they had made things worse.

From a strategic perspective, this approach serves the Applicant by making the neighborhood group seem responsible for a more intensive, damaging development plan. This would not only serve to get the group to think twice before acting, it might also drive a wedge between some members of the group.

Preserve Landing Hill (PLH) understands that developers are experienced in positioning their proposals in the best light, and with methods to counter resistance to their projects. Abutting landowners, neighbors and concerned citizens are less likely to be skilled with regard to the approval process or with means of influencing public opinion or the opinion and actions of volunteer commissions and town leaders.

Yet it is clear, by looking at the trend of suburban development, that something needs to be done to reduce the tax burden on town residents and ensure a more sustainable future by redirecting investment in subdivisions toward preservation and sound economic development.

Preserving Landing Hill is a giant step toward helping the town's future economic picture. PLEASE DONATE BY CLICKING ON THE DONATE BUTTON.