Will A Military Base Seek Land In Newtown?

By Kendra Bobowick

Is a military base coming to Newtown?

First Selectman Joe Borst still does not have an answer. Most recently the first selectman had asked the Commissions of Economic Development and Conservation to consider whether or not the technology park site off Commerce Road might be a better location than the high meadow rising above Wasserman Way across from the fenced-in Governor’s Horse Guard property.

The military was hoping for a response by Thanksgiving. At Mr Borst’s request, the two boards met in a hurry.

The question was not one the economic commission alone should consider, members felt. Conservation members drew a harder conclusion. They did not like the idea of a proposed military base that first caught local attention in October with conversations between the military and first selectman.

With the collective answers in hand, Mr Borst eyed the late November holiday just days away and replied to his military contact in Connecticut at the time. “I asked him to take the information to his superiors and express that the atmosphere in town is not positive.”

He guessed at what might happen next.

“Maybe they’ll come down and meet with the Board of Selectmen and others. Maybe we’ll see why they want to come to Newtown.” Would they specify a site? He did not have an answer. Once the high meadow site found resistance by some, and consideration from others, the Tech Park entered conversation. Economic commissioners asked if Bachelder property on Botsford Hill Road might make a better location, and Mr Borst this week said he told the military contact, “I mentioned the property on the corner of Nunnawauk Meadows and Wasserman Way.” Also this week he again asked about Bachelder, but mentioned the catch: “[Their] stipulation was they must be next to the horse guard. It really ties their hands.”

He is waiting for their reply. “They’ll either want to come down here, or say, ‘No thanks.’”

Newtown is no exception to the country’s economic trouble, the first selectman reminded, and weighed the potential of income from a land sale to the military, or Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) specifically. “Who knows how long the Tech Park property would sit until its sold...I am not enamored of it, but...” Noting his familiarity with economic downturns, Mr Borst finished his thought, “We have to look at the options, but so far people don’t like it.”

Several times officials have wondered aloud, “What about eminent domain?” Several commission members and residents have asked if the military would take the property.

The first selectman consulted the town’s law firm,  which said it could.

According to a letter from Joseph B. Schwartz, Esq, at Cohen and Wolf, PC: “The power of eminent domain is given to the federal government by the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, and it is referred to as the Takings Clause. It requires the United States to pay ‘just compensation,’ normally measured by fair market value, whenever it takes private property for public use... the United States government can exercise its power of eminent domain to take property owned by the town.”