Date: Fri 29-Jan-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Ruby-Johnson-Fairfield-Hills

Full Text:

Lone Petitioner Asks: What If The Town Owned Fairfield Hills?

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Ruby Johnson is quick to tell you she won't be around 50 years from now. But

that doesn't mean she's not concerned about Newtown's future.

The longtime Newtown resident worries about the town's municipal space needs

and wonders if the town will have the land needed to expand its recreational

facilities and ballfields. As the town grows, Mrs Johnson can't help but think

about senior housing and new school site requirements.

That is why she has circulated a petition asking Newtown's leaders to give

serious consideration to the purchase of the 186-acre core campus area at

Fairfield Hills. Thus far, she has collected nearly 300 signatures requesting

the Board of Selectmen appoint a new committee -- made up of representatives

from several local organizations -- to consider the purchase.

"I can't believe the response I've had. At this point, there's about 280-300

signatures," noted Mrs Johnson.

She considers Fairfield Hills to be one of the most beautiful pieces of land

in town and thinks it holds the key to many of the town's growth problems.

It's the kind of land that won't be available 10 years from now. As she points

out, Newtown is in a unique situation. Under normal circumstances, this land

would have been developed many years ago.

"Let's grab it while we have the chance so that the town will have the land in

`perpetuity,'" she said.

Former first selectman and Nunnawauk Meadows director Frank DeLucia agrees

with Mrs Johnson. The town needs to look at its long-term needs, he said.

"My feelings are from people I have talked to is there is a lot of support for

the town to take a closer look at this. I know public officials are concerned

about cost, but I feel we can make our money back on this," he said.

Mr DeLucia called Fairfield Hills a superb location -- a perfect spot for the

town's police and Hook & Ladder facilities.

"The town has such large needs. If you go out and buy property for schools or

office space it will be in the millions of dollars," he said.

As Mrs Johnson points out, the town is fortunate to have land at its disposal

right now. Discussions are currently under way on a proposed 5/6 school would

be built on a piece of land adjacent to Watertown Hall at Fairfield Hills. The

state gave Newtown that land as part of a settlement over the construction of

the Garner Correctional Facility.

The cost to buy the core campus would be considerable. The 186 acres, which

includes the majority of the massive former state hospital buildings, might

range from between $3 and $12 million. However, Mrs Johnson, and apparently

some 300 others, believe it would be a purchase that Newtown would be glad it

made down the road.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said the state has not yet offered the property

to the town, although it must legally give the town right-of-first refusal.

Late last year, however, a Board of Selectmen-appointed committee recommended

that the town not purchase the Fairfield Hills land. It cited liability

concerns and the high cost of marketing and administering the property. The

initial expense was also a compelling argument against the purchase.

Mrs Johnson disagreed with the recommendation and wondered if the committee

had consulted with every group in Newtown.

"It has not been investigated as much as it should be," she said. "Too many

people just threw up their hands and said `Oh, we can't afford it.'"

Mr Rosenthal said the cost to purchase the land and adjoining buildings is not

the only obstacle. He reminded residents that the state is offering a piece of

property with millions of dollars worth of liability attached to it. One town

official said it could cost as much as $7 million to demolish the

asbestos-filled buildings.

"If it were just open space I would say yes," he said.

Nevertheless, the first selectman said his mind is still open to purchasing

the property. "I'm not opposed to looking at it, but it has not been offered

yet," Mr Rosenthal said.

Last week, the town voted to purchase a $1.2 million strip of land including

six houses along Queen Street from the state.

Currently, the state Office of Policy and Management is considering 12

prospective developers who have expressed interest in purchasing the Fairfield

Hills land. The state is seeking the most appropriate use for the land.

Mr DeLucia said he has been reading comments from these prospective developers

and how wonderful and valuable they feel the property is. He wondered how the

town could pass up such an opportunity.

"If we don't need the 186 acres we could sell some of it ourselves," Mrs

Johnson said. "I know some people don't want to get into the real estate

business, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. What if New York City

didn't buy Central Park?"

Some residents, including Mrs Johnson, believe Fairfield Hills would be a

perfect setting for a new town hall. Others scorn such a plan, saying town

hall must remain on Main Street.

"There were some who opposed the Congregational Church moving off Main Street,

but it had outlived its usefulness there," Mrs Johnson said.

Currently, the town's municipal space needs committee is looking at solutions

to Newtown's shortage of town office space. There is talk of building a new

Hook & Ladder firehouse, a new police station and, under one scenario,

construction of a new town hall.

"If you're going to buy property for a police station and Hook & Ladder, by

the time you do all those things, it makes Fairfield Hills look pretty good,"

Mrs Johnson said.

According to Mrs Johnson, the petition plan started about three months ago.

"I was just talking with my neighbors about how nice that property at

Fairfield Hills was and how the town ought to buy it for the future," she

said. "Then the report came out from the selectmen that said we definitely

should not buy the land."

A New Town Park?

As the town continues to grow, the Parks & Recreation Commission has mentioned

the possible need for a new town park sometime down the road. It may be 10-15

years from now, but it sure would be good to plan ahead, noted P&R Director

Barbara Kasbarian

"We really need to start looking toward the future. With the way building is

going on and the number of children coming in, I could see, 10-15 years down

the line, where there could be a need for another park," she said.

Mrs Kasbarian believes now is the time to start planning ahead. In the past,

Newtown has missed the boat on a few good opportunities.

"I've seen things the town has lost in the past, including the ICC fields (on

Route 34). Now there are houses on that property," Mr Kasbarian said. "The

town could have purchased the land for something like $50,000 or $60,000, but

it turned it down."

The P&R is looking to conduct a study to identify its long-term needs and then

come up with a master plan.

Mrs Johnson said she will continue to collect signatures until February 1 and

will present them to the Board of Selectmen next month.