Green Up The Roadsides

To the Editor:

In an attempt to create more open space the Planning and Zoning Commission is now proposing regulations to permit clustering of housing in new subdivisions. This is supposed to promote wide swaths of open space and a more rural feel to the community.

Homeowners will be clustered on small lots with communal septics. Only time will tell whether developers will be interested in this type of development.

In the meantime P&Z should consider rewriting some of the regulations for traditional subdivisions. One regulation requires many front lots (and the related driveway) for each subdividable property, as the property frontage could allow. So, where there are visually forests and fields, the developer is required to have multiple house lots.

We need to provide for greenways at the roadside so that we can maintain a rural look to our town roads. This is a small adjustment to our regulations that needs immediate attention.

Gary Tannenbaum

Pond Brook Road, Newtown                                         April 30, 2004