To the Editor:

The Newtown Planning and Zoning Board is about to make a decision to change the zoning for the property on the corner of Church Hill Road and Walnut Tree Hill Road near exit 10 to either affordable housing, incentive housing or mixed use, including commercial. The land on the opposite side of the street was changed to EH-10 zoning years ago so 212 condominiums could be built there. These are set back from the road, and there are buffers between them and the older, existing homes.

Now the town wants to “change” the zoning yet again on the opposite side of the street, so that a developer can build anywhere from 180 to 240, 3 story units, starting only 75 feet back from the center line of the road, with driveway access on Walnut Tree. How can this even be considered when this area has already been over-densified?

The mission statement for the land use department says it is to protect neighborhoods, citizens, town integrity and property values. Mr. Benson from land use and others on the zoning board say that they are “doing us a favor” by trying to pass this. Really? 212 units behind us and another 180 to 240 units in front of us is a favor? The only favor they are doing is for the developer by allowing them this type of density. The possibility of commercial use on the first floor only makes this proposal even more ludicrous.

Take a look at Edona Commons in Sandy Hook, or the new development where the Stony Hill Inn used to be in Bethel. Imagine these on the left hand side of the road as you drive up Walnut Tree from Church Hill to Evergreen.

We moved here 31 years ago, paid our taxes and raised our children in a town that we love. Our neighborhood’s integrity is not being protected, it is being destroyed. This proposal will only make us all more at risk traffic wise, and it will lower our property values again. This developer is known for his award winning single family homes. It's too bad that he can't be satisfied by building these and adding to the neighborhood, rather than totally ruining it.

The next zoning meeting to discuss and possibly vote on this matter is January 15th at 7:30 pm. Anyone opposed to this happening anywhere in our town should plan to attend to make your voices heard.

There are 7 properties in Newtown that are being considered for this zoning change. This one in Sandy Hook, and six other properties in Hawleyville. This is a beautiful neighborhood. Our house and some of our neighbor’s homes date back to the 1800s and older. The sad and sorry truth of it though, is that the whole process seems to be just legwork for an already done deal. This second assault on our neighborhood can only be stopped if zoning were to do the only right thing, which is not to allow this to happen.

Look out Hawleyville, you’re next. 

Ken Chimileski

22 Walnut Tree Hill Road, Sandy Hook                                                        December 30, 2014