To the Editor:

In 1983, development allowed us to buy and build on the last of eight lots, an interior, shared driveway location. No problem, good neighboring would work. Not so.

For an entire six or seven years it was very problematic — very. A simple, single development likely to work well enough, doesn’t work at all.

Number 10 Hawleyville Road development is at hand on behalf of us all; Newtown especially, nearby Brookfield, and miles beyond will be affected. Our Planning & Zoning Commission implements regulations regarding land use.

Importantly, the impact of this particular proposal has some negatives that maybe are not totally foreseeable in spite of all the serious, ongoing, precise professional calculations and studies. The neighbors and those who frequently, every day, know how things work, or don’t work, at the heavily driven junction of state roads and interstate highway, are the folks that have serious, deep-seated concerns and objections.

They don’t protest too much. Heed what they are saying, always in all ways. They count.

This could be a precedent-setting decision long-term for Newtown. We shouldn’t make it too easy to make it the right on future undertakings.

Elizabeth Lincoln

Newtown