All projects big
and bigger

By CHRIS CONROY

BETHEL — Five hundred homes and a golf course, and Bethel will be in the lead.

At the February 13 meeting of the Town of Bethel Planning Board, engineer Jim DeWinter asked the board to serve as lead agency in the planned development of some 5,000 acres on the Toronto Reservoir. The development, largely in Bethel, with some construction in Lumberland and Highland, will include about 500 luxury homes and a golf course. The board accepted the offer.

As lead agency, the board would authorize environmental documents allowing the project to move forward. According to DeWinter, just about everything is in place and the board will only need to sign off on a handful of permits and studies. If the lead agency status is unchallenged, the Woodstone Lakes development project could move forward in about one month.

At the meeting, board chairman Herman Bressler looked ahead to a future project. “Come April,” he said, “the board should be hearing a lot from GF Entertainment.” Bressler anticipated a major presentation about the planned performing arts center.