Yale Farm withdraws proposal
 
As state and local officials were preparing for public hearings on the proposed Yale Farm Golf course, the developers withdrew their proposal for the project in Norfolk and Canaan. See their notice of withdrawal.

HVA’s Board of Directors was recently granted intervener status in the DEP proceedings. This assures that HVA will have a seat at the table for all meetings outside of public hearings and will receive copies of all correspondence and documents on this project. 


The beautiful open vistas, above and below, of the Yale Farm property in Norfolk, Connecticut were being considered for golf course development.

Yale Farm Background
On January 8, 2009 the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued a draft approval of Roland Betts' application for a water diversion and water quality permits for the Yale Farm Golf Course and related amenities to be constructed at the 800-acre Yale Farm located in North Canaan and Norfolk. 

The initial applications were submitted in 2002. It hit a major roadblock in August 2005 when the DEP issued a tentative denial of the two water permits, citing failure by the applicant to meet the state's water quality standards and the Clean Water Act.
 

Since then, HVA, neighbors adjacent to the property, and other citizen groups and conservation organizations have thoroughly reviewed the plans and documents and have recommended that the project be denied based on major serious deficiencies, including: 

photos by Katherine Griswold, Norfolk, CT   

  • Pump tests done over the past six years indicate groundwater in not sufficient to support the project because the property is located at the headwaters of two small streams and an underlying aquifer that only receives recharge from precipitation.
  • Water withdrawals for the project will reduce the flows in Hollow Brook and Ginger Creek, threatening brook trout.
  • The applicant has not provided a prudent and feasible alternative, required under state statute.

Using the applicant’s basic design criteria, HVA developed an alternate golf course layout that avoided steep slopes, wetlands and watercourses. This alternative was accepted by the North Canaan Inland Wetlands Commission and provided the commissioners with sufficient grounds to deny the application.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal opposes granting the permits and will file comments and attend the public hearings.