The Public Speaks
To the Editor:
At the P & Z public hearing to consider the Wharton Warehouse proposal people from all walks of life spoke against the proposal. No one was for the proposal. There were architects, scientists, engineers, truckers, accountants, technology experts, home makers and students.
People of all ages spoke of their vision for Newtown and it doesn’t include a mega warehouse/distribution center at Exit 9. State representative Mitch Bolinsky told the P & Z Commission to listen to the people.
The Wisdom of Crowds: Why the Many Are Smarter Than the Few and How Collective Wisdom Shapes Business, Economies, Societies and Nations, by James Surowiecki, asks us to listen to the many and discount the few.
The P & Z Commission should take the author's wise advice and turn down the Wharton proposal.
Gary Tannenbaum
Newtown
Although I have lived in Newtown 30+ years I have a question. Does the P&Z Commission have the power to not approve this, if it is lawful and within the regulations ? Or is this a variance or changing of the regulations ?
The P&Z is not deciding on approving the project as proposed, they are being asked to approve an exception to existing zoning under M-2A. Review specifics of M-2A here: https://ecode360.com/34497278. To learn more about the exception, review previous P&Z Minutes dating back to April 7, 2022 when the board first accepted the Wharton request for the exception here: https://www.newtown-ct.gov/node/463/minutes/2022 or our prior coverage in your Newtown Bee.
Thank you Mr. Voket. I thought that was the case. This is an allowable exception and they really have no choice
If it is an allowable exception, then they have no choice.
John, it may be time for an editorial to explain this process and what P&Z can and cannot do.
We took that issue up in several ways closer to the beginning of the P&Z process. Link to those items below – and please circle back or send an e-mail to editor@thebee.com if you think we are missing something:
https://www.newtownbee.com/04292022/here-is-what-newtowns-m-2a-zone-actually-permits/?q=Wharton
https://www.newtownbee.com/04282022/toward-better-understanding-a-little-known-zoning-designation/?q=Zoning
https://www.newtownbee.com/04292022/experts-discuss-zoning-law-ahead-of-next-warehouse-meeting/?q=Zoning
This is an allowable exception to the already commercial zoning this property holds. To not grant it would open the town up to a very large lawsuit. The owner of this property pays over $220,000 in property taxes each year. If the protesting NIMBY crowd somehow influences zoning not to approve and continues to say it should be left as open space … I am sure the owners would quickly stop paying taxes because they have been denied use of their property. I am sure over the next few years they would be happy to throw that money at lawyers.
That is what I thought. How is the property taxed now ? If the permit is denied and they say keep it “open land” does the tax rate drop as with forest land? Would denying development amount to the town seizing property (development rights) and have to pay Eminent Domain style compensation ?