Date: Fri 13-Aug-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Rotary-Johnson-Fairfield-Hills

Full Text:

Fairfield Hills Purchase Advocates Make Their Case

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The group which now calls itself "Save Fairfield Hills for Newtown" is making

the rounds these days in an effort to get out the facts about the impending

sale of the former state mental health hospital.

On Monday, two members of the group -- Al Cramer and Ruby Johnson -- made a

presentation to the Newtown Rotary Club. During their one-hour presentation,

the two provided facts, urged members to stay informed, and explained the

importance of securing the land for Newtown's own needs.

"In the year 2010, our student population will rise to 6,300, an increase of

1,800 over what we have right now," explained Mr Cramer, a former Newtown High

principal. "We're short on land for playing fields right now. What are we

going to do when we have 6,300 kids?"

Members of "Save Fairfield Hills for Newtown" believe Fairfield Hills holds

the key to many of the growth problems Newtown will face in the coming years.

It offers both buildings and land for schools, municipal office space, and

commercial office space -- three things in short supply in Newtown.

Currently, there is a $20.8 million proposal to build a 23,000-square-foot

addition to Edmond Town Hall, renovate the police department and rebuild Hook

& Ladder firehouse. The town could save money by taking advantage of the

facilities in existence at Fairfield Hills, Mr Cramer said, suggesting the use

of Woodbury Hall for town space.

Rotarian Bob Hall, a local attorney, took exception to the suggestion that

adding on to town hall may not be such a good idea. Even if you acquire

Fairfield Hills, you still must construct the municipal space, he said. That

could cost just as much as any town hall add-on. And, no matter what happens

at Fairfield Hills, the town must still address the deferred

maintenance/mechanical upgrades to town hall.

Mr Hall, who served on the board which recommended the town hall addition and

who owns the landmark General Store building adjacent to the town hall, was

one of a handful of Rotary members who appeared skeptical about the "Save

Fairfield Hills for Newtown" theory.

"I'm concerned about the town trying to do the clean-up. It would be nice to

control this, but you can expect property taxes to skyrocket," noted Nick

Borello, Rotary chairman. "There doesn't seem to be enough of a tax base to

support this."

Finances are fundamental, noted another member. What will the town have to

pay? Of course, no one will know for sure until the state makes the town an

offer. However, many expect it to be in the $2-3 million range. The big costs

will come later, however, when the town begins writing checks totalling $8, $9

or $10 million simply to abate, demolish and rehabilitate the massive

buildings on the 186-acre campus.

Skip Roberts wondered why the town needed to buy the land in order to maintain

control over the property. He suggested that the town could exert effective

control of the property through Planning & Zoning.

P&Z has passed regulations that prohibit certain types of housing in zoning

around Fairfield Hills. However, Mrs Johnson said, history has shown that a

good lawyer can overturn those regs with a well-written lawsuit. Next thing

you know, the land is full of affordable housing, Mrs Johnson said.

The speakers warned residents not to get too excited about items offered to

the town by the three prospective developers. For example, Mr Cramer said,

Becker and Becker has proposed giving Cochran House to the town for the

construction of a 5/6 grade school. That doesn't mean they'll build the school

for free, and the developers will own the land underneath he school.

"Can we get state aid if we don't bid on construction of a school?" Mr Cramer

wondered.

Not all Rotarians were skeptical. "I don't see why we don't just buy it. If

the state can sell it, we can sell it, too," one club member said.

"Save Fairfield Hills for Newtown" is made up of 30 members who all feel

strongly that Newtown should buy the state-owned campus.