East Lyme zoning panel approves coastal site plan for 48 Brainerd Road

The East Lyme Zoning Commission unanimously approved a coastal area management (CAM) site plan for a single-family dwelling at 48 Brainerd Road in Niantic on Aug. 6, finding the proposal consistent with applicable state coastal goals and local mitigation requirements. The motion to approve carried 6–0–0.

A memo read into the record summarized the statutory framework and the site characteristics, noting the roughly 2-acre lot is zoned RU-40 and that the proposed home would be located more than 200 feet from the mapped coastal resource. The memo stated that “the project will not have any impacts on the resources” and that silt fences and other erosion controls will be installed during construction, language read aloud by the recording secretary. The applicant, identified in the filing as John Paul Abarca, told the commission the home will be four bedrooms with about 2.5 baths and that a septic system and well will be installed.

Commissioners asked for clarification about distances to wetlands and marsh features. The applicant said the nearest marsh begins off the property about 500 feet away, while paperwork on file showed the house location more than 200 feet from the mapped coastal resource; commissioners noted state inland-wetlands thresholds (300 feet) and discussed differences between inland-wetlands and CAM mapping. After discussion a commissioner moved to approve, citing consistency with CAM goals and applicant mitigation measures; a second was recorded and the motion passed 6–0–0.

The approval authorizes the site plan review under the town’s CAM procedures; the commission recorded the vote and no further conditions were announced at the meeting. The applicant thanked the commission for its action.