To the Editor:

My neighbors and I have been attending Planning and Zoning meetings regarding the proposed development of property near Exit 9 in the Hawleyville district since August.  On the night of November 5th we were there until midnight.

At this point I have to ask myself why?

There have been rumors that if this development is not approved, the state will come in and construct affordable housing without warning or regard to our neighborhood. It was implied that we should stop fighting this development, as the state needs to allow affordable housing for families who, otherwise, may not be able to afford to live in Newtown.  The reasoning largely being that those children can have the opportunity to attend Newtown schools.

The developer said at a recent P&Z meeting that there would not be many children living here.  It is targeted at young adults (20-30 years) who can’t afford to buy a house.  Most of the units are one bedroom.

I don’t know what the bigger agenda is here. But I do agree with Herb Rosenthal that things are being done in this town without the public being made aware of all the facts. I thought at meetings (such as P&Z and Wetlands), that when the public gets to comment,  that those comments are then taken into consideration.  I feel that in this case in particular there has been a predetermined outcome from the start.  If they knew from the beginning that they wanted this project to go through, then why not just pass it and stop wasting everybody’s time?

To keep getting up month after month at meetings to voice an opinion only to hear that this project has to go through is disheartening to say the least.

Janet McKeown

10 Hillcrest Drive, Newtown         November 10, 2015