Fairfield Hills Is Not An Island

To the Editor:

The master plan for Fairfield Hills proposes as its goal the creation of an office park in the core campus. FFH is not an island unto itself; it is only one part of Newtown. The selectmen’s master plan does not answer many issues. If the master plan is approved and the commercialization of FFH begins, the following unanswered questions will continue to haunt us.

*What role will Edmond Town Hall have in the future of our town?

*Is it wise to spend $4.95 million for building design and renovation of the police station (Newtown Bee 7/25/03) when the plot of land is too small for parking and building expansion?

*Will the Teen Center be relocated to FFH?

*Will Youth Services in Newtown be relocated to FFH, Edmond Town Hall, or elsewhere when the bank-owned location is reclaimed?

*Should the Newtown Hook and Ladder Fire Company be given space at FFH to replace its crumbling building or should we purchase land elsewhere?

*Should the volunteer Ambulance Corp, with a facility so small that some overnight volunteers must sleep on a sofa, have space at FFH or find land elsewhere?

*Where will we find classroom space for the increasing high school enrollment?

*Newtown may grow to 35,000 or 45,000 in population. Will space at FFH be reserved for a community center, arts center, and recreation center, which would find funding during the next 20 years?

*Where exactly will the existing Senior Center find space at FFH to serve a growing senior population?

*Will FFH be allowed to serve as the hub of a townwide trail system?

*How will the FFH High Meadow and West Meadows be preserved? Will they be real open space or only “available space”?

*What assurance do we have that walkers, skaters, bike riders, dog walkers, equestrians will be welcomed or allowed in the office park?

*Will there be space of FFH for simple outdoor enjoyment for everyone, rich or poor, young and old?

FFH is a quality of life issue. How will our lives be made more pleasant by creating an office park? What I see is traffic, traffic, and more traffic; housing needs for those people moving in to take jobs; more classroom shortages; and higher taxes to satisfy their demands. These unanswered questions require a No vote for the selectmen’s master plan. If you want more information, come to the Middle School on Saturday, August 9, 10 am to noon. View the selectmen’s map. You will understand better their goal to create an office park at our beautiful Fairfield Hills.

Linda E. Dunn

26 Old Bethel Road, Newtown                                   August 5, 2003