Fairfield Hills Sees Changes,

Setbacks, And Progress

By Kendra Bobowick

“It’s a year of pause, really, at Fairfield Hills,” said Fairfield Hills Authority Chairman John Reed, reflecting on 2010. “To look honestly, it’s a year by design that pauses to reflect and evaluate.” Revisiting the former state hospital’s master plan for campus redevelopment, and “what the community is doing,” for one, has occupied many volunteer committee members’ hours since the Master Plan Review Committee formed under the auspices of the Board of Selectmen this year.

Dialogue among members of the Fairfield Hills Authority, review committee, selectmen, and others has prompted both discussion and shared thoughts in recent months, he noted.

Although the authority’s job is to execute the master plan, a document that guides preferred future uses for the empty buildings, recreation, municipal and community uses, among other things, for the 180-plus acres of land and buildings, that same plan is being revisited. But the review committee recommendations and potential changes are not yet known, Mr Reed explained. “They have a task, and we have a task,” but the two do not necessarily conflict. As far as what type of development the property’s sole real estate broker Michael Struna of Advantage Realty can negotiate, or what form of economic growth will be promoted on the once state-owned parcel, Mr Reed said, “We’ll have to wait and see.”

The review committee may change all accepted uses, or none, authority members have mused in recent weeks.

The two groups’ efforts “do represent a challenge,” Mr Reed said. One major developer had shown an interest in revamping Cochran House to serve as apartments, but housing is not among approved reuses in the current master plan. Could the town have entered a dialogue with the developer? he wondered.

“We don’t know details of what the developer was willing to do.” He later noted that “good decisionmaking means gathering all the facts; that’s a difficult model to follow because we don’t know what the developer was willing to do. To say No to apartments is fine, but what else was he willing to do?” Mr Reed asked. He would like the chance to hear “what is possible, then make decisions,” he said.

Aside from carrying out the master plan, the authority has another goal. “We want to continue the idea that Fairfield Hills is [part of] Newtown, and I feel we made real progress with working Fairfield Hills into day-to-day operations rather than it remaining an isolated entity,” he said.

First Selectman Pat Llodra shared similar thoughts about weaving the campus into town operations. “My overarching goal for the year … is to begin the transition from [the hired management firm] to full management by the town.” DeMarco Management Corporation is currently handling security and maintenance at the property.

“We are coming to an end of the time when the campus needs separate management,” she said. “It’s part of our geography.” Both the Parks and Recreation Department and Newtown Police Department will play a more active role as they integrate Fairfield Hills operations into their routines, Mrs Llodra explained. While Parks and Rec crews take over contracts for the lawns and grounds, for one, the police will “take on more responsibility executing security,” while also increasing their presence at the facility, she said.

Police will potentially use the engineer’s house, which is the small guard house at the campus entrance, and clerical work, currently done at that location, will relocate to the Newtown Municipal Center at 3 Primrose Street, roughly 50 yards away.

Mr Reed explained, “Things that go on [at Fairfield Hills] will fold into the structure of our town government.”

Both officials discussed the review committee’s work. “No one can quibble about reevaluating plans; it’s appropriate to look back and revisit,” Mr Reed said. Mrs Llodra also appreciates the “awkward position” in which authority members may find themselves.

“Their role is to execute the master plan,” and although the plan is currently under review, she said, “The authority has been moving forward.” Both the authority and review committee members have met frequently, and “interacting on a positive level,” she said. “They both want what is best at Fairfield Hills.”

The Review

So far, the Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee has “been dong a fine job,” Mrs Llodra said. “Their pace is deliberate.” Members have formed subcommittees and have spent past weeks researching and gathering information, she said, while evaluating the current plan and entertaining alternate potential uses for the site. “It takes courage to think out of the box,” she said. The group is also working on a means of “engaging the community” in discussions. She feels, “We have the right people doing the right job.”

Review committee Chairman Michael Floros spoke positively regarding his committee’s work to date. “I think we’ve got a good foundation to come to a conclusion in the next [several] months.” His group’s work is more than contemplating reuses, but also understanding the town’s growth, and planning appropriately. He noted that there are a host of important topics that warrant discussion and analysis. “We need as much information as possible,” he said.

Members are looking at five primary reuse topics: municipal, open space and recreation, commercial, housing, and education. “We need to understand the variables attached to each,” he said. Broken into subcommittees, group members have “done a good job of capturing as much data as they can.” They must now choose how to apply their findings to the master plan, modify it, and turn over their recommendations to the Board of Selectmen. The current master plan is their “starting point,” he said. Should they keep, add to, or delete uses now outlined in the plan? he wondered.

Background

Looking as far back as the decision to purchase the property, which began with a town vote in 2001 to appropriate funds, he said, “Fairfield Hills was a significant financial commitment and when you assume responsibilities, you can’t forget them as you grapple with other responsibilities … so, to a degree, Fairfield Hills has become a white elephant in the room with the costs of demolition, etc.” People may view the projects as “competing for resources,” he said, adding, “I don’t disagree, but you have to go back to the decision to buy.” He understands difficulties with fiscal demands on the town, “but I feel it’s related to the decision to buy.”

The town is making a unique effort in taking over a state facility. “The town deserves credit for the tenacity it has shown in keeping after Fairfield Hills,” he said.

The most recent expense was a $425,000 appropriation to do additional remediation work during the Litchfield Hall demolition. Contractors had uncovered unanticipated hazardous materials not found in buildings razed previously. Since work to demolish the building was already underway, Mrs Llodra said, “It leaves the town in a position where there are no choices. The funding request should not increase the town’s debt, however, due to cost savings elsewhere. We have learned some things; there are no guarantees when you’re dealing with structures from the 1930s and 1940s.”