Assessing The Benefits Of

Open Space Acquisition

To the Editor:

I believe in the open space acquisition plan for many reasons Justin Scott mentioned in his [March 16] letter to the editor, “Buying Open Space is Long-Term Planning.” I would like to clarify why I am having difficulty endorsing the current plan.

First, the cost benefit analysis with the return on investment for spending $16 million for open space has not materialized. It would be helpful to be able to look at the raw data with the analysis of the benefit of this plan. I have a list of various land already purchased for $3.7 million but it does not provide me with any information on how many homes were actually prevented from being built, and what is the net tax savings for the town as a result of these purchases.

Second, the most recent locally produced data, factoring in the current zoning restrictions (setbacks, elevations, and open space restrictions), has reduced the final buildout numbers from 2,700 homes (four-acre average per residence) to 1,600–1,800 homes (six-acre average). If the new numbers were validated, one third of the 11,000 acres of land still available for residential development would be preserved without spending one dollar.

Furthermore, the economic report of the Governor states that from the year 2000 to 2030, the group of Connecticut citizens 65 and older is projected to grow 68.9 percent and “the housing market will see a shift in the type of housing units that are sought after. As more baby-boomers turn into empty-nesters, they will trade-down their large homes for smaller, easier to maintain condos and second homes.” This may result in a significant increase in the number of homes available to families with school-age children.

Newtown’s Plan of Conservation and Development (98 pages, available on the town website) addresses open space as one factor in this plan. Connecticut General Statute requires that towns “prepare, adopt and amend a plan of conservation and development for the municipality” at least every ten years. It is “an advisory document that offers a vision of the community and provides guidance for municipal decision making.” The problem with this document is that the Planning and Zoning Commission will “request that all ‘leader’ agencies provide a status report on their progress in implementing the sections of the plan which they are responsible” but no one has taken on the responsibility to turn this document into a working document to achieve the vision by coordinating all “leader” agencies and sections of the plan.

The current situation is that many “leader” agencies make decisions in a vacuum (i.e., Fairfield Hills Authority with their Fairfield Hills Master Plan). A genuine long-term planning group would look at the needs of the town as a whole and plan accordingly. We should not be spending $16 million for the open space acquisition plan until a strategic long-term plan has been created using sound analysis of all relevant information to formulate a creative solution with a realistic timeline to achieve Newtown’s vision. 

Po Murray

38 Charter Ridge Drive, Sandy Hook                      March 21, 2007