Moving The Ball Forward

To the Editor:

Having a plan in place, even a good one, just isn’t enough.

In a letter last week, the plan for Fairfield Hills and Newtown’s Plan of Conservation and Development were referenced as good examples of planning in Newtown [“The Hard Work Of Planning,” Letter Hive 9/18/09]. If these are the good examples, let’s take a closer look.

First, FFH. In 2001 town leaders provided the public with a preliminary plan for the purchase and development of the Fairfield Hills campus. Taxpayers were asked to approve $21.8 million to pay for nine projects on the campus. Our first selectman at the time agreed that the final design would be subject to a townwide vote. The public took him at his word, bought into the plan and approved the funding.

Let’s look at how the town implemented the plan. First, the estimated cost to date is $27 million, with millions never approved by taxpayers. Second, the public never did approve the final plan as required. In fact, the plan was defeated in a townwide referendum. Third, only one of the nine ball fields were constructed and some buildings have not been demolished. Fourth, the cost of the $6 million town hall is approaching $13 million. And finally, town leaders want another $30 million for the next phase.

Now let’s look at Newtown’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). I happen to agree that this is a good plan. In fact, it’s a great plan and the credit for creating and updating the plan goes to the P&Z Commission, Legislative Council and Board of Selectman of 2004, including Lilla Dean, who referenced it in her letter last week.

When the POCD is applied as intended, it is supposed to protect Newtown’s historical treasures and prevent harmful development. Yet despite the POCD, the gorgeous 1888 red barn that used to overlook the intersection of The Boulevard and Hanover Road was demolished last November to make room for a seven-lot subdivision. This could have been prevented, but because Planning & Zoning considers the guidelines of the POCD as unenforceable, they don’t apply them when they should. Even though the developer in this example offered to preserve the barn, P&Z refused to accept or record the offer.

After one the best lawyers in Connecticut forced the developer to withdraw his approved application, P&Z went ahead and approved a modified version. In the end, we learned that just because P&Z makes a bad decision, doesn’t mean the Superior Court can overturn it. Even a good plan like the POCD is worthless if officials refuse to apply it.

Long-term planning is nothing without effective implementation. Talking means nothing without doing and the Independent Party of Newtown is all about moving the ball forward. This is why I sought the IPN’s endorsement to run with them in November as a candidate for the Legislative Council.

Kevin Fitzgerald

24 Old Farm Hill Road, Newtown                     September 23, 2009