To the Editor:

The next step in the process of allowing apartments on the Fairfield Hills Campus will be a Request for Proposal, according to the First Selectman.

The most recent step was the Planning and Zoning Commission’s approval of a text amendment to the Fairfield Hills regulations. I have to say the role of the P&Z was disappointing. The P&Z seemed more interested in how fast they could approve the amendment, rather than taking their role seriously. They had not reviewed nor approved the FFH Master Plan recommendations, according to what the Director of Planning said during the Master Plan process, as to what the process was. That would have allowed P&Z to understand what the Master Plan Commission intended and the background on their recommendations. The Commission failed to correct the language in the amendment to match the referendum wordage, a “commercial proposal with a residential component.” Nor did they add any verbiage to ensure any proposals would adhere to the Fairfield Hills vision, as required by the Master Plan. No details on how many or how tall parking garages could be, how many apartment units would be allowed, what is the minimum commercial space required and on what floor? Nada, nothing, not a word. They voted shortly after the last comment, not taking the opportunity to sleep on what they heard. They simply punted the ball down the field to the First Selectman to make all the decision.

As concerning was the role of the Newtown Director of Planning. The Director wrote and submitted the verbiage for the amendment, then changed roles and acted as a consultant to the P&Z. The Director proceeded to tell the elected P&Z members what they could and could not do and advising the P&Z to not include as few details as possible in the amendment. Seems like a conflict of interest to work both sides of the fence. But the P&Z took the easy way out and deferred to the Planning and Development Director, rather than doing their job. They simply rubber stamped the amendment and said the details would be up to the First Selectman.

So, onto to the Request for Proposal stage. Will the RFP reinstate the verbiage that voters approved, a commercial development with a residential component and will the RFP paint a picture of apartments over retail, or will it simply say apartments? Will we finally see the details of what is required? Do the voters get to weigh in or is it just the First Selectman? Each step has, so far, seen a dilution in what the Master Plan Commission recommended, and what the Legislative Council asked the voters in the referendum question, and what the voters approved.

Pay attention; keep following the process. You will get what you inspect, not what you expect. This is now the First Selectman’s project.

Bruce Walczak

12 Glover Avenue, Newtown