Yesterday, a local paper ran a piece about a New Canaan resident being arrested for disorderly conduct, the result of an altercation with Mr. Karp, the developer attempting to build a multifamily condo complex on the corner of Weed and Elm. While the article details the actions and expletives uttered by the defendant, it said little about what may have driven him to this point. I, for one, am deeply troubled by the behavior of the developer and the trauma and angst inflicted by him and his team on the families and young children living adjacent to the property.
As is common in our town, the 8-30g project property includes an easement to maintain a sewer pipe running underneath the land of neighboring homes. Under cloak of this legal claim, the developer regularly appears on the property unannounced with teams of contractors at all times of day. They repeatedly scope the site, tag large, beautiful trees for removal, and generally wander on the premises seemingly only to antagonize and harass the neighbors. Children cannot play outside in their backyards without the very real fear of strangers appearing from nowhere. Parents have to worry about the very things we in New Canaan treasure but take very much for granted, like walking to school or playing ball in the yard at home.
Because of Karp’s claim to an easement, the police will do little to protect the affected families. To be sure, the easement and all of its related issues will eventually be sorted out in court. I continue to advocate for an overhaul of 8-30g to stop predatory developers like Karp from abusing it and I hope New Canaan voters will keep this front of mind when they go to the polls in November and vote Republican. All politics are local. Politicians in Hartford have planted Mr. Karp smack in our neighbors’ backyard. I can understand why he would be more than a little fed up.
