Don’t Sacrifice Taunton Pond

To the Editor,

Taunton Pond residents are very concerned about the proposed sale of the Grossman Property in Newtown on Mount Pleasant Road with 36 acres on Taunton Pond.

The proposed condominium development with 110 units would ultimately destroy the ecosystem in one of the few remaining clean lakes in our state. One look at Lake Lillinonah and Lake Zoar will demonstrate what overpopulation and runoff can do to the environmental soundness of a body of water. It is beyond us that the Town of Newtown, the borough, or the Environmental Protection Agency of the State of Connecticut would allow one of our few “clean” bodies of water to end up like other lakes in our state and community.

Taunton Pond is the only large body of water that supports water to Pond Brook. Pond Brook empties into Lake Lillinonah; therefore, the potential condominium development on Taunton Pond would ultimately provide environmental problems for not only Pond Brook but also further issues at Lake Lillinonah.

For nearly half a century the Newtown Fish and Game has donated thousands of dollars towards keeping Taunton Pond as pollution free as possible. One of our concerns is if 110 families have access to the pond, the Newtown Fish and Game Club may no longer be interested in continuing to support the lake, thus further deteriorating the ecosystem. They are dedicated to preserving Taunton Pond and we see that as a major contribution to the natural beauty of our residence and Newtown.

We understand that owners of large areas of land are developing into sub-lots everywhere; it’s the way of the world. All we are asking is that for once the bodies that are supposed to protect our natural resources, our environment, and our children’s future world, stop for a moment and realize the “real” impact of a condominium development on this parcel of land vs one-acre homes. Realize that if the Town and Borough of Newtown allow this development to proceed, they will be the reason Taunton Pond will end up as another donation to environmental failure.

Yours very truly,

Gene Goodmaster

Mac MacDonald

Taunton Lake Association

Taunton Lake Road, Newtown                                     June 30, 2000