Fish & Game Clubhouse Project Approved

By Andrew Gorosko

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has approved the Fairfield County Fish & Game Protective Association’s controversial proposal to replace its clubhouse with a new, larger facility.

The association plans to replace its aging clubhouse with a modern building that would be almost triple the size. The group owns approximately 300 acres on the Newtown-Monroe town line, which it uses for members’ hunting, fishing, and various shooting sports.

The association plans to remove its existing 1,580-square-foot clubhouse and replace it with a modern 4,300-square-foot structure. The organization, which was founded in 1907, has 475 members.

Roughly 90 percent of the club’s grounds lie in Newtown. The property’s main entrance is at 310 Hammertown Road in Monroe. A secondary entrance extends from 14 Walker Hill Road in Sandy Hook.

The group’s clubhouse construction proposal drew opposition at a May public hearing from some Walker Hill Road residents, who charged that larger club facilities could lead to problems for them, including increased traffic flow on Walker Hill Road. Those residents also voiced safety concerns about live ammunition being fired on the club grounds.

In response to those traffic concerns, the club has closed to its membership its secondary accessway extending from Walker Hill Road.

At a July 7 session, P&Z members approved the clubhouse construction project.

P&Z Chairman William O’Neil said the club has installed a key safe near the locked gate on the driveway that extends from Walker Hill Road. The key safe will be used by firefighters to gain rapid access to property during emergencies.

That driveway gate is not near Walker Hill Road, but is located a considerable distance in from the street. The club’s caretaker lives in a house along that driveway.

Mr O’Neil said there is no indication that the club’s having a larger clubhouse would increase activity on the club’s grounds.

P&Z member Richard Eigen asked how the town could enforce the club’s prohibiting its members from using the Walker Hill Road driveway for access to the club grounds.

Eventually, some club members will obtain keys to the gate on the Walker Hill Road driveway and use that driveway for access to the club, Mr Eigen said.

If that should occur, nearby property owners would then complain to the town and the zoning enforcement officer would be dispatched to handle the problem, said P&Z member Lilla Dean.

P&Z member Robert Mulholland said the clubhouse project amounts to “a positive change for the club.” The concerns raised by nearby property at the May public hearing have been addressed, he said.

The P&Z then unanimously approved granting the club a special exception to the zoning regulations for the clubhouse construction project, with some conditions.

The Walker Hill Road access driveway must be gated and locked and be used only for emergency vehicle access to the site. A key safe must be positioned at that gate for that emergency access.

Before a certificate of occupancy is issued to the club, its water well must receive approval as a public water supply from the state health department.