Preserving Neighborhood Character

To the Editor:

Thank you for the article in the March 28th Bee exposing the controversial affordable housing proposal for Church Hill Road. I hope it serves to “raise a red flag” for all of Newtown.

Residents should be advised that the development proposal by Guri Dauti has P&Z now considering an unfortunate change to affordable housing zoning laws, currently in place to protect our town’s “neighborhood character.” If the P&Z sides with this single developer, our zoning requirements would change townwide and drastically affect the future of Newtown’s development.

Mr Dauti has asked the town to make a “special exception” to our zoning rules, specifically regarding the necessary number of acres needed to construct affordable housing units. In fact, he’s boldly requesting to cut the town’s P&Z requirements in half, from six acres to three acres!

The residents of Sandy Hook are calling on all Newtown residents who wish to continue preserving their “neighborhood character” to voice their concerns to P&Z by stating that town zoning laws will not be rewritten on an “as needed basis” for individual developers.

Megan Williams

82 Church Hill Road, Sandy Hook                                April 9, 2003