Beecher Road apartment building proposal draws crowd at Inland Wetlands meeting
Agency elects a new chair and votes to continue public hearing on proposed apartment development at its first meeting of 2026
Agency elects a new chair and votes to continue public hearing on proposed apartment development at its first meeting of 2026
The Woodbridge Inland Wetlands Agency held its first regular meeting of 2026 on Wednesday, January 21, beginning with the election of a new chair before turning to a standing-room-only public hearing on the proposed apartment development at 27 Beecher Road.
More than 160 residents filled the Senior Café to standing room only, with attendees lining the walls as the agency heard hours of testimony on the closely watched application. Outside, a gentle snowfall blanketed the parking lot as cars circled in search of spaces to attend the meeting.
At the start of the meeting, the agency elected Nick Zito as chairman by unanimous vote. Zito, who was recently appointed to the commission, assumed the role immediately and presided over the remainder of the evening.
The central item of the meeting was a public hearing on the application by Darius Iswaskiewicz for a proposed multi‑story apartment building at 27 Beecher Road, involving activity within an upland review area associated with inland wetlands
Parking spots throughout town center were all taken as the meeting got underway; during the meeting the proposal was described and a rendering of the apartment building was displayed for the public and the government-access TV cameras; members of the commission consider some of the submitted materials during their deliberations (photos by Sheila McCreven).
In addition to concerns about long‑term runoff and wetland proximity, several speakers focused on construction‑phase impacts, noting that the scale of the project would require significant truck traffic, equipment access, and on‑site staging of materials. Testimony indicated that construction activity could extend into the upland review area and potentially into regulated wetlands, raising concerns about erosion, sedimentation, and disturbance to the Race Brook corridor during periods when soils are exposed.
Several speakers also raised concerns about tree clearing that has already occurred on or near the site, questioning whether clearing extended into regulated wetlands or the upland review area. Testimony emphasized the loss of mature tree cover as a factor in increased runoff and reduced wetland buffering capacity.
The hearing also included disputed claims regarding access to neighboring property, with speakers raising concerns about whether any related activity may have occurred beyond the applicant’s property boundaries. No determination was made by the agency.
The agency first heard from intervenors whose petitions had been accepted under state law, allowing them to present expert testimony. Among them was Paul Harrigan, a professional engineer and nearby property owner, who testified regarding wetlands sensitivity and stormwater impacts within the Race Brook watershed.
Abutting property owners also spoke during public comment, including Walden Dillaway, who described the site as part of a wetland corridor between Beecher Road and Johnson Road where he lives and requested intervenor status; Peter Morgan, who spoke about why he chose to live in Woodbridge and urged long‑term wetlands protection; and Bonnie Blake of Beecher Road, who raised concerns about prior tree clearing and site conditions.
Several speakers who addressed the agency have also been involved in the recently formed community group Woodbridge Neighbors for Responsible Development (see previous guest editorial for details).
After closing public comment for the evening, the agency discussed next steps. On the recommendation of the Town Attorney who attended the meeting, the Inland Wetlands Agency voted to request that the town planner conduct further review of the application and report back to the agency, and to continue the public hearing to February 18, 2026. No vote was taken on the merits of the application.
Earlier in the meeting, the agency approved a three‑lot subdivision with open space at 20 Blue Trail Drive. The agenda also included a continuation of a show‑cause enforcement matter at 106 Seymour Road, discussion of enforcement activities, scheduling of future site inspections, and approval of minutes from the November 19, 2025 regular meeting.
The agency's meetings are open to the public and recordings can be viewed on the town’s YouTube channel, WGATV79. Click below to watch the full January 21, 2026 meeting recording.
