Date: Fri 25-Oct-1996

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Little-Brook-Knolls

Full Text:

P&Z Oks Plan For Little Brook Knolls

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has approved the Little Brook Knolls

residential subdivision, involving 12 lots on 20 acres.

The subdivision is located on Turkey Hill Road and Little Brook Lane, near the

Pootatuck River. The project includes the construction of a new road known as

River Run.

Applicants for the construction work are Raymond/Anderson Properties, LLC, and

The Estate of F. Francis D'Addario.

Three P&Z members attended the October 17 meeting at which Little Brook Knolls

was approved. They unanimously approved the project. Voting in favor were:

Chairman John DeFilippe, Vice Chairman Thomas Paisley, and James Boylan, a P&Z

alternate member who was seated as a regular member for voting purposes. The

P&Z needs a minimum three members to conduct business.

In approving Little Brook Knolls, the P&Z placed several conditions on the

construction. These include that the developers post a $246,500 road

construction bond; exercise care in grading the land; and remove no more than

10,000 cubic yards of earth materials from the site.

At a September 26 public hearing, residents living near the subdivision site

raised environmental concerns over how the home building proposal would affect

their neighborhood.

Resident Cindy Cascone of Turkey Hill Road said she has a sedimentation

problem on her property which has damaged trees there. Ms Cascone added she

has a shallow domestic water well.

Rev Bill Minser of Turkey Hill Terrace said it's unfortunate that a bridge

that carries an unofficial local road across the Pootatuck River will be

closed off as part of the project. Having the bridge closed will increase the

response times of local emergency services to the area, he said. If there is

Pootatuck River flooding, the area might be cut off from other parts of town

due to the road closure, he said.

At the hearing, Christopher Currier of Mountain View Drive said roadways in

the area have decayed, noting that much excavation has been done to obtain

gravel. Mr Currier asked what effect such excavation will have on future

drainage in the area.

Attorney Bill Denlinger, representing Raymond-Anderson Properties, the land's

contract purchaser, said at the hearing the houses the developers plan to

build will be residences that people can afford.

Mr Denlinger said the developers believe the source of the sand which causes

local sedimentation problems is uphill of the developers' property. The

developers plan to make some drainage improvements which are expected to solve

some sedimentation problems, he said.

The developers have a gravel mining permit and have been mining the under the

supervision of the town, Mr Denlinger said.

James Palmer, an engineer representing the developers, said the developers can

make changes to their grading plan as recommended by the town engineer to

better develop the land for home construction.

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 25-Oct-1996

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