A Legislator’s Concerns

About Deep Brook

To the Editor:

This letter is to urge every person in Newtown to contact the EDC, town representatives and the land use agencies to express their concern with the proposed development at Commerce (Tech) Park at Fairfield Hills.

Thank you for your December 15 editorial coverage of this proposal. As you know, it was on my watch as state representative that the disposition of Fairfield Hills lands first surfaced. The state since 1991 has fully cooperated with my office in acquiring many of its original 850 acres at the Hills for Newtown: 186 acres was made available to the town to purchase and which it now owns. In excess of 250 acres of land were conveyed in perpetuity to the Department of Agriculture and are considered open space; and additionally deeding 11 parcels of land to the town, at no loss, to be used either as open space and recreation or for economic and commercial use. These actions comprised most of the disposition of the original 850 acres at Fairfield Hills. It should be noted also that Garner took 120 acres and Nunnawauk Meadows approximately 45 acres. Further it was clear that Deep Brook needed protection and again the state cooperated by deeding that very valuable reserve to the town.

It is not always easy to obtain the state’s cooperation, especially when competition for land is fierce; but even the state values its natural resources.

When EDC requested my office to reconfigure the two parcels of land (c.f. Bee Ed) abutting Deep Brook in order to mitigate the constraints on development due to the presence of wetlands on one of the parcels, I had legislation passed which permitted that change in use. The more recently conveyed 34-acres parcel had been designated only for open space use thus safeguarding most of the brook. The earlier conveyed 37 acre parcel had a natural slope serving as buffer to the brook. The reconfiguration of the properties and their use altered the natural protection.

The responsibility for the wisest use and protection of these properties rest with town officials charged with regulating land use and it is my belief that public support would help save Deep Brook.

Sincerely

Julia Wasserman

Walnut Tree Hill Road, Sandy Hook                   December 18, 2006