Is The Tail Wagging the Dog?
Is The Tail Wagging the Dog?
To the Editor:
Why should a short-term need for building remediation at Fairfield Hills drive a decision to allow apartments in Newtown?
Why would we consider spending millions in our capital budget to purchase open space to slow down growth in Newtown, but then promote consideration of 160 apartments at Fairfield Hills just to get an old building remediated?
Why is there a continued focus by some to develop yet another commercial and retail center at Fairfield Hills, with restaurants and even more banks, when we are trying to develop Dodgingtown, Hawleyville, Sandy Hook, and the Tech Center, not to mention the commercial strips on Churchill and Route 25? Why should Newtown continue to act as a commercial developer at Fairfield Hills competing with development efforts of local businesses?
Doesnât it make more sense to update the Fairfield Hills Master Plan and the townâs long-range plan before making these types of decisions? Wouldnât these types of discussions then have a context? Of course.
There has been little, if any, economic value to the taxpayers of Newtown from commercial development at Fairfield Hills. We have spent in excess of $10 million chasing that concept with no positive results. If a business wants to locate in Newtown, there are plenty of commercial properties available which would result in real estate tax revenue to the town with no cost to the taxpayer. The private sector is much better equipped to accomplish this objective.
Let us create a comprehensive long-range plan for Newtown and then see how Fairfield Hills fits in, not just a plan for Fairfield Hills in a vacuum.
Perhaps Fairfield Hills is really just a good location for municipal buildings, social services, recreation, and land banking for future generations. That is the type of discussion that is now being held by the Master Plan Review Committee, and that should be part of a larger dialogue for updating long-range planning for Newtown. Without an updated plan in place, which includes local governmentâs plan for addressing housing issues in town, these actions promoting apartments and a new commercial center at Fairfield Hills is the tail wagging the dog.
Bruce Walczak
12 Glover Avenue, Newtown                                    January 26, 2011