Connet Woods residents take dispute up with Planning Board

ROCHESTER — Residents at Connet Woods took a drainage complaint before the Planning Board, although the project’s attorney, Stephen Meltzer, assured board members that he was handling it. 

Meltzer said at the May 12 virtual meeting that he has gotten complaints from residents since the fall about a septic issue, but had to wait until spring to see where the water is flowing. 

Now, he said “we need to figure out how to ameliorate the problem.” 

The attorney said that some residents were trying to leverage the system to make sure that he took care of it, but he has every intention of doing so. 

Town Counsel Blair Bailey wanted to be sure that the drainage issues with the septic system were separate from some a roadway acceptance issue at the development, which will come before the next Town Meeting. 

“They are completely separate and have nothing to do with the roadway,” Meltzer said.  

Bailey responded that the Planning Board would have the highway surveyor take a look at the property to be sure that the water was coming from the back of the property and not the road. 

Speaking after the meeting, Planning Board Chair Arnold Johnson said that there were three to four owners that had complained about standing water on their properties.