HARTFORD — State Representatives Mitch Bolinsky and Martin Foncello announced the date of an upcoming, locally important public hearing before the Connecticut General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Government Oversight. The hearing is confirmed for 2 pm Monday, May 5, at the Legislative Office Building, and by remote participation, using the CGA’s Zoom platform and via Zoom.

At this time, the full Committee Agenda and hearing room location have not been determined, but will be, and made public through Committee’s CGA Website, as required by House and Senate rules.

The subject legislation, Senate Bill 673, "Am Act Changing The Authorized Use Of Land Previously Conveyed By The State To The Town Of Newtown," would initiate and document a pending, proposed change to the current deed-use restriction pertaining to the town-owned property at 6/8 Commerce Road in Newtown, from one of “Economic Development” to a deed restriction designation for use of said parcel at 6/8 Commerce Drive for “Open Space and Recreational” purposes, as officially requested by the Town of Newtown, on November 1, 2024, of its State Legislative Delegation.

Bolinsky said, "I fully support this conveyance legislation to update an “Economic Development” deed-restriction on the formerly state-owned property designated as “6/8 Commerce Road”, to the Town requested and resolved request for an “Open Space and Recreation” deed-restriction parcel. This environmentally sensitive meadow land also sits atop an aquifer protection area ,and not far uphill from Deep Brook, Newtown’s Cllass-1 Trout Stream. The property also adjoins the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary. All things considered, an open space and passive recreation designation seem to be an appropriate designation for this ‘picture-postcard’ property.”

Foncello said, “Having this parcel available as open space will be a fitting use considering the proximity to an animal sanctuary and the aquifer protection area where it is located. I co-introduced this deed-restriction change for the property at the request of local officials.”

The House delegation-mates concluded with an acknowledgement of process-oriented expectations about the upcoming public hearing, and the subsequent process for passage of this proposed deed-restriction-revision.

At this time, the full Committee Agenda and hearing room location have not been determined, but will be, and made public through Committee’s CGA Website and other communication means, as time allows, as required by House and Senate rules.

Speakers are requested to register and electronically-submit testimony before 2 pm Sunday, May 4. Testimony links will not become active until the hearing agenda is posted.

Submissions of testimony by those not wishing to speak are also requested by 2 pm Sunday, May 4. As above, testimony links will not become active until the hearing agenda is posted.

Interested parties may visit cga.ct.gov/aspx/CGATestimonySub/CGAtestimonysubmission to confirm the agenda posting, register and/or submit testimony.

The hearing may also be viewed, without registration or submissions, on YouTube, on May 5, at 2 pm.

Finally, this matter is not expected to draw notable opposition and, is expected to advance to passage, most likely as a section of a larger conveyance bill. There will be no votes taken at this subject matter public hearing.