Survey Seeks Public Views On FFH

By Kendra Bobowick

What do you think about Fairfield Hills future planning?

A survey, “The Future of Fairfield Hills,” available as of Thursday, May 5, is looking for answers. “Take this survey to share your thoughts and ideas, and talk to your friends about it too,” urges Master Plan Review Committee member Paul Lundquist. His group, which is currently reviewing the master plan for campus reuse and development, wants public opinion to “play a prominent role in our final report,” he said. Past months’ work and research has fed into the survey questions — a final step before the group makes its recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.

Regarding the survey, Mr Lundquist explained, “We’re making it available to everyone that we can.” Paper copies will be available at the Senior Center, while an online version is available at www.FairfieldHillsSurvey.com.

The survey consists of six sections: an informational overview for some of the key themes the review committee has encountered; a set of questions targeted at economic development and housing; a set of questions to assess community attitudes on issues connected with the property; a list of elements that could be included as part of the property gathered during the three public participation sessions; several comprehensive themes describing potential visions for the property emerging from the public participation sessions; and demographic questions used to ensure that the survey results more fairly represent the community as a whole.

Mr Lundquist said the survey will provide “the most broad-based and concrete feedback that we’ll be able to receive from residents. It’s a culmination of much of our research as a committee as well as the great work from the Community Microcosm Council and the larger Open Community Conversation sessions.” The survey results “will definitely influence our recommendations in a final report.”

The deadline to complete the survey is May 27, and will take roughly 20 minutes to complete, he said.

The topic of Fairfield Hills “is complex,” said Mr Lundquist. “The reality is this is a rather unique survey, in that we’re trying to inform and educate people across a range of topics as they answer our questions.” He wants those taking the survey to be able to consider “the real-world issues that can influence the future use and development of the campus.”

Looking at a broader view of this survey’s implications, Mr Lundquist said, “In our work as a review committee it has become clear that looking at Fairfield Hills in isolation from the town as a whole is not necessarily the best approach.” The broad, wide-ranging issues involved with the campus “truly should be considered in concert with issues facing the entire town of Newtown.”

He added, “This is designed to look at the core issues from both perspectives.”

Survey results will be presented to the public, he said. “We’ll strongly consider the responses we get in our final report and recommendations to the Board of Selectmen. The survey will satisfy the committee’s charge to solicit community feedback, and “engage the public to consider forward-looking visions of Fairfield Hills; one of the main efforts of our work.” All of the committee’s prior work, research, and public outreach will culminate in this final “big, major effort” to garner feedback, Mr Lundquist explained.

In coming weeks the review committee will compile its final report and provide it to the Board of Selectmen. Ultimately, changes to the master plan document must go before the Planning and Zoning Department.

According to a Letter to the Editor in this week’s Bee, “The survey is comprehensive in its coverage of the numerous issues associated with the Fairfield Hills property. Participation in the survey is critical to ensure we understand the attitudes and preferences of the community during our final deliberations leading to our recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.

“Please take time out to tell us your desires, needs, and dreams for the future of the Fairfield Hills campus and property. Pass the word along to a few of your friends too!”

Read more on the review committee’s Facebook page (FFH Master Plan Opinion Page), or direct questions to FFHMPRC@gmail.com.