A developer is seeking to build a subdivision on a 110-acre horse farm located at the corner of Silver Hill and Sport Hill roads in Easton. The property, currently listed for sale at $4.5 million, abuts Sport Hill, Cedar Hill, Westport and Silver Hill roads.
John McBride of EG Home has invited neighboring Easton residents to attend a May 29 meeting at the Easton Public Library to learn about the proposal. McBride did not respond to a request for comment.
Easton resident Sophie Herbert, whose home borders the property, expressed concern about the development’s potential impact on local wells. “There are a bunch of us who are really concerned about our wells because of the intensity of the development,” she said, suggesting the proposal be scaled back by four or five homes from the 26 the developer told her he intends to propose to build.
The proposal would need approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands Agency. EG Home has not yet filed an application with either commission.
“I don’t have anything concrete because we don’t have an application, so until such time I can’t comment,” said Dori Wollen, Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands Agency chair. “We have to look at every application whether we like it or not, and we have to look at its merits and what our charge is. Our charge is to protect the watershed and protect the environment. Until we see in detail what the applicant is going to bring forward, there is nothing I can say.”
The site, historically known as Saddle Ridge, had previously been at the center of prolonged legal battles dating back to 2011 over plans to construct a high-density residential development, including affordable housing units. The previous developers have since proposed multiple iterations and faced various successful legal and environmental challenges that have prevented any development on the 110-acre property.
