Seeking A Regional Readiness Center—

Military May Knock On Newtown’s Door

By Kendra Bobowick

Military personnel, legislators, and town officials met Monday morning to discuss the greater Newtown area as a location for a Regional Readiness Center. The military is hoping to find a community that can make room for “a property acquisition for both the national guard and the reserves,” said Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Lukowski, statewide construction and facilities manager for the Connecticut Army National Guard. “We would love to come into Newtown,” but the military has only just begun its search, he said. The eventual center will be built for roughly 1,000 soldiers in an approximate 300,000-square-foot facility.

Specifically, “We are looking anywhere between Danbury and Waterbury,” Lt Col Lukowski said. He also indicated that the military seeks between 50 and 75 acres.

The military is simply investigating potential locations and, “We like to keep all options open with all communities. Newtown was one idea we had,” he said.

Some of the bucolic farmland at Fairfield Hills may soon be touched by practiced lines of discipline and the well ordered habits of the military in addition to the Second  Company Governor’s Horse Guard on Trade’s Lane beyond Reed Intermediate School, and the Military Working Dogs Kennel overseen by the National Guard.

Lt Col Lukowski also mentioned the changes taking place in town and referred to the Fairfield Hills master plan. The Fairfield Hills campus and adjoining areas are already seeing much activity and change, running a spectrum from austere prison facilities to picturesque settings of white fencing, farm fields, and horses grazing.

Lieutenant Colonel John Whitford, director of communication for the Connecticut National Guard, said Monday’s meeting was the first, and more may take place in the future as plans develop.

As a result of the federal Base Realignments And Closings (BRAC) initiative, facilities have been consolidating, and military officials seek centralized locations for their Regional Readiness Centers. Lt Col Lukowski explained that closures of Naugatuck and Norwalk Armories and additional closures of Fairfield, Waterbury, and Danbury Army Reserve Centers prompt this action. The centralized point falls within the Newtown area.

The military has an additional criterion in finding a home for its Regional Readiness Center, however.

“We’re working with local communities and seeking the best fit for everyone, not just what will work best for us,” Lt Col Whitford said. “The dialogue is now open and we’re looking for the best fit.” Both he and Lt Col Lukowski want the center to be a welcomed presence. In particular, the military seeks “good, clean, buildable land without wetlands or slopes. We’re going to build a facility that will last us at least 100 years,” Lt Col Lukowski said.

Soldiers’ comfort is also of priority. Lt Col Whitford said, “We’re also concerned about the quality of life for the soldiers.” Soldiers should have “enough space, that’s a big part of BRAC, these facilities are what we need,” he said.

Time and further discussion will determine if Newtown is the right location for the center — an adaptation and step up from just an armory, this facility would be home to reservists and national guard members.

Local Reaction

News of a possible military facility in Newtown drew varied local reactions.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal gave a cautious response in contrast to State Representative Julia Wasserman, who was enthusiastic about the development.

Mr Rosenthal’s concerns are grounded in what is best for the town, and ultimately to finances.

“My feeling is that for any town like Newtown to want a center like that, there would have to be economic incentives.”

Ms Wasserman, a former military woman, admitted that she has a “strong bias” because of her patriotism, she said. Practically speaking, she echoed Mr Rosenthal, saying the center “would bring economic revenue. There is no doubt in my mind.”

She and Mr Rosenthal both believe that financial benefits are essential when considering the possible center. As with Garner Correctional Institution, Ms Wasserman would like to see state PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) money, for example, coming from the facility. Additionally, Lt Col Lukowski said there would be “millions” going to local contractors and engineers.

Both officers went a step further.

On top of other economic advantages from full-time soldiers living in and shopping in town, Lt Col Lukowski said, “You would have a military presence in times of need. We would have the center here if something took place.”

Lt Col Whitford also described an “instant response” in emergencies. “You can post soldiers and equipment if there is an issue…the armory is prepared to respond, and that’s key.”

Speaking more generally of the current national security, Lt Col Whitford said, “We want to meet today’s need and meet today’s enemy.” Today’s enemy could be a hurricane, for example.

“Look at Hurricane Katrina; we would have a center here if something happened,” Lt Col Lukowski said.

Ms Wasserman is strongly in favor of the center, saying, “We need to take a long, hard look at it and the town needs to understand what is involved. We have to look at the benefits.” Hoping to generate a clear idea of what they propose, Lt Col Whitford said, “More references and information will be forthcoming. We’re still very early in the planning stages.”

Acknowledging the “devil’s advocates,” Ms Wasserman said, “There might be people who don’t want the military near the town at all. You’re going to hear, ‘I don’t want soldiers around here,’ but I have the opposite opinion. I think it’s a positive presence.”

Ms Wasserman was a captain in the Women’s Army Corps for more than two years during the Korean action, she said, and her husband spent five years “overseas and in the trenches” of World War II.

Mr Rosenthal said, “I don’t have strong feelings either way about a military presence.”

Regarding the military’s plans, he said, “I am very glad they brought us in to talk about it.” He admits that “if they put [the center] on state property, we don’t have much say.” Yet expressing reassurance that no military facilities will be constructed without welcome, Mr Rosenthal said, “They don’t want to go where they’re imposing.”

Military officials have not yet specified as time frame for narrowing their search for a center.