North Canaan to get Habitat home

NORTH CANAAN — A subdivision approved last week opened the door for the first Habitat for Humanity home to be built in town.

The subdivision, basically re-approved, for property between Route 44 and the Housatonic River off of Salisbury Road creates three parcels, one of which will be donated by Elizabeth McClintock for a Habitat home. She has also offered to pay legal fees involved with transferring ownership of the lot.

The property has received an approval for sanitary services from Torrington Area Health District and was signed off on by the Inland Wetlands Commission (there are wetlands on the property).

An existing home there was demolished. A site development plan was submitted.

This is the same subdivision approved in October 2007, according to representing attorney Mark Capecelatro of North Canaan. When the landowner recently moved forward on developing the property, it was discovered a site map, rather than the approved subdivision map, had been filed in Town Hall. The technicality, and the time that had passed, forced a new application.

P&Z members voted unanimously Dec. 3 to waive the application fee this second time around.

Following the meeting, Capecelatro told The Journal and John Pogue, of the local Habitat chapter, that he was surprised to discover North Canaan did not have any Habitat homes.

Pogue said it’s just the way it works out. There needs to be that special combination of a suitable property and owners willing to donate it to the local chapter of the national organization.

“We are very pleased and grateful for the donation, and happy to be building in North Canaan,� Pogue said.

The transfer is expected to be completed before the end of the year. Pogue said Habitat will begin seeking a partner family and hopes to start construction in the spring.

Habitat has built homes in Falls Village, Cornwall and Salisbury.

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