Date: Fri 12-Feb-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Tannenbaum-Mills-vistas

Full Text:

Couple Unhappy With Their Farm's Designation As A Vista

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

A Pond Brook Road couple is unhappy that the Planning and Zoning Commission

(P&Z) is considering designating their property as one of 17 local vistas

deemed worthy of preservation during a time of continuing rapid development.

Gary Tannenbaum and Helen Mills of 36 Pond Brook Road told P&Z members at a

February 4 public hearing they want the view of their property removed from

the list of vistas that the P&Z wants protected for their scenic value.

The town's 1993 Plan of Development and Conservation contains a section

stating "Key vistas in the town should be formally recognized and designated.

Protection of these sites through open space set-asides or creative site

planning can ensure their enjoyment by future generations."

Ms Mills urged P&Z members not to make her property, known as Vista 11, a

designated view. Ms Mills said designating her property as a protected view is

"very arbitrary."

"I don't even approve of the concept of `view.' It's totally nebulous..."I

don't want to be part of a designated vista," she said.

P&Z member Robert Taylor asked if her property being named Vista 11 has had an

effect, so far. Ms Mills replied that there has not been any effect yet, but

there could be one.

"There are literally hundreds of views. Choose someone else's farm, not mine,"

she said.

Attorney Bill Denlinger, representing Ms Mills and Mr Tannenbaum, said, "It's

a nice thought, but a bad idea." Designating views probably takes away some

property rights of specific property owners, he said. "I don't doubt that the

intention is good."

Mr Tannenbaum said, "Picking vistas with houses in the forefront is just the

wrong thing to do."

"I don't want to be a vista... This is our farm... It's not a vista of

Newtown," he said.

"We [are] in the valley. Why were we identified in the valley and all the

other vistas are hilltops?" he asked.

The view of 36 Pond Brook Road is the cover illustration of the P&Z's December

1998 report, The Views of Newtown , a planning document prepared by an intern

which describes the locations of the 17 views considered worthy of protection.

Mr Tannenbaum and Ms Mills asked that the view of their farm be removed from

the cover of the report.

In a letter to the P&Z they write, "We purchased our farm for its natural

beauty and privacy. The listing of our farm as a scenic vista... encourages

the public to view our farm. It makes it a public place. It diminishes the

value of our farm, our privacy, and creates undue public interference in the

use of our property."

Commended

Joanathan Chew, executive director of the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected

Officials (HVCEO), commended P&Z members for their efforts to preserve local

scenic views. Mr Chew wrote that he will inform other municipal planning

commissions in the region of the P&Z's work in that regard.

Developer and builder Kim Danziger said of the P&Z's scenic views proposal,

"This is probably one of the most exciting proposals from a developer's

standpoint... It's just a great opportunity to open up a dialogue... a

wonderful first step," he said.

Mr Danziger suggested that the P&Z rework its subdivision regulations to allow

"cluster" residential development to preserve scenic views. In cluster

developments, dwellings are massed together to protect open space on a site.

Elizabeth Stocker, community development director, said although The Views of

Newtown mentions only 17 local views, there are others which could be

designated as worthy of preservation.

The scenic view proposal is a "planning tool" which does not seek to prohibit

additional development, she said.

Beyond endorsing protection of the 17 views, the P&Z could enact certain

regulations to protect the views, if desired, she said. Protecting such views

is a new concept, she added.

P&Z action on the scenic views proposal is expected at an upcoming session.

The Views

The vistas proposed for protection include the views:

westward from a house at 13 Farm Meadow Road toward a forested valley and

ridge.

southeastward from a pasture on Orchard Hill Road toward a forested valley.

westward from a point on Great Ring Road toward three ridges.

northward from the intersection of Yogananda Street and Silo Road toward a

forested valley.

southwestward from 4 Orange Pippin Road toward a sloping dense forest.

southwestward from the crest of Castle Hill Road toward a forested ridge.

northeastward from a natural gas transmission line right-of-way on Parmalee

Hill Road toward densely forested multiple ridgelines.

northeastward from Parmalee Hill Road toward multiple ridges.

northward from intersection of Parmalee Hill Road and Butterfield Road toward

fields and forested hills.

westward from the intersection of Butterfield Road and Georges Hill Road

toward multiple ridges, houses, a field, a red barn and stone wall.

southeastward from Pheasant Ridge Road toward a forested valley, farmland and

houses, which is the Tannenbaum/Mills property.

eastward from Route 25 at the Newtown/Brookfield line toward ridgelines and a

field.

northward from Barnabas Road toward a ridge, field and houses.

Other vistas include the views:

northward from the end of Whippoorwill Hill Road toward a field, ridge and

houses.

eastward from Old Castle Drive toward the Main Street flagpole, Newtown

Congregational Church, The Meeting House, Trinity Episcopal Church and

Fairfield Hills.

westward from 14 Old Castle Road toward a farm, ridge and houses.

the view in all directions from the summit of Holcombe Hill, the highest point

in town. Holcombe Hill is a land preserve owned by the Newtown Forest

Association.