Proposed Development Is The Antithesis Of Plan Of Conservation And Development
To the Editor:
It has been reported that the Borough Zoning Commission has referred the proposed Castle Hill cluster development to the Town’s Planning Staff for a review whether the proposed development conforms to the Plan of Conservation and Development 2014 (POCD 2014) for the Borough. In that document, at p.165, it states: “The visual character of Newtown’s pastoral and rural landscape, including open fields, stonewalls, ponds and streams, country lanes, forested areas, etc, makes a valued contribution to Newtown’s Community Character.” Adding 117 expensive homes, with a pool, ball courts, and its own community center, all clustered in a small area off Mount Pleasant Road, is in no way consistent with the POCD 2014. It is in effect, the construction of an elite “un-gated” gated community within the Borough which would absolutely destroy the Town’s community character. The POCD also prioritizes the preservation of open spaces in the Borough to maintain the look and feel of its historic past. This proposed development is the antithesis of what the Borough community has been. If the Enclave is any indication of the cluster housing that will be built, Castle Hill will feature huge houses crowded together in a small space — but with three times as many houses and private community center, swimming pool and ball courts — thereby creating a private community separate from the Borough without becoming part of the larger neighborhood.
The proposed development has no modestly priced housing that would comport with the goals of offering a variety of homes attracting younger workers or seniors. At public hearings, the developer has stated it has no affordable housing plans. Finally, it is one of the last open spaces within the Borough — and the one that plans egress and ingress onto Mount Pleasant Road — US HWY 6 and CT HWY 25 — already a way too-busy road.
It is the responsibility of the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Borough Zoning Commission to follow the POCD 2014, not to ignore whatever provisions are inconvenient to maximize profit of developers and owners. This proposal does not comport with the POCD 2014.
Patricia Hirsch
Newtown
Those commenting against the development fail to mention the positives. The “historic” road will be preserved and protected with 33 feet from the center and open to the public Currently its private property), 90 acres will be preserved for every, and 40 acres will be developed with city sewers and water, protection the entire property from 127 homes septic tanks. Is it the same as no development, no, but way better than 127 potential homes developed on the entire property. This is a fair deal from the town and the owner of the property. If the NCC were to win there would be no further development in Newtown, since almost all their arguments are no growth, no build.