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Wetlands board cites water issues

Canterbury, Conn. —

Canterbury residents concerned about the additional flooding and water issues a regional Muslim cemetery would bring to Lisbon Road breathed a sigh of relief Tuesday when the application was withdrawn because of reports of high water tables.

The Connecticut Council of Masajid submitted a letter to Canterbury Land Use Director Steven Sadlowski on Tuesday withdrawing its applications for a cemetery on 69 acres on Lisbon Road. The group had submitted applications to the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses and Planning and Zoning commissions.

The wetlands commission held two public hearings on the application in January and February and had scheduled another for tonight. The Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing was expected to begin April 8.

In the letter to Sadlowski, the council said reports from a surveyor, hydrologist and the Northeast District Department of Health indicated there is a high water table on most of the property during the spring, something residents at the public hearing had pointed out repeatedly.

The letter said the high water table “does not meet our criteria for the establishment of a cemetery.”

“Furthermore, there is likelihood that burial in such conditions may affect the quality of life for the neighbors. This is also unacceptable,” the letter stated.

The letter also asked Sadlowski to “inform all concerned of this development and also convey our regrets for the inconvenience and distress that our plans and the present development may have caused to anyone.”

More than 100 residents attended each of the two public hearings on the wetlands application. Many were concerned about the impact to their wells and drainage in the area.

Bob Barrett, who lives on nearby Baldwin Brook Road, said water issues are a regular part of living in the area surrounding Baldwin Brook, including the property on which the cemetery had been proposed. He said a segment of his yard is entirely under water and will remain very damp well into April.

“Any development up there (on the proposed cemetery property) that would remove some of the vegetation that keeps some of the water in check would be a concern,” Barrett said. “So I kind of have to say I’m happy they withdrew and made the right decision. We already have a lot of issues with water up here.”