At Fairfield Hills––

Wasserman: 12 More Acres Coming To The Town

By Jan Howard

The Town of Newtown would gain another parcel of land at Fairfield Hills through legislation that is to be introduced in the next legislative session by State Rep Julia Wasserman (R-106th).

Rep Wasserman announced this week that she is seeking the conveyance of approximately 12 acres of land off Old Farm Road in Fairfield Hills. The property is bounded by the state Department of Transportation’s salt-shed property and other lands conveyed to Newtown under Public Act 98-255 (Deep Brook) and 250 acres conveyed to the Department of Agriculture under Public Act 95-22.

The property includes the remainder of the Old Farm Road westerly to its intersection with Trades Lane.

Under the proposed legislation, the property is to be used for municipal purposes and if this stipulation were not met it would revert back to the state.

Rep Wasserman said the proposed legislation has been presented to lawyers for their review prior to its introduction during the upcoming legislative session that begins next month.

Rep Wasserman said action on the land conveyance bill would most likely take place toward the end of the legislative session in April or early May.

The conveyance of Old Farm Road could also make it possible to alleviate traffic conditions on Route 34 and Church Hill Road, Rep Wasserman said. The land might also offer a possible location for a firehouse or playing fields, she noted.

The parcel is a key piece of the overall Fairfield Hills property in that it includes a bridge over Deep Brook and connects parcels already set aside for the town on the north end of the property with the main campus, which the town is due to acquire by March. The addition of the 12 acres to the town’s holdings would open the way for a north-south road through Fairfield Hills.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal welcomes the acquisition of additional land in Fairfield Hills. “If we can get more property from the state, that would be fine,” he said.

He agreed that access to Old Farm Road would be an important asset for the town. “We’ve been looking at another way to get out of Commerce Road, so all the traffic isn’t on Church Hill Road,” he said. He noted the land conveyance, once approved, would “help get us the road and land we can use for other municipal uses.”

He was concerned, however, about possible environmental issues at the former Fairfield Hills Hospital’s sewage treatment plant that is located on the site. “We have to make sure from an environmental status to see clearly what cleanup they [the state] will do. There could be environmental concerns.”

Rep Wasserman said the state Department of Public Works is expected to go out for bids on cleanup of the parcel in mid February.

Mr Rosenthal said the suggestion that Hook and Ladder could relocate to that site would have to be discussed with the fire company and the Board of Fire Commissioners, but he does not see that as a possibility. “It doesn’t work too well for the center of their district.

“They are seriously considering Scudder’s property,” he said of a site off Route 302, which has been offered by Scudder Smith, publisher of The Newtown Bee, also owns adjacent property at The Pleasance. This would be the best location if it can be made to work, he noted. “It’s a better location than Fairfield Hills.

“There is enough land for a building,” Mr Rosenthal said, adding that the question is whether there is enough room for parking because of concerns about wetlands.

He said the Fairfield Hills site would be an ideal location if the town needs a paid fire department in the future.