Date: Fri 12-Dec-1997

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Walnut-Tree-Village

Full Text:

P&Z Weighs Options For Porches At Walnut Tree Village

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members are considering how to implement

a court order allowing the developers of Walnut Tree Village to build porches

at the Sandy Hook condominium complex.

P&Z members December 4 were poised to act on allowing porch construction, but

some members had questions concerning how simple or how elaborate such porches

should be.

Walnut Tree Developers gained a P&Z special exception to the zoning

regulations for the 80-unit condo complex for people over 55 in early 1995. In

1996, the developers sought an amendment to their special exception to build

porches over existing concrete patios at the complex because some residents of

Walnut Tree Village wanted porches.

But P&Z members rejected porch construction in June 1996, saying adding

porches would make an already densely-built development even more dense. P&Z

members then also expressed concerns that porches could be converted into

additional living quarters.

When they did not get approval for the porches they wanted, the developers

sued, resulting in a judge eventually ruling in their favor.

P&Z members December 4 were considering action to allow the developers to

build unheated porches which would not have any features suitable for

year-round use. Members discussed whether allowing glass windows on porches

would amount to a feature that would allow year-round use.

P&Z Chairman Stephen Koch said he wants to allow nothing more than porches

with screen windows at Walnut Tree Village.

P&Z members also said they only want to allow porches which are

architecturally compatible with the buildings at the condo complex.

Mr Koch said he has learned that the developers are so busy planning the next

phase of Walnut Tree Village, they do not plan to build any porches soon.

About 50 of the approved 80 condos at Walnut Tree Village have been

constructed.

Also, the developers are investigating the possibilities of building an

additional 150 condos for the elderly on a 35-acre parcel adjacent to the

18-acre parcel where Walnut Tree Village is located.

P&Z members postponed action on implementing the judge's order that the town

allow porches at the complex. Action is expected at an upcoming session.

Last May, P&Z members approved some architectural roofline changes for Walnut

Tree Village to solve some aesthetic concerns and practical problems at the

complex.

The high density of Walnut Tree Village was made possible by its proximity to

the municipal sewer system which it uses for wastewater disposal. After the

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) approved Walnut Tree Village in early

1995, the developers sued the town to gain legal leverage in getting the

project connected to the town sewer system.

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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 12-Dec-1997

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