To the Editor:

(The following letter to the members of the Planning & Zoning Commission has been received for publication in The Newtown Bee.)

Gentlemen,

While attending the October 1 P&Z meeting regarding the proposed development on Covered Bridge Road in the Hawleyville section of town, a couple of people representing the developer made reference to the current covered bridge and the sad condition it is in. They stated that it “has not been maintained for the past 20 or 30 years” and “has not been maintained since the 80s.”

I would like the committee to know that that is not true. The current owner of this property is Grace Family Church. Prior to that, Stanley Simon owned this property, and kept it meticulously maintained; from the beautiful gardens, the ponds (frog and koi), the wide variety of trees he had planted there, and, last but not least, the covered bridge. The bridge has only fallen into disrepair since Grace Family Church has taken over this property when Mr Simon passed away in 2010. Unfortunately the bridge has not been the only casualty at the hands of Grace Family Church. Most of the magnificent gardens are gone, the frog pond is completely overgrown, and I wonder how many of the hand selected trees that were planted here 30 years ago will be cut down to make room for a parking lot?

I only hope that once Grace Family Church completes their project, they will better maintain the property.

Sincerely,

Janet McKeown

10 Hillcrest Drive, Newtown     October 2, 2015