Selectmen Hear About Iroquois Land Swap Proposal, And New Regional Bus Routes

By John Voket

The Board of Selectmen, at its most recent meeting, heard from representatives of the Iroquois Gas Pipeline project and the regional transit district, HART, about proposals for a land swap to expedite a pipeline project, and possibly adding new bus routes to serve the community.

Ruth Parkins was on hand with several maps, showing several town-owned parcels that Iroquois Gas Transmission Systems hopes to acquire to ease its expansion of the pipeline. During a ten-minute presentation, the company spokeswoman presented plans to offer the town a ten-acre parcel in the area of Hattertown Pond in exchange for access to that series of smaller plots along the company’s existing pipeline on the opposite side of town.

According to federal documents, the Iroquois 2008-2009 Expansion Project would expand Iroquois’ existing system to deliver up to 200,000 decatherms per day of natural gas transportation service to KeySpan Gas East Corporation at South Commack, Long Island. The first phase of that project consists of looping its existing pipeline system at three locations in New York and Connecticut by November 1, 2008, including 1.6 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Newtown.

All new pipeline segments would be located adjacent to Iroquois’ existing pipeline at this and two other New York locations.

The language of the official proposal to Newtown involves giving the ten-acre land-locked parcel, designated on local town maps as 32-1-29, in the area of Hattertown Pond appraised at an estimated $200,000. If granted, that land swap would come in lieu of easement fees estimated at $60,000 that Iroquois would have to pay the town for access to parcel “53-2-52-LT-0S and Parcel No. 53-2-49” on town maps, which extend along the existing Iroquois pipeline near the Charter Oak subdivision north of Route 34 in Sandy Hook.

Town Attorney David Grogins was on hand to caution officials about agreeing prematurely about trading an interest in real property for another. While the town attorney characterized the transaction as “an awkward process,” he agreed that the transaction could move forward once the town conducts its own appraisal of the land in question.

Newtown’s Land Use Agency chief George Benson told selectmen he, too, questioned the potential value of the ten-acre parcel because it is land locked.

Ms Parkins countered that the ten-acre parcel was land-locked primarily by Newtown Forest Association land and that this parcel would be the final puzzle piece to complete a contiguous stretch of land in the area, which is used heavily for passive recreation and hiking.

Mr Benson reminded selectmen that if they chose to move forward to accommodate the pipeline company, the mandated process in accordance with the town charter must be followed the same as any other transaction. Ms Parkins said she would await the board’s decision, saying that her employer was anxious to move on the proposal as plans were already in motion to begin pipeline expansion work later this year.

HART Bus Plans

The second presentation on the selectmen’s agenda March 17, involved Richard Schreiner of Housatonic Area Regional Transit (HART). Mr Schreiner presented a Final Report from December 2007 outlining hopes to enhance bus transit service to Newtowners who work along routes to, or in the communities of, Bridgeport and Waterbury.

The HART representative said currently, his district only offers the “SweetHART” service, an on-call van on a pay-as-you-go basis. Mr Schreiner said a contract commuter service between Danbury and Waterbury does not stop in Newtown.

He also referenced a defunct connection between Newtown and Bridgeport, which HART justified should be reactivated.

“In Newtown you have 20 major employers and a major shopping center not served by mass transit,” Mr Schreiner said.

He cited numerous studies in the past that all recommend transit service to and through Newtown to and from Waterbury and Bridgeport. HART also wants to see increased frequency of runs, and cuts in fares to be delivered through zone fair subsidies to the district from the state.

Mr Schreiner said a stop in Newtown off Exit 10 from Interstate 84 would better serve riders from town, as well as a transfer program allowing riders to and from Waterbury to jump to local municipal bus routes serving several parts of the city. He said peak period service would also serve industrial parks in Trumbull, as well as Monroe, which Mr Schreiner described as the “fastest growing community” in western Connecticut.

He said the state has $5 million in the budget already, and a proposal on the table in Hartford now that could boost the initiative with $15 million for capital costs and $7 million more to fund additional transit runs.

HART is considering forming a “super region” including areas north toward Torrington that could acquire and use state funding to improve mass transit commuter initiatives throughout central western part of the state.

“There is no real connection between Newtown and Danbury now,” Mr Schreiner said, adding that routes between Danbury and Waterbury could incorporate fares of about $3.50 per trip — the same rate as the private carrier is charging now.

Responding to a question from First Selectman Joe Borst, Mr Schreiner said the private carrier would be obliged to work with property owners to achieve locations for commuter parking. He also said the southern route would depend on achieving a stop in the area of Sand Hill Plaza on South Main Street.