Some Concerns About The Master Plan

To the Editor:

Friends of Fairfield Hills present the fourth in our series explaining the selectmen’s master plan for Fairfield Hills. (page 4, Executive Summary, February 2003).

Newtown Hall, 22,260 square feet  (state), 16,000 square feet  (HMA-basement excluded); Abatement Cost $101,500; Renovation $1,291,080; Parking spaces 64*

Woodbury Hall, 42,512 square feet  (state), 30,000 square feet  (HMA-basement excluded); Abatement Cost $227,000; Renovation $2,639,696; Parking 131*

Kent House, 238,407 square feet  (state), 50,000 square feet  (HMA-reduced in size); Abatement Costs $1,116,000; Renovation $13,827,606; Parking 682* (reduced size-unknown cost & parking);

(*FFH Advisory Report, Spring 2000–uses $58 per square feet  for renovations)

Preferred Re-use: Newtown and Woodbury – Offices, Education, similar use: Kent House — demolish for academy or retain for private use.

Sponsor/Investor: Newtown, Woodbury, Kent — private investor of town if for education.

The master plan makes no definitive recommendations; instead, it leaves these decisions to the selectmen and the management group they will appoint.

Concerns: 1. Increasing enrollment — In June 2003, Newtown graduated 284 students. They will be replaced by 432 incoming freshmen. Newtown High is projected to grow to 1,965 students by 2012, an increase of 413 over the present 1,427. The Board of Education has requested $400,000 to convert two basement-like rooms into four classrooms expected to accommodate enrollment for about three years. What then? Five option rumors are circulating.

Option 1: Renovate an existing building at FFH to provide a “special year of opportunity” for, perhaps sophomores, to study intensively a foreign language or, perhaps, undertake a “Renaissance curriculum” otherwise unavailable.

Option 2: Construct a new building on a demolished Kent House site.

Option 3: Construct an addition to the 1998 addition at the existing high school and build a parking garage to accommodate the many cars. (Cost – ground parking = $1,000 per space; structured parking about $10,000 per space.)

Option 4: Buy land (or obtain a right-of-first-refusal) somewhere for a new and larger high school.

Option 5: Double sessions

Unanswered questions: Can Newtown afford to construct a new school building and a new town hall before 2011? Should we renovate an existing building? Who will decide? Do students, school buildings, playing fields, and professional offices co-mingle well?

Opinion: These questions and options are too important to be left unanswered. The master plan on page one states “…Selected structures within the entry plaza portion should be renovated for economic development activity, such as small professional offices.” This stated goal indicates there is no real intent to use either Newtown or Woodbury for school purposes. However, as presently written, citizens are led to believe educational uses are seriously being considered. The master plan is incomplete and confusing on the issues of education.

A No vote will send the selectmen’s master plan back for fuller and more definitive development.

Ruby K. Johnson

16 Chestnut Hill, Sandy Hook                                         July 23, 2003