Housing as a component of commercial development, razing buildings with no possible reuse, assisted-living as an acceptable use, and maintaining a vision of Fairfield Hills as a destination will all be part of the Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee’s recommendations, documents which will be finalized in coming days, said committee chair Deborra Zukowski.

The committee convened about a year ago to review the existing master plan document, which guides reuse and development at the town-owned campus and will recommend updates to the plan to the Board of Selectmen. The revisions, if approved, will then go to the Planning & Zoning Commission.

Based on two lengthy meetings on Thursday and Friday, July 11 and 12, the review committee members were unanimous — or nearly so — with their approval of several motions for recommendations, Ms Zukowski said. Some motions and minutes are already posted at newtown-ct.gov.

“The need for housing as a component of commercial development was not for large developments; rather it is for the possibility of renovating a large, existing building like Cochran or Kent,” Ms Zukowski said this week. The buildings would each cost the town approximately $4 million to demolish, she said, noting that Kent, in particular, has “very interesting architectural character that today’s construction can’t afford to replicate.” Her group understands that large development would potentially need a housing component, she added.

The committee’s final documents will also suggest that a master plan review continue to take place every five years or sooner, she said. Ms Zukowski noted that the campus dynamic could change quickly with the opening this month of the new Newtown Community and Senior Center and the brewpub at Stratford Hall, which is poised to open after ongoing renovations are complete.

Earlier this week, Ms Zukowski said much “wordsmithing” remained to be done on any final recommendation documents her group will bring to the selectmen. Noting that motions will possibly be posted online at newtown-ct.gov prior to meeting minutes, she urges readers that “conversation around housing,” which can be found in the minutes, is “very, very important.”

She also spoke about the committee’s efforts to reach residents for input. A public survey indicated that many residents opposed the idea of housing but desired development, she said. In the past year’s work, the committee also became concerned for safety because of empty and deteriorating buildings.

Ms Zukowski’s committee also sees a need for more future assisted living space and for buildings not marked for reuse to be razed as quickly as possible. Safety is the primary concern regarding razing empty structures, she said.

The review committee also feels that a dedicated area for events, which could include a future bandshell or gazebo, could be established. The committee “did not feel it was our purview,” to identify where the space would be.

Officials React

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal has been raising the topic of mixed commercial use of Fairfield Hills buildings to include housing for some time. He also is aware that the review committee last week approved mixed use, although it is “unspecific what that might be.” Mr Rosenthal spoke about housing at the Board Of Selectmen meeting Monday, July 15.

Of finalized recommendations coming to his board, Mr Rosenthal said, “If we approve it, it goes to [the Planning & Zoning Commission], and they can change the regulations to support it.”

Mr Rosenthal also senses strong public opinion surrounding housing. “I do sense that I have a lot of work to do articulating why this is worth considering for the community.”

He still wants to “bring things forward for consideration, especially because of financial ramifications of doing nothing,” he said.

“Tearing buildings down is a high price tag. I concede we’ll have to tear some down. But mixed-use housing may be an option given cost of renovating buildings,” he said.

To better inform the public of how commercial mixed-use and housing could work, Mr Rosenthal “would like to have a community forum and bring developers in to show economics of how this would work. If I could take a building or two off the town’s liabilities and turn into a productive use and have housing as an opportunity for our young people and seniors, it’s worth considering,” he said.

“I have work to do to give people the opportunity to ask questions, give them an opportunity to become informed,” he said.

For residents who oppose development at Fairfield Hills, he said, “Purely preserving Fairfield Hills for future use is a valid point, but you have to admit that it comes at extraordinary cost.”

Mr Rosenthal said, “Another issue is time. What if a roof collapses…the price tag for [the] path we’re on is substantial.”

He added, “There will be some spending that has to take place given the amount of buildings left, but I would love to have someone else at the table.” He said mixed commercial use seems realistic.

Housing Memo

Development firms have an interest in the Fairfield Hills buildings, states Mr Rosenthal on July 1 in a memo to a host of officials.

To Ms Zukowski and others, the memo begins, “During the time that the Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee has been meeting, there has been renewed interest” in the campus. The memo points to “an influx of well-qualified proposals for reuse of some existing buildings.”

The second paragraph states, “Interest in renovating existing buildings has a common theme — housing… by including a residential component in the project, it makes the developer eligible for tax credits…” making development more viable for the developer.

The memo mentions “at least three development firms” with an interest in the property. They have “proven track records renovating historic buildings,” the memo states.

Mr Rosenthal indicates a possible investment of up to $60 million “to renovate some buildings that would include housing, thus preserving existing buildings on campus.”

Development could create jobs, generate tax revenue, and “offer new housing options for young people and seniors.” The building reuse will also “save the taxpayers the substantial expense of abatement and demolition,” states the memo.

The memo further promotes the benefits of some housing on the campus. He closed his memo by endorsing housing “limited to the footprint of existing buildings” as an approved use in the Fairfield Hills Master Plan.

Minutes And Motions

As posted on newtown-ct.gov, “[Ms Zukowski] … motioned that the Committee make a recommendation that the Fairfield Hills Master Plan be modified to allow commercial proposals that include a housing component provided that the proposal is for no more than two buildings and that the commercial component adheres the vision for the property. Bryan Roth seconded. Vote passed with all in favor.”

“Chand Ahuja motioned that assisted living be added as an approved use to the Master Plan. Bob Bowen seconded. All in favor.”

“Chand Ahuja motioned that Cochran be moved out of the ‘Buildings Targeted for Recreational Fields’ table and into the ‘Buildings Targeted for Private Commercial/Nonprofit Use’ table. Rob Sherwood seconded.” One member opposed the motion and one abstained, with seven in favor.

“[Neil Chaudhary] motioned to recommend that buildings with no potential be razed as soon as possible. Bob Bowen seconded. All in favor.”

Ms Zukowski “made a motion that the Committee recommend the Town undertake a site use overlay plan to provide better guidance for potential development of existing buildings.” Bob Bowen seconded. All in favor.

Doug Smith motioned that the Fairfield Hills Review process is repeated until the vision is fully implemented. Rob Sherwood seconded. Chand Ahuja motioned to amend the prior motion on the table to note no more than five years. Neil Chaudhary seconded. Motion to amend the prior motion passed with all in favor.

Ms Zukowski passed control of the meeting to the vice chair and motioned that the town look into the possibility of having a dedicated outdoor event space with possibly an inexpensive outdoor structure. Chand Ahuja seconded. Neil Chaudhary moved to amend the motion to strike everything after “outdoor event space.” Bob Rau seconded. Amendment to motion passed with eight in favor.

Complete motions and minutes of the July 11 and 12 meetings were not yet posted to the town website by press time. All information, including the context and conversation from meeting minutes, should soon appear at newtown-ct.gov.