The long, tortuous consideration of the future of Fairfield Hills has crawled, chameleon-like, through a succession of task forces, study committees, and advisory panels, changing hues as it went along. Early on, there was some wishful thinking that perhaps an educational institution or single corporate entity might take over the campus. Then, as late as last fall, with three firms vying for state approval to develop the site, the emphasis was on housing. Now that the town has expressed an interest in taking over Fairfield Hills, the need for corporate development at the site has gained a committed constituency.

In recent weeks and months, the Fairfield Hills Advisory Committee has tried to accommodate the chameleon. Under the guiding hand of hired, outside “facilitators,” the panel has assiduously steered clear of coming to fixed conclusions about specific uses of the buildings and grounds on the 186-acre campus. The panel has come up with a menu of choices for the land and various buildings at the site that reflect two emergent points of view: that Fairfield Hills should become primarily a corporate park with some facilities and land set aside for public recreation, educational, and municipal uses; or that Fairfield Hills should be first and foremost a town resource for office space, education, and recreation, with some corporate development allowed in some of the buildings that are not likely to be used now, or in the future, for municipal purposes. Despite the consensus that some mix of the two is desirable, the question seems to be coming down to: corporate or municipal?

At last week’s informational meeting sponsored by the committee, the two approaches were discussed in small groups – a process guided by the facilitators. One participant, wondering whether this process of consensus-building was actually leading anywhere, suggested an old-fashioned show of hands on the municipal/corporate question. That was not allowed. Too confrontational.

We suspect that if there were a show of hands around town right now, most people would want town needs to be the priority at Fairfield Hills. We know that is our preference. If, however, the campus is to be first and foremost a corporate park, then we will want to know exactly how and where the benefits will accrue to townspeople. Under the current tax structure in Newtown, we would need $80 million in development to whittle just one mill from the tax rate. Before we head off in that direction, we all should understand and agree that development on that scale, corporate or otherwise, will be worth it.

The question will have to be resolved whether town needs should take priority at Fairfield Hills or whether corporate development is the purpose of the place. Before the town purchases Fairfield Hills, we expect our town leaders to declare their intentions on this issue. We will not be happy if the Fairfield Hills chameleon changes colors once again after the town buys the place.