An Opportunity For A ‘Town Center’

To The Editor:

Thank You to Ms Currie and to Ms Ruby Johnson and to all those who are giving time and effort to the Fairfield Hills cause. Saving Fairfield Hills for Newtown is the best investment in our future. Over the past few years there have been many articles in The Bee and much talk about town. It seems to me that we are putting the cart before the horse. The first step is to procure the land and then decide what the land will be used for.

I believe that  we would be better off if we put our energies into negotiating the best price for the land and in settling the environmental issues with the sate. The state should be required to clean up the environmental problems before it sells the land. We are spreading ourselves too thin by trying to decide how to use the land or who will be using the land. Two things are glaringly apparent: First, Newtown is a growing community and the land will be an asset now as well as in the future; second, if Newtown decides to sell the land at a later date, there are many developers who would jump at the chance.

We have a wonderful opportunity to have a “town center” that will serve Newtown now and in the years to come. I support the town purchase of the property and hope that Newtown is able to reach its goal.

Respectfully submitted,

Peter R. Barresi

14 Chimney Swift Drive, Sandy Hook February 20, 2000