Housing At Fairfield Hills: A Clear And Present Danger

To the Editor:

A recent proposal to convert Cochran House into 160 apartments has triggered Planning & Zoning to consider allowing big box, high-density housing into Fairfield Hills, and Newtown, for the first time. Despite widespread opposition, P&Z is just one vote short of approving this type of housing development, and thus have turned this housing proposal into a major election issue.

Their actions have thrust me and other Board of Selectmen candidates into the electoral fray by virtue of the fact that the selectmen hold sole power of approval of all conforming leases at Fairfield Hills — a power that I strongly oppose. If P&Z picks up just one additional vote in favor of housing in the upcoming election and approves this sweeping change in allowable housing, it would give the Board of Selectmen the power to radically change Newtown in perpetuity.

Let us be clear as to Po Murray’s (my running mate) and my position. We oppose housing at Fairfield Hills, especially high-density apartment projects; we think that they represent a clear and present danger to Newtown.

We think that these housing projects will bring urban problems to Newtown. We are also concerned about the likely need for outside funding to make these massive renovation projects viable. In particular we are concerned about the use of readily available federal funding, such as HUD Section 8 subsidies, because federal funds come with strings attached, and the use of such funds will likely cause Newtown to lose control of Fairfield Hills.

We believe that as long as P&Z seeks to allow housing, the controversy will remain with us. It is then only a matter of time before just two members of the Board of Selectmen will allow unwanted high-density housing projects to become a part of FFH. This is why we believe that the sole power to approve leases held by the Board of Selectmen is an excess of power that must be repealed. The Legislative Council can easily do that by amending the Fairfield Hills Authority ordinance or better by simply repealing it.

We believe that we can only end this housing debate with finality by bringing FFH under our town charter and moving forward with updating the master plan according to the consent of the community, which is best established with a townwide referendum.

Bill Furrier

IPN Candidate

For First Selectman

9 Erin Lane, Sandy Hook                                            October 12, 2011