Neighbors in the town of Canton showed up at the town’s Board of Selectmen meeting to register their concerns about and support for a proposed development project on Shallot Meadow Road.
Local landowner Lansford Perry had proposed the project, which would allow him to construct a new access road to his forested property. Perry argued that this road is necessary for promoting future housing development in the neighborhood. He said he would not be allowed to utilize the two other driveways leading to the property because of wetlands and because there are already two residences on each, the maximum allowed.
People already living in the area have expressed worry about a conflict of interest. The land Perry wants to use is a paper road – a road that exists on paper for the future development of a road – and belongs to the town of Canton. Perry, who owns numerous businesses and properties in town, is one of Canton’s top 10 taxpayers and serves as a commissioner on the town’s Planning and Zoning Board.
The property in question also surrounds the home of former state senator and current Canton First Selectman Kevin Witkos. One of the existing driveways is shared with Witkos’ home.
The issue came before Witkos’ Board of Selectmen on Wednesday night, as the board sought to approve or deny Perry’s application. Witkos recused himself from the debate immediately, leaving the room for the duration.
“Let’s not forget that three landowners have asked for access to this paper road and according to the planning and zoning code restrictions, no more than two residents can have access off a single driveway,” said Shallot Road resident Lori Chuka, who was emotional during her testimony. “If the requests are acted upon separately and a decision is made to allow one landowner to have access over another, this would be showing preferential treatment toward one lander landowner over another abiding landowner.”
Not everyone was opposed to the roadway. Warren Humphrey, whose property abuts Perry’s, voiced his support for the project early in the public comment period. He argued that the board had an obligation to approve the project because a road there had been part of the town plan for nearly two decades.
“Mr. Perry’s track record is actually pretty good in putting in these roads,” he added, noting that he has worked with Perry to sell a land parcel to the town’s land trust. “If you’ve been around town, you’ve seen where he’s done his work. You’ll find that the farm roads that he puts in are unobtrusive. They’re quality built roads that will take heavy farm equipment on them without rutting, without potholes.”
Tom Blatchley, another Canton resident, argued that concerns over a conflict of interest were overblown and that Perry had recused himself from the debate, as Witkos had, a built-in mechanism to avoid such conflicts.
“Think about the implications if you’re now told that because you have some interest or some stake, that you can’t now volunteer for the town,” he said. “It’s absurd. And we already have enough problems with getting people to volunteer.”
Ultimately, the board rejected Perry’s proposal 3-1. Selectman Timothy LeGeyt was the only vote in favor.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
