Date: Fri 27-Oct-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

exposition-CEPEC-Hawleyville

Full Text:

Expo Center Plan Thwarted By P&Z

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Town land use officials have rejected a proposal to build a large exhibition

hall in Hawleyville, a concept which had drawn strong organized opposition

from Hawleyville area residents during recent weeks.

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members October 19 unanimously rejected

two requested zoning amendments that would have laid the groundwork for an

exhibition hall intended for trade shows, public shows and public events.

After the two proposed amendments were rejected, the developer promptly

withdrew a request for a change of zone for the project.

The P&Z session in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall attracted about 85

people.

P&Z members mentioned traffic congestion as a prime reason why a hall

shouldn't be built.

At the outset of the meeting, P&Z Chairman John Deegan told audience members

public comments wouldn't be allowed. "The public has no participation

whatsoever in this meeting. This is the commission's meeting," he said.

The public had made numerous comments on CT Expo Development's proposal for

the Connecticut Exposition and Performance Events Center (CEPEC) at an August

17 public hearing which ran for five and a half hours.

"We must act only on the facts presented to us at the (August 17) hearing," Mr

Deegan told P&Z members.

At that hearing which was attended by about 200 people, Hawleyville area

residents raised a host of concerns about the exhibition hall proposal. These

included whether Hawleyville would be overwhelmed by traffic arriving at and

departing from a hall; whether there's a sufficient underground water supply

in Hawleyville to support a facility which would attract thousands of

visitors; whether there's a suitable way to dispose of wastewater generated by

such a hall; whether an exposition hall would be economically viable; and

whether Hawleyville's character would be adversely affected by the presence of

hall.

Hawleyville residents also wondered whether the presence of a hall would hurt

their property values.

Five Members Decide

Five P&Z members were seated to decide on the requested zoning amendements and

change of zone.

They were regular members: Mr Deegan, Vice Chairman Victor Roy, John

DeFilippe, Stephen Adams and alternate member Thomas Paisley.

Although Mr Adams had not attended the August 17 public hearing, he said he

reviewed audiotapes from the hearing, read the commission's file on the

proposal, and inspected the property planned for development.

Mr Paisley is an alternate member of the panel who was seated as a regular

member.

Republican alternate P&Z member Todd Richardson didn't attend the session. Mr

Richardson had submitted a statement to be read at the meeting, but Mr Deegan

decided against taking up the statement in Mr Richardson's absence.

Democratic P&Z regular member Heidi Winslow did not attend the meeting. The

Democratic Party has a vacancy for a P&Z alternate member.

Amendment Request

Initially, P&Z members considered a requested amendment to the zoning

regulations which would allow exhibition halls and public events centers to be

located in a M-5 Industrial zones.

Mr DeFilippe said he opposes such a land use due to traffic concerns which

were raised by Hawleyville residents at the August 17 hearing. Hawleyville

area residents had said the presence of a more than 100,000-square-foot

exhibition hall across Route 25 from the Hawleyville Post Office could create

massive traffic tie-ups in the area as people drove to and from the hall.

Mr DeFilippe added he doesn't believe the town's plan of development endorses

the erection of structures as tall as five-story buildings. And, a building

the equivalent of five stories tall would be necessary to make an exhibition

hall a viable business proposition, he noted.

Mr Roy said the presence of an exhibtion hall would create significant traffic

problems in Hawleyville.

Businesses in Danbury would reap the economic side benefits of an exhibition

hall located in Hawleyville, he said.

"All we'll get is the traffic," Mr Roy said, adding "Empty buildings aren't

particularly taxworthy." He noted the town wouldn't receive very much in the

way of local property taxes from a hall.

Mr Adams remarked "I don't see that I see the benefit coming to this town as a

whole."

Newtown doesn't have hotels and motels which could economically benefit from

the presence of an exhibition hall, according to Mr Adams. Danbury businesses,

not Newtown busnesses, would profit from a Hawleyville exhibition hall, he

said.

A hall would generate "hellacious" traffic in Hawleyville, he added.

Mr Adams said the town needs to broaden its tax base, but not through the

creation of a Hawleyville exhibition hall.

Mr Paisley said that property tax benefits accruing to the town from an

exhibition hall would be "minimal." Traffic problems would be created, he

added. There's not even a gas station in the area proposed for the hall, he

noted, questioning the the local benefit from the presence of such a facility.

Mr Paisley also questioned the value of recreational sports facilities which

had been proposed for the hall for periods when trade shows weren't underway.

Following the P&Z members' relatively brief comments, they opted to vote on

whether to allow exhibition halls and public events centers as permitted uses

in M-5 zones. They unanimously rejected the proposal.

Building Height

P&Z members then addressed the applicant's request to allow exhibition halls

and public events centers that are more than 50,000 square feet in area to be

a maximum 50 feet above average ground level. Current rules allow a 30-foot

maximum height abovce average ground level for industrial buildings.

Mr Roy observed that any building that's 50 feet tall is "a big building." A

building that's a maximum 50 feet above average ground level could have some

roof portions which are 60 feet tall, he said.

The zoning amendment proposal on building height is flawed, Mr Roy said.

Mr DeFilippe agreed.

Mr Adams then observed that the requested change in maximum building height

for exhibition halls had become a "moot" point.

P&Z members then unanimously rejected to request to increase the maximum

allowable building height.

Zone Change

As part of its proposal, CT Expo Development requested a change of zone for 40

acres from Residential-1 (R-1) to Industrial (M-5) at 33 Hawleyville Road

which also is known as State Route 25. The property is approximately one-half

mile north of Exit 9 of Interstate 84.

As P&Z members were about to address the matter, Attorney Paul Jaber,

representing the developers, stood up in the second row of the audience and

walked to the table where P&Z members were seated. Mr Jaber handed Mr Deegan a

letter.

Mr Deegan then explained that the letter from the developers requested the

withdrawl of change of zone application.

P&Z members agreed to the request.

Audience members then burst into applause over the P&Z's rejection of the two

zoning amendements and the applicant's withdrawl of the change of zone

application.

Brewster

CEPEC spokeswoman Joy Brewster quickly left the Alexandria Room after the

audience's round of applause.

In a prepared statement given to the press, Ms Brewster said CEPEC would offer

Newtown and nearby towns with a facility that would provide positive social,

educational or cultural experiences. CEPEC would also provide a variety of

full and part-time employment jobs, she added. Local businesses, contractors

and subcontractors would enjoy added revenue, she noted. The exposition center

would attract clean, family-type events and would only minimally disrturb its

site, according to Ms Brewster.

According to the statement, "When presenting our facts on the local level, we

proceeded through proper government channels. We provided more information and

substantiation than required at this level of approval. Neighbors who live

adjoining the CEPEC property voiced no objections. A few individuals in town

became very vocal and made false suppositions stated as facts. Then they

employed scare tactics and political clout. We still held hope that the true

facts would not be concealed."

The statement concludes "I find it ironic that the Newtown Economic

Development Forum and Trade Show was just held. Its stated purpose was to

improve the business climate in Newtown! Why bother? With the defeat of the

CEPEC proposal, Newtown, its citizens and the business community are the

losers. CEPEC will evaluate the latest information presented this evening

before making any further decisions regarding the future."

Asked if she was surprised that P&Z members rejected the CEPEC proposals after

only 20 minutes of discussion, Ms Brewster said of the decisions "It's a

political thing. What are you going to do?"

"If they (P&Z) don't understand the concept, they don't understand," she said

as she was preparing to leave he main lobby of Edmond Town Hall.