Military Persists In Its Pursuit Of

A Fairfield Hills Reserve Center

By Kendra Bobowick

The Army still has its eye on land at Fairfield Hills.

Signed by Army Corps of Engineers District Commander Colonel Keith A. Landry, a letter received Monday lay folded open on First Selectman Joe Borst’s desk — a formal request for 13 acres of town-owned land “adjacent to the Army National Guard property in Newtown … the property noted on your Fairfield Hills Master Plan as the High Meadow and the East Meadow meet the requirements for adjacent land as defined by BRAC [Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission] …” Town officials have 30 days to respond to the Army’s offer to make the purchase in order to build a new Army Forces Reserve Center.

The two meadows are visible to the left when traveling up Wasserman Way toward Reed Intermediate School.

Mr Borst received the news with a stern expression. “I already said that is not an option,” as he had explained in an earlier reply sent to another contact, Base Transition Coordinator Gary Puryear.

He said this week, “It’s not going up there as far as I am concerned.” The topic is on the selectmen’s next meeting agenda.

Mr Borst and others have been corresponding with military officials since late last year, after the Army representatives first showed interest in the meadows. In a November 7 letter following a meeting that took place with the military before Halloween regarding the meadow properties, Mr Borst wrote to My Puryear: “ … the sum and substance of the matter is whether we have sufficient land immediately adjacent to the Connecticut Horse Guard property as required by the parameters of your proposal. Based on my discussion with fellow officials, the use of East or High Meadow would be an extremely ‘hard sell.’”

He tried to steer them across the street and down hill. Mr Borst had noted the technology park property, asking if that parcel would suit their needs. The park is located downhill from the horse guard fields and contiguous with the land at the end of Commerce Road. In recent weeks Mr Borst had also mentioned the Batchelder site at 46 Swamp Road in Botsford.

Did the military get this message? Mr Borst recalled that his November letter was sent to Mr Puryear on the town’s letterhead; however, Colonel Landry’s correspondence that arrived by mail this week states under the heading Community Concerns: “There were no formal expressions from the community.”

Still reacting Tuesday morning, Mr Borst insisted, “I said in a letter — [the meadow] is not possible. I said the tech park.”

Later that day he confirmed, “I’ll have to find out if the information went to Louisville.” The Kentucky city is on Mr Landry’s letterhead. As recently as last week, Mr Borst had been waiting to hear back from Mr Puryear’s “higher-ups,” he had said.

The Bee had left a message with the Department of the Army in Kentucky, but had not received a return call by this week’s deadline.

The first selectman considered his next step: “We’ll have them come and make a presentation.” Mr Borst also mentioned scheduling a public hearing, and maintains a hope that the Army will proceed with courtesy for the town’s preferences.

If not, will Newtown fight them? “That’s up to the town.”

Or is it? The first selectman did mention again the prospect of eminent domain. Searching through the letter he asked, “Well, how did they say it?” Finding what he sought in the third paragraph, he read, “Your timely response will enable us to proceed with the project … or to cancel it and cancel related closures of other Army Reserve and National Guard facilities in Connecticut.”

Interpreting the phrase, Mr Borst said, “So, if we raise enough of an argument, maybe” letting his thoughts switch topics, he continued, “They have said they don’t want to enter a town that is hostile to their intentions.”

He continued, “I understand why they want to do it, Newtown is an ideal place …It’s a lot of money into the local economy,” he said. Colonel Landry wrote, “The new center will be more economically efficient and will bring approximately $35–$50 million in construction work to the local economy.” Is the figure good or bad? “It’s what they anticipate,” Mr Borst said.

 

Supporting The Meadow Purchase

The colonel looks to the laws for support: “Federal Law requires the Army to construct a new Armed Forces Reserve Center (AFRC) in Newtown.” Both the law and his letter hang on the word “adjacent.” In an excerpt slugged “Secretary of Defense Justification,” the letter recommendations specific closures of several nearby reserve centers and the relocation of the units to a new center and maintenance facility in Newtown “if the Army is able to acquire land suitable for the construction of the facilities adjacent to the existing Armory in Newtown.” Reserve centers in Danbury, Waterbury, and Fairfield are among those that would close, becoming centralized at a new facility in Newtown.