Date: Fri 29-Aug-1997

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Riverview-condos-Botsford

Full Text:

Plans Filed For 49 Condos In Botsford

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has received plans for Riverview

Condominiums, a proposal to build 49 condos in Botsford on Washbrook Road off

South Main Street, behind Sand Hill Plaza.

The P&Z will schedule a public hearing on the developers' request for a

special exception to the zoning regulations.

Developers R&G Riverview Associates, LLC, want to build 49 units in three

construction phases. Thirteen of those units would be designated as

"affordable housing."

Riverview is the second affordable housing complex proposed for town; the

first was Newtown Village, which has been proposed for land adjacent to Exit

11 of Interstate 84 in Sandy Hook. The Newtown Village developers are

proposing 96 individual houses, 24 of which would be designated as affordable

housing.

As a condition of approving water storage facilities for firefighting at

Riverview, Fire Marshal George Lockwood is requiring the developers to provide

an independent firefighting study on how to fight fires there and what

equipment would be needed to do so. Also, the fire marshal is requiring a

second means of access to the 18.7-acre site, the addition of some fire

hydrants, and the provision of fire lanes.

At a recent selectmen's meeting, the developers agreed to improve a length of

Washbrook Road extending to Cold Spring Road for a second access to the site.

The developers have received tentative approval from the state Department of

Environmental Protection (DEP) for discharging wastewater at the site into a

large community septic system.

In a traffic study for the project, Irving Chann of IK Chann Associates of

Wilton states that in 1995, 16,800 vehicles daily traveled on South Main

Street past the Washbrook Road site. The 850 feet of dirt roadway between

South Main Street and the proposed complex would be paved. The complex would

generate 322 vehicle trips daily, according to Mr Chann. A stop sign would be

posted on Washbrook Road at its intersection with South Main Street to control

traffic. The development "will have no adverse impact on any nearby area

roads," according to the traffic engineer who represents the developers.

According to documents submitted by the developers, the maximum allowable sale

price for an affordable housing condominium unit at Riverview would be

$146,600.

The complex would be constructed in three phases, with 17 units in the first

phase and 16 units in each of the two following phases. Five affordable units

would be built in the first phase and eight units in the second phase, with no

affordable units built in the third phase.

The annual family income ceiling for a family of four to buy an affordable

condo would be $48,640. Affordable units must be owner-occupied.

The site would have parking for 135 vehicles. Forty-nine space would be inside

49 garages. There would 49 spaces behind garages, plus an additional 37

spaces.

The complex would hold two 2-unit buildings, three 3-unit buildings, and nine

4-unit buildings.

Site plans depict the 14 buildings arrayed in semicircle overlooking the

Pootatuck River. A spur of buildings would extend off the semicircle away from

the river.

The contemporary-style units would have basements, decks, patios and porches.

The floor area of the various units would be 1,200, 1,280, 1,400, and 1,550

square feet.

In June, Conservation Commission members unanimously granted the developers a

wetlands construction permit for Riverview.

That commission's routine handling of the Riverview application came in sharp

contrast to the many criticisms of the Newtown Village at past Conservation

Commission meetings. The Conservation Commission held numerous meetings at

which residents living near the Newtown Village site criticized the proposal

on environmental grounds before the commission granted a wetlands construction

permit to Newtown Village in February. Newtown Village is now pending before

the P&Z.

In granting R&G Riverview, LLC, a construction permit, the Conservation

Commission are allowing the developers to make site improvements in an upland

area adjacent to a wetland and watercourse. The developers plan to use a

community septic system to serve the 49 units. It would handle up to 14,700

gallons of wastewater daily.

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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 29-Aug-1997

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