Date: Fri 08-Sep-1995

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

sewer-Walnut-Tree-Hill-condos

Full Text:

Walnut Tree Hill Developers Press For A Sewer Hook-Up

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

The developers of Walnut Tree Village, the town's first condominium complex,

are seeking permission from the Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) to

connect the development, which is now under construction, to the town's

planned sewer system.

Attorney Stephen Wippermann, representing developers Louis DeFilio and George

Trudell, said that although the condominium complex on Walnut Tree Hill Road

isn't within the town's sewer district, the WPCA should make an exception to

its rules and allow it to connect to the municipal sewer system. Mr Wippermann

spoke at an August 31 WPCA meeting.

The complex is in an EH-10 zone on an 18-acre parcel near the intersection of

Walnut Tree Hill Road, Evergreen Road and Schoolhouse Hill Road. The

developers plan to construct 80 units, 35 of which would be built during an

initial construction phase, with the remainder built during a second phase.

Last year, Walnut Tree Associates sought WPCA approval to connect the condos

to the sewer system, but WPCA members turned down the request saying that

because the project lies outside the sewer district, it doesn't qualify to

connect to the sewer system.

However, Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members recently revised the

town's zoning regulations concerning septic waste disposal at multifamily

developments. The revised rules are designed to facilitate a sewer connection

between Walnut Tree Village and the sewer system.

Mr Wippermann told WPCA members that it is ultimately the WPCA's decision

whether the condo complex should be connected to the sewer system.

Lawsuit

Walnut Tree Associates has a lawsuit pending against the P&Z concerning its

approval of the condominium construction project regarding septic waste

disposal at the site.

Under Walnut Tree Associates' sewer system connection proposal, condo units

built during the initial construction phase would be connected to a temporary

on-site community septic system. Later, when all 80 units are built, they all

would be connected to the town sewer system.

Mr Wippermann told WPCA members the condo developers have gained the right

from an adjacent property owner to run sewer lines beneath private property on

Walnut Tree Hill to Church Hill Road for a possible connection to the town

sewer system.

WPCA Chairman Peter Alagna said it might take three years before Walnut Tree

Village would have functioning sewer service if the WPCA approves the

developers' sewer connection request.

The WPCA needs to have a sewer assessment formula in place before it could

approve connecting the condos to the sewer system, Mr Alagna said.

Providing sewer service to Walnut Tree Village wouldn't be subsidized by town

property taxes, Mr Alagna noted. Other residential properties in the sewer

district though will be subsidized to some extent by town property taxes.

The developers would be required to pay all costs associated with installing a

sewer trunk line from the condo complex to Church Hill Road where the trunk

line would join the municipal sewer system, Mr Alagna said.

Mr Alagna said he feels that WPCA members can be convinced that Walnut Tree

Village should be provided with sewer service.

Mr Wippermann said preliminary study has shown that each condo unit might

discharge about 70 gallons of wastewater daily into the sewer system.

WPCA member Carl Zencey, however, said, the agency has been working with an

average daily discharge figure of 185 gallons per housing unit in calculating

daily sewage flows to the planned sewage treatment plant.

Mr Wippermann said he'll seek added information from water companies to learn

how much wastewater might be discharged daily from Walnut Tree Village.

The planned sewage treatment plant is designed to handle approximately one

million gallons of weastewater daily. Of that capacity, about one-third is

designated for town use with the remainder designated for state use. The

sewage treatment plant is a joint town-state project. The state will close its

existing sewage treatment plant on the grounds of Fairfield Hills Hospital and

divert its wastewater flows to the new treatment plant.

The town is under a pollution abatement order from the state Department of

Environmental Protection to rectify longstanding groundwater pollution

problems caused by failing septic systems in the Borough, Taunton Pond North

and Sandy Hook Center. The town is in the midst of building a $30.4 million

sewer system to resolve the pollution problems.

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Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

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 08-Sep-1995

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