A proposal to create borough zoning regulations, which would serve as a regulatory mechanism for a possible application to build a rental apartment complex at 19 Main Street, drew heavy opposition from residents speaking at a December 11 Borough Zoning Commission (BZC) public hearing.

About 50 people attended the session at Newtown Middle School auditorium at which representatives of development firm 19 Main Street, LLC, discussed the firm’s proposal to create zoning regulations known as the Borough Residential Overlay District (BROD), plus its proposal to apply such zoning rules to the 3.002-acre site where the former Inn at Newtown is located. An initial hearing on the matter was held November 14.

The deteriorating vacant inn, which is in the Borough of Newtown Historic District, closed for business in January 2016. The developer’s conceptual project, involving the construction of 40 rental apartments within three buildings there, would require the inn’s demolition. Projected market-rate rental fees for apartments would be $2,500 to $3,000 monthly.

Attorney Peter Olson, representing the applicant, told BZC members that the developer would abide by the rules governing the historic district in terms of the proposed redevelopment project. The lawyer contended that the presence of an apartment complex would generate less traffic than was created by the former inn, which was a restaurant, bar, and lounge.

Mr Olson pointed out that if they like, BZC members could modify the applicant’s regulatory proposals, making “small changes” to the text.

Public Comment

Lisa Goosman of Meadowbrook Road told BZC members she has lived in Newtown her whole life, watching the community evolve from a farming town to a big community. “We’re a New England town, Main Street is our claim to fame, so to speak,” she said.

Ms Goosman said she would rather see 19 Main Street as a vacant lot than a lot ruined by unwanted redevelopment. “Apartments and condos are the tenements of the future... I, for one, am dead-set against it,” she said.

Jodie Enriquez of Hanover Road stressed her opposition to the multifamily project.

Laura Lerman of Main Street told BZC members that she lives in a house constructed in 1795. “My real concern is about the future of Main Street,” she said. Ms Lerman said that if such “spot zoning” is allowed once, it could occur again.

Ms Lerman challenged the developer’s information that each dwelling in an apartment complex would require 1.75 parking spaces, adding that dwellings in town typically have “two cars-plus” on average.

Mr Olson later said that providing 1.75 parking spaces per apartment would be sufficient, adding that providing more spaces would require more pavement at the site.

Ms Lerman said, “We’ve worked very hard for our way of life... We pay high taxes for our way of life... I’d like to preserve our way of life.”

Ms Lerman later said, “This is Main Street, I believe if you put this up, you will lower the value of my house... It’s our Main Street and our life, and you need to take it more seriously.”

Maureen Rohmer of Main Street said that she had enjoyed going to the inn in the past, but the building did not get the maintenance that it needed. Ms Rohmer recommended that an apartment complex, such as the one proposed by the developer, be built at the town-owned Fairfield Hills campus. At that location, there would be easy access to the complex and apartment residents could safely walk to the town center via a recently constructed sidewalk, she said. Ms Rohmer urged the BZC to reject the developer’s pending regulatory application.

Bill Monaco of Newtown said having a 40-apartment complex on Main Street would be “sickening.”

“This is an abomination,” he added, in urging that the project be rejected by the BZC.

Vincenza McNulty of Settlers Lane said, “If we approve this, this is the first of others to come,” in predicting that more similar projects would be proposed. Ms McNulty suggested that such development occur at Fairfield Hills.

“Commission, please do not approve this (regulatory) change. I do not think this is good for us,” she said.

Attorney Eric DaSilva of Main Street, who lives next door to the former Inn at Newtown, said of the proposed redevelopment, “This is not something that belongs in this (historic) district... I think you have to stop it at this point.” The proposed construction is more a “commercial” project than a “residential” one, he said.

Susan Hildred of Main Street asked BZC members, “Why are you letting the fox write the rules for the henhouse?” a line that was followed by audience applause.

Ms Hildred noted that an apartment complex is being built in Hawleyville which will have 210 dwellings and a 74-unit apartment complex is planned for Sandy Hook Center.

Sherry Bermingham of Main Street said “Main Street is the heartline of Newtown... I think to do that [project] would be destroying Newtown.”

Wayne Addessi of Lovells Lane said that if the site were to be developed as an “8-30g project” under the terms of the state’s Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals Act, what is now a 40-unit proposal could become a 70-unit project.

Such an affordable housing project would effectively bypass local land use regulations, Mr Addessi stressed.

Mr Addessi told BZC members, “Try to work with these folks to come up with a [redevelopment] plan that makes sense.” Also, Mr Addessi urged that multifamily units be condominiums, not rental apartments. Condominiums would provide certain financial advantages for the town and would engender pride of ownership among their occupants, he said.

Borough Attorney Monte Frank stressed that the pending application is not an 8-30g application, adding that comments about 8-30g amount to speculation.

Miriam Pachniuk of Academy Lane commented, “What a ‘Pandora’s box’ if the borough zoning board approves these zoning changes.” She added, “Main Street is special... We must preserve our historic Main Street,” in urging the application’s rejection.

Attorney Robert Hall of Nettleton Avenue told BZC members, “You have total absolute discretion” in terms of action on the application. BZC members should think solely in terms of the application at hand, he said in urging its rejection.

Frank Caico of Newtown, a developer with 19 Main Street LLC, said the proposed apartment project represents a viable redevelopment option for the site, which would respect the architecture of the area. A conceptual rendering of the proposed construction does not represent a final design, he stressed. “We’re trying to create something positive,” he said.

According to the “conceptual site plan” submitted to the BZC, the proposed 40 apartments would each be approximately 1,200 square feet in floor area. Thus, the complex would contain about 48,000 square feet of living space. Also, there would be a total of 72 parking spaces, of which 22 spaces would be in the form of garage space on the bottom level of a larger apartment building located at the rear of the site. The other 50 parking spaces would be located outdoors behind two smaller apartment buildings positioned at the front of the site.

The BZC public hearing on the application closed on December 11. BZC members did not deliberate.

BZC Chairman Douglas Nelson said members would discuss the application at their January 8 meeting to be held in Edmond Town Hall at 45 Main Street. The BZC has 65 days to take action on an application after a public hearing closes.