Date: Fri 03-Apr-1998

By STEVE BIGHAM

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

council-scenic-roads

Full Text:

Council Turns Down Two Scenic Road Requests

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Legislative Council Wednesday turned down scenic road applications for

both New Lebbon and Washbrook roads.

Residents of the two roads had sought to protect the scenic nature of their

neighborhoods, and both roads did meet the criteria for scenic status under

the Scenic Road Ordinance.

However, as council members pointed out, neither road actually "takes your

breath away" when it comes to overall beauty.

Melissa Pilchard said all roads in Newtown are pretty, but only a few are

truly worthy of being considered scenic.

Washbrook Road's proposal was defeated, 7-3, while New Lebbon Road lost its

bid for scenic status, 9-1.

Washbrook Road residents said they feared that if their road ever became

paved, it would become a shortcut for speeders between Cold Spring Road and

Meadowbrook Road. But, as council member Will Rodgers pointed out, this is a

scenic road ordinance, not a dirt road ordinance.

Ironically, residents of New Lebbon Road didn't mind if their road was paved.

They just did not want to see it straightened.

Protection afforded scenic roads under the provisions of the scenic-road

ordinance limit major alterations or improvements, such as widening of

right-of-ways, paving, grade changes, straightening, and the removal of stone

walls and mature trees.

The ordinance was passed last June.

Sanford Road is the town's only scenic road, having received approval late

last year.

"Now that's drop-dead scenic," noted council member Karen Blawie of the

historic road.

Scenic Road Criticism

The scenic road ordinance has drawn criticism from town officials in recent

months and many have suggested it receive a major overhaul. Planning & Zoning

Commission chairman Stephen Koch said the ordinance cuts his board completely

out of the process. He questions the motive for having scenic roads, wondering

if they were suggested simply as a way to curb development.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal is concerned that, if a road is deemed scenic,

developers will be let off the hook from having to make any road improvements.

Then five years later, if residents start complaining about the poor condition

of the road, it will be the town's responsibility to make repairs.

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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 03-Apr-1998

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