Officials Share Thoughts On Housing At FFH

By Kendra Bobowick

Housing and economic development are the lightning rods for Fairfield Hills, First Selectman Pat Llodra has repeated on several occasions.

She believed it several months ago when discussing the Master Plan Review Committee’s charge, and made the same observation again this week while looking back at recent debates about the merits of housing on the former state hospital campus — not a permitted use under the current master plan for redevelopment.

Sparking questions is the prospect of Cochran House redevelopment, which broker Michael Struna has brought forward. He has told local officials he is speaking with one developer who is interested in converting Cochran into apartments.

Mrs Llodra said, “We have to look at housing as a concept.” The Master Plan Review Committee is both weighing campus reuse as members review the current master plan, while also hearing Mr Struna’s development ideas:  “They may say Yes. Housing is a yes — but not this particular project, or housing is not a vision we want for Fairfield Hills,” Mrs Llodra said. “They have to be careful of the path they take to solve this question.”

Mrs Llodra warns, “We don’t want to contaminate [the review process] with consideration of this one project.” She wants a broader look at the prospect of a residential component at Fairfield Hills.

Should officials consider the project for Cochran House? “If it helps us decide if housing is right for our town or not, then I am all for it. We have to think about housing in some way.”

Master Plan Review Committee member Robert Maurer, a local realtor, likes the idea of housing on campus. “It’s just my opinion, and I know it’s not popular,” he said. “The timing is the best now than it has ever been. It may be a good time to look [at the concept].”

Apartments all clustered in the center of town may be an advantage, he suggested. “If you’re a parent, it would be nice to have your kids in an apartment close by, or your elderly parents.” Apartments may also be a more affordable options for those children or parents who wish to remain nearby.

For those who make the argument that they “want the campus to be alive, well, you need people,” he said, to support businesses that may relocate to the site.

“We’re not talking single-family houses, it’s smart growth, not 25 houses over 50 acres, but have people clustered in one area, and not on open space,” he said.

Housing in general will not become “a runaway” idea in Newtown, he feels.

In coming weeks the review committee members will meet with the Board of Selectmen to offer an update about where they stand in the review process. No decisions have been made yet to uphold or amend the current master plan to redevelop Fairfield Hills.