Date: Fri 12-Mar-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-vistas

Full Text:

P&Z Adds Study On Local Vistas To Plan of Development

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has incorporated into the town Plan

of Development a study on 17 local vistas considered worthy of protection.

The Plan of Development, which was approved in 1993, contains information on

15 of the 17 views. The report approved by the P&Z, March 4, expands on the

vistas by providing photographs and specific locational information on each of

the 17 views.

In response to concerns expressed by a Pond Brook Road couple at a February 4

public hearing, P&Z members agreed to omit from the cover of the report "The

Views of Newtown," a photograph of their property which is designated as Vista

11. The photograph of that view and the others, however, will remain within

the report.

At the February 4 hearing, Gary Tannenbaum and Helen Mills of 36 Pond Brook

Road told P&Z members they are unhappy their property had been designated as

one of 17 local vistas deemed worthy of preservation.

Tannenbaum and Mills said they wanted the view of their property removed from

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

In a letter to the P&Z discussed at that hearing, Tannebaum and Mills wrote

"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."

At the March 4 session, P&Z Chairman Daniel Fogliano said of the report on the

17 views "This is a good starting off point and a good addition to the plan of

development." Mr Fogliano said Vista 11 should be kept as one of the views in

the report.

P&Z member James Boylan similarly endorsed the report, but noted that the P&Z

has no way to enforce protecting the views included in it.

Member Robert Taylor then suggested that the photograph of property owned by

Tannenbaum and Mills be removed from the cover of the report.

In endorsing the report, P&Z members unanimously agreed to keep information

and a photograph on Vista 11 in the document, but to remove the photograph of

it from the cover of the report.

Mr Tannenbuam said March 8 of the P&Z's action "Hopefully, they'll respect our

privacy." The P&Z would be better advised to address major issues such as the

future of Fairfield Hills and the sewering of Hawleyville than dealing with

nebulous issues like protecting particular local views, he said.

"It was appropriate," Mr Tannenbaum said of the P&Z's decision to remove the

photograph of his property from the cover of the report.

The town's 1993 Plan of Development 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."

The Views

The vistas include:

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; and

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

Hill Road toward densely forested multiple ridgelines.

Other vistas include the views:

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; and

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

Other vistas include the views:

northward from the end of Whipporwill 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, and

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.