Date: Fri 01-Aug-1997

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-open-space-Cascella

Full Text:

Cascella Suggests P&Z Ask For Cash Rather Than Open Space

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

The first selectman is urging the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) to

aggressively seek monetary donations from developers in lieu of open-space

land in subdivisions.

First Selectman Robert Cascella said July 24 such funds are needed to

replenish a town account for open-space acquisitions.

The town has earmarked $400,000 of $455,000 available to it from the Iroquois

Natural Gas Transmission System to acquire open-space land on Elm Drive.

Open space donated to the town sometimes has limited value for passive

recreation, he noted. But the town should continue accepting some open space,

the first selectman added.

The town should build up a fund for open-space acquisition, holding somewhere

between $100,000 and $300,000, Mr Cascella said.

Other money that Iroquois donated to the town was used to build the swimming

pool at Treadwell Park. Iroquois granted the town money as compensation for

routing its natural gas pipeline through Newtown in the early 1990s.

The P&Z should strengthen its existing regulations on acquiring open-space

money, Mr Cascella said.

Having the P&Z accept such funds would make for the "cleanest and most

appropriate way" for the town to acquire open space, according to the first

selectman.

P&Z member Heidi Winslow pointed out the state law that enabled the P&Z to

create zoning regulations on accepting cash in lieu of open space in 1993 has

"no teeth" in it and provides the P&Z with no enforcement powers.

Ms Winslow said she doesn't believe the P&Z can guarantee it will raise money

under the provisions of the current state law.

Raising funds probably would require P&Z members and developers to discuss

such money donations in the early planning stages of a development proposal,

she said.

More work is needed than passing a resolution, she added.

"I'm looking for a beginning," Mr Cascella said. "Over time, you can get that

message out," he said. "There is work to be done on this. I bring it to you as

a concept."

P&Z member Thomas Paisley said P&Z members will discuss Mr Cascella's ideas.

In June, the Legislative Council unanimously approved the purchase of a

13-acre parcel off Elm Drive. Daniel and Marcus Amaral, owners of Amaral

Motors, put the former farm land on the market in March, giving first-refusal

rights to the town.

In May, dozens of residents attended a council meeting to voice support for

buying the land, just north of Dickinson Park,

The residents emphasized a need for more ballfields. While the open space will

likely be used for ballfields, John Kortze, the council's finance committee

chairman, has said approval of the purchase does not mean the land will

automatically be put to that purpose.

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Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 01-Aug-1997

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