Date: Fri 02-Jul-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Fairfield-Hills

Full Text:

Panel Mulls Over Popular Thinking On Fairfield Hills

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The long list of ideas for the future use of Fairfield Hills includes

everything from a space needle (yes, like the one in Seattle) to a

hotel/resort and retail village. Some have called for the 186-acre campus to

be transformed into a golf course, while others see it becoming home to a

pharmaceutical and/or research center. Many others would like it preserved as

open space, schools and/or office space.

And did you know that Disney once looked at the site for an animal training

facility?

Last week, members of the Fairfield Hills advisory committee came together to

share what they are hearing from Newtown residents. Members were assigned to

ask residents whether or not the town should buy the land, and what residents

would like to see at the former state mental health hospital which is

currently up for sale.

With a shortage of ball fields, many residents are hoping the town will

purchase the land for its own future use. Some are even suggesting the town

move its town offices there, despite a proposed plan -- by a separate

committee -- to add a 23,500-square-foot addition to Edmond Town Hall.

But then there are those business-minded people who are looking at the

economics of the whole thing. Open space and ball fields don't bring in

revenue. Big business does, and some argue that Newtown can not afford to see

anything else up there. Buying the land, according to member Walter Motyka,

should be a last resort. Newtown needs to find a developer who can turn the

land into a money maker. Most of the buildings will have to be taken down, he

said, and Newtown can not afford to get involved in such a major project.

The two trains of thought sparked a strong debate among advisory committee

members, whose overall charge is to present the pros and cons of the town's

purchase.

Jack Ryan believes the town can not afford not to buy the property, which is

expected to be sold for somewhere in the $7-8 million range. Four developers,

each with housing on their minds, are scheduled to submit their final

proposals and bids later this month. A team of town and state officials will

then select the best proposal. However, the Town of Newtown will ultimately

have right-of-first refusal on the land.

"We're flat out of fields. We can't support the population and we're going

over the boiling point," Mr Ryan said. "It's one of these deals where it's pay

now or pay later."

Joe Borst urged the town to stay away from any kind of housing (except elderly

housing) at all costs. He suggested maintaining the campus for education use

or some sort of veterinary hospital.

Ian Engelman laid claim to the space needle idea, one of a handful of

whimsical suggestions for future uses. Admitting they were a bit impractical,

the committee member also suggested the grounds of the former state mental

health hospital be used for a frisbee golf course, an artists' colony, and an

open air museum.

Pat Denlinger liked the idea of a cultural auditorium, while others spoke

highly of an executive golf course plan. Brian White suggested a hands-on

children's museum. Also suggested was a park for skateboarding, rollerblading,

biking, basketball, etc.

The Economics

Mr Motyka called the suggestions "great ideas." But great ideas are only

dreams if you can not afford them, he said. The town needs to stay out of the

real estate business, and let a good-intentioned developer move in.

Mr Motyka believes Fairfield Hills needs a major income-producing business

presence, preferably a pharmaceutical or research center which would bring in

enough revenue to support the services it would require from the town. That is

the only way it will work, he said.

"I think it's a win-win if we can find the right developer," Motyka said.

However, none of the four prospective developers has hinted at plans

resembling anything close to this.

"The concern I have is that the master plans (of the four developers) are not

what we want. They're not stressing big business, they're stressing more

housing," Mr Motyka said. He noted, however, that the buildings do not lend

themselves to big business, and they are too expensive to tear down. That's

why no one bit at the opportunity to buy the land three years ago when the

state first began marketing it.

"The majority of the buildings need to be taken down," he said. "Do you want

to be the ones administering this, marketing it and maintaining it?"

Mr Motyka suggested that if the town is forced to buy the land, it do so on

the condition that the developer with the most favorable proposal move in

right away -- a joint venture. That will ensure that the income begins flowing

immediately.

But as committee member Al Cramer pointed out, control is so important. There

are no guarantees that a developer won't change its plans two years in.

Ruby Johnson wondered what it would cost the town if it decided not to buy the

land.

"People in town may not have all the facts, but they know that if it's lost,

that's it," she said. "We don't want someone from the outside coming in. We

want to control this."

Committee member Win Ballard was adamant in his opinion that Newtown not buy

the property. It will be far too expensive and time consuming, putting the

onus on the next generation, he said.

"My grandchildren will still be trying to decide what to do with it, and I

don't want to put that burden on my grandchildren," he said. "Future

administrators are going to wish we never sat here. They'll be stuck with it."

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal believes the town may still be in the position

to purchase the property. "The goal of our buying it would be to prevent

something from happening that we don't want, or if no one offers a viable

proposal," he said. "But to buy it for the town to develop -- that's not the

way to go."

A Time Line

Once the developers submit their proposals, the Hartford selection committee

will take four to six weeks to make a decision. Once a developer has been

chosen, the state will then make an offer to the town of Newtown, which will

have 105 days to decide what it wants to do, according to Mr Rosenthal.

"We have time to make those decisions. I just don't want to jump the gun

before the proposals come in. I don't want to dissuade developers from

presenting a proposal," he said.

The town is currently awaiting the results of both economic and environmental

impact studies from two private firms.

The Field Shortage

Anyone who is involved in Newtown sports knows there is a serious shortage of

fields. Fairfield Hills has been looked at as a solution. From his business

perspective, however, Walter Motyka isn't impressed.

"I can't get excited about not having enough soccer fields," he said, pointing

out that kids in New York City seem to do just fine with limited space.

But this is what the residents are asking for, Pat Denlinger replied.

"But do they know the cost?" Moira Rodgers inquired. "Soccer fields don't

bring in revenue."

Jack Ryan believes all residents should have a chance to vote on the Fairfield

Hills issue.