Condos Threaten

Sandy Hook Center

(The following is a portion of a letter sent to William O’Neil and the Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission.)

Dear Mr O’Neil,

I am writing on behalf of my wife and myself to express our total opposition to the condominium proposal submitted by Guri Dauti for 95-99 Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook. We have occupied our home at 83 Church Hill Road since December of 1982. In addition to issues of increased traffic and heavy storm water run-off from the site, we have two primary objections.

We are greatly concerned about the negative impact that this project will have on the on-going Sandy Hook revitalization project. Sandy Hook’s greatest asset is the charm of its restored business district, the babbling Pootatuck River, and the historic homes lining the streets in all four directions. Local business owners, banking on the quaint appeal of the town center, have poured their personal time, energy, and resources into the rebirth of Sandy Hook. The proposed condominium development is totally out of character with its neighbors. With each of the condos built to the maximum allowable height of 42 feet and situated on top of the slope above the town center, no amount of greenery will be able to hide the structures looming over Church Hill Road and Dayton Street.

In addition, and of paramount concern to us, is the manner by which Mr Dauti has attempted to manipulate the system in order to maximize his profits. His proposed Mixed Income Housing Development is nothing more than a poorly disguised effort to squeeze the maximum number of condominium units onto his four-acre lot. In the application, Mr Dauti’s attorney, Ryan McKain, states that “this application will not constitute an affordable housing application,” but that it “is closely based on the existing Affordable Housing District zone.” The difference? This proposed MIHD zone would allow a reduced lot size, greater residential density, and other “slight” adjustments such as smaller setbacks and altered dimensional requirements. In addition, 30 percent of the units would be reserved for families earning less than 80 percent of the median area income, as opposed to 15 percent being reserved for families earning less than 60 percent of the median income and another 15 percent for those in the 60–80 percent income bracket, as required in an Affordable Housing Development. Guess who stands to profit from these changes? You can bet that it’s not the village of Sandy Hook or the people of Newtown.

Approval of Mr Dauti’s application would be a clear case of the tail wagging the dog. We urge the Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission to stand by their carefully conceived and already established zoning regulations and deny this application. To allow Mr Dauti to change the rules of the game to serve his own shortsighted purposes and maximize his personal profits would be a serious slap in the face to the citizens of Newtown and the residents of Sandy Hook.

Very Respectfully,

Eric W. Mueller

Jan Lenkoski-Mueller

83 Church Hill Road, Sandy Hook                                  April 4, 2005