A public hearing on a proposed RV resort on 65 acres owned by the Mashantucket-Pequot Tribal Nation at the junction of routes 2 and 164 and abutting Avery Pond (Connecticut) pushed through on Wednesday after the postponement of its review earlier this month.
According to a report, a representative of Blue Water Development Corp. provided details about the proposed RV development. Some residents expressed their strong opposing position in almost four hours of a public hearing with the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Blue Water is proposing the development under Blue Camp CT LLC. The resort would feature a welcome center, three bathhouses, and a swimming pool. It would also feature tennis, volleyball, squash, and bocce areas, as well as a floating dock in Avery Pond and a 12-foot-wide boardwalk nearby.
The PZC’s public hearing began on Wednesday while the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission is reviewing environmental concerns relating to the project. The hearing of the wetlands commission will be held on March 1 at 7. p.m. at Preston Plains Middle School, and the PZC hearing will continue on March 22.
Residents near Avery Pond objected to the scope and size of the proposed park, and believed it would impact the pond as a favored recreational fishing area. Many residents also spoke out after Blue Water’s presentation. They urged the commission to reject the proposal in light of noise, traffic, possible large gatherings, fireworks, and festivals at the property.
Blue Water project Attorney Harry Heller examined the town’s zoning regulations in-depth and cited state statutes on criteria that can be used to evaluate the proposed project. The site is located diagonally across from one of the world’s biggest casinos and is near a hotel and other commercial development.
Heller explained that the town established the resort-commercial zone along Route 2 several years ago to benefit from Foxwoods Resort Casino, “and that is exactly what this project does.”
Heller explained to members of the PZC that Blue Water changed the original plan in response to suggestions from the town’s consulting engineer to limit the encroachment on wetlands. The modifications decreased camping sites from 304 to 302.
The RV park must obtain a special exception permit from the PZC for the property partially situated in the resort commercial zone and some in residential. Heller also explained that the park would be open from April 1 to October 31.
There would be no music festivals permitted, Heller said.
Let’s think about how important it is to look at the big picture when it comes to projects like the RV resort in Preston. We should chat and brainstorm different ideas to find a solution that keeps everyone happy, both the environment and us locals. Let’s make our voices heard!