QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MCLEAN EXPANSION IN SIMSBURY, CT

While any construction project involves changes to the landscape, it is our intent to minimize disruption to the natural areas of our campus. This project will affect less than a quarter of the acreage, leaving dozens of acres of forest untouched. Following the construction of the new homes, we will replant the forest edges, meadows, and wetland corridors with native plants, actually increasing the plant species diversity. This project offers us a unique opportunity to restore parts of the landscape currently overrun with invasive plants or in decline from invasive insects. George McLean believed that people could find peace of mind and body by experiencing nature. Our goal is to ensure the natural integrity of our land for our residents, our wildlife, and our community.

We believe there is no public entity in Hartford County that conserves more land than McLean – we are stewards of the 4,400-acre McLean Game Refuge, land that is privately held, maintained by us, and welcomes the public to peacefully enjoy. The Game Refuge has up to 50,000 visitors annually.

While any construction project involves changes to the landscape, it is our intent to maximize the remaining natural areas on the life plan campus. Our goal is always to be thoughtful and considerate of our natural surroundings. This project will affect approximately 18 of the 110 acres of our Simsbury campus, leaving dozens of acres untouched.

Following the construction of the new homes, we will replant the forest edges and corridors with native plants, actually increasing the plant species diversity. This project offers us a unique opportunity to restore parts of our property currently overrun with invasive plants. Senator McLean believed that people could find peace of mind and body by experiencing nature. Our goal is always to ensure the natural integrity of our land for our residents, our wildlife, and our community, while at the same time providing much-needed, energy-efficient residences for seniors.

We are not building 50 homes within this meadow. The new neighborhood will be named “The Meadows” because the Hop Meadow Country Club is on one side and the meadow is on the other.

The meadow is not town open space. It is McLean property.

Market research indicated demand for 100 homes. A plan was first suggested for us to build all of these homes in the meadow that McLean owns and that abuts Hop Hollow Road. The meadow does not contain a wetlands area and building there would not necessitate much tree removal. We rejected this plan as we worked to find a more balanced plan.

In keeping with our long history of conservation, our preference for a conservative expansion, and our sincere desire to maintain community harmony, we decided instead to build approximately 26 duplexes on our property, in between Hop Meadow Country Club and the meadow. No homes are planned for the portion of the meadow that directly abuts Hop Hollow Road. Some homes will be built in a portion of the meadow that is the farthest away from any neighbors, but our plan ensures that the majority of the meadow will be maintained as-is – and will remain open for our residents and neighbors to enjoy.

McLean has gone above and beyond all regulatory requirements to protect wetlands and wildlife.

There are four small wetland areas on the McLean property. Only one would be affected by the project. We will need crossings in two areas within that one wetland. Regulations call for an 18” diameter culvert; we are proposing much bigger 5’ diameter culverts to ensure that animals have better access to crossing.

We are also building storm-water retention areas. Our neighbors have shared that some of their homes were built on floodplains, and water in their basements has always been a concern. Our proposed retention ponds and culverts will reduce the amount of run-off from current, pre-construction amounts.

Finally, we are planting more plants than required with an eye to reducing water runoff.

Yes! We refer to Connecticut DEEP to ascertain any wildlife’s exact habitat on our property, including the meadow, and we follow DEEP’s advice for keeping these animals safe. We recommend that anyone who may visit any of McLean’s land to take great care due to this wildlife. As a reminder, dogs must be leashed on McLean property at all times.

We manage the campus to have a low impact on wildlife by having wild edges and unmanaged forests – this natural aesthetic provides for a good habitat. We love to watch the migrating birds, are very conscious of protected and special-interest species, and continue to work with DEEP in all aspects.

In light of the reported Eastern box turtles on our Simsbury property, we have engaged a herpetologist at Quinn Ecological, LLC, whose mission is to protect Connecticut’s local amphibian and reptile populations through sound, research-based land use decision-making.

Quinn Ecological has worked extensively with state and federally threatened and endangered species. The measured data we receive will guide our work prior to and throughout construction, and beyond. We desire to be mindful of all the wildlife sharing our lands.

Connecticut DEEP (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) to identify and protect wildlife habitats.vQuinn Ecological, LLC, a herpetologist-led organization specializing in Connecticut’s amphibian and reptile populations and land use decisions involving endangered species.

Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. The homes will be accessed through the main McLean entrance on 75 Great Pond Road. While we will reconfigure and add some roadways on our property, we will not be adding additional entrances.

No, it will not. The Country Club’s course will remain as-is. McLean actually owns the land upon which Hop Meadow Country Club is built. We lease it to the Club. In fact, the Hop Meadow clubhouse was originally George McLean’s barn.

We have communicated in good faith and met numerous times with our neighbors regarding this project, and our president has always been willing to take calls and meet one-on-one to listen to concerns. As we’ve listened, we have been mindful to consider the future – of the seniors residing on our campus, the Simsbury community, and their access to enjoy nature – in keeping with our directives from Senator McLean.