Date: Fri 06-Oct-1995

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

sewers-WPCA-Walnut-Tree-condos

Full Text:

WPCA Weighs Plans For Condo Sewer Hook-Up

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) members are considering a request

from the developers of Walnut Tree Village to allow the condominium complex

now under construction to connect to the town's sewer system.

WPCA Chairman Peter Alagna told WPCA members September 28 that if WPCA members

were to allow the developers to connect the condos to the sewer system, the

WPCA would have to develop some type of sewer assessment formula for the

private condo complex.

During recent months, WPCA members have been developing sewer assessment

formulas on how sewer system construction costs will be divided among

homeowners and commercial property owners in the sewer district, as well as

among taxpayers with holdings outside of the sewer district.

Unlike a typical sewer assessment formula in which some public money is used

to defray the costs of sewers to individual sewer users, such public subsidies

wouldn't be available for a private condominium project such as Walnut Tree

Village, according to Mr Alagna.

Walnut Tree Associates received approval from the Planning and Zoning

Commission (P&Z) early this year for an 80-unit condominium project for people

at least 55 years old. The developers plan to build the complex in two phases

with the initial construction work covering 35 units and a second phase

covering the remaining 45 units.

Sewer Connections

Mr Alagna said that besides Walnut Tree Village, he has learned that the Union

Camp Corp corrugated container factory and the Pitney-Bowes Distribution

Center, both on Edmond Road, are interested in connecting to the town sewer

system.

Mr Alagna said the Walnut Tree Village developers also are interested in

developing what is known as the "Lantos property" on Walnut Tree Hill Road

with more multifamily hosuing units. The property, like the Walnut Tree

Village property, is in what's known as an EH-10 zone which is designated as a

site for housing for the elderly. Newtown defines housing for the elderly as

housing for people over 55.

Mr Alagna said that while the Walnut Tree Village developers might get a sewer

connection approval for Walnut Tree Village, it's "unlikely" that they would

get approval for additional sewer connections.

WPCA member Gary Sheehan asked how the WPCA could allow the Walnut Tree

Village developers to connect 80 condos to the town sewer system and then turn

down any future sewer connection requests from them.

Mr Alagna responded that by approving a sewer connection to Walnut Tree

Village, the WPCA wouldn't be obligated to approve sewer connections to any

multifamily units on land zoned EH-10 on land near Walnut Tree Village. The

WPCA can be very specific in what it allows the Walnut Tree Village developers

to do in terms of the developers' request to connect Walnut Tree Village to

the sewer system, Mr Alagna said.

Last year, the WPCA turned down a request from Walnut Tree Village to allow it

to connect to the sewer system because the 18-acre parcel where's it is

located lies outside of the town's designated sewer service area.

Earlier this year, the P&Z rewrote its regulations concerning sewage disposal

at multifamily housing complexes for the elderly. The new rules would allow

Walnut Tree Village to connect to the sewer system which is now under

construction.

Louis DeFilio of the Walnut Tree Associates has declined to comment on any

possible multifamily construction on on Walnut Tree Hill other than the

80-unit Walnut Tree Village.

The WPCA is expected to decide by early November whether to allow Walnut Tree

Village to connect to the sewer system.

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

Newtown Earth Day Festival Was A Success

Local Fourth Grader To Host ‘Gaming For Change’ On May 16

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 06-Oct-1995

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