To the Editor:

My name is Brian Leonardi and I am both excited and honored to run for an alternate seat on Newtown’s Planning & Zoning Commission in the upcoming November election.

My wife, children, and I have lived in Newtown since July of 2016, and have fallen in love with the town and community — Newtown truly is a gem within Fairfield County. Newtown is home to both picturesque farmland and thriving local, regional, and national businesses. We have outstanding dining and entertainment options. Our Main Street could be featured in most every Hallmark movie, and the Fairfield Hills Campus is our very own “Central Park.”

While there are myriad commissions that contribute to the preservation of what makes Newtown special, the Planning & Zoning Commission is often the tip of the spear. Planning & Zoning is responsible for promoting and coordinating the development of the town, while balancing the welfare and prosperity of its residents.

This is accomplished through the creation of new, or modification of existing, zoning regulations. The commission is also charged with thoughtfully evaluating and interpreting those regulations against applications brought by residents and businesses alike.

As a licensed attorney with nearly a decade’s worth of experience, I believe that I am particularly well suited to fostering thoughtful and measured discussion amongst both voting and nonvoting members of the Planning & Zoning Commission. Furthermore, the ability to research, interpret, and apply regulations is a skill that is refined with time, and a talent that I look forward to utilizing on behalf of my community.

I also believe strongly that planning and zoning is truly a local issue. Surely, Newtowners know what’s best for Newtown. If elected, I will be an unabashed advocate to keep planning and zoning local, and oppose any efforts by the state legislature to impose its will on local communities by overhauling local zoning rules.

In addition to my candidacy, I am running alongside other Newtown residents, Roy Meadows, Gregory Rich, Kersti Ferguson, and Connie Widmann, who share the same values and commitments as those discussed in this letter. I hope that we can count on your support in the upcoming election.

Together, let’s keep Newtown a special place to live, work, and play.

Thank you,

Brian Leonardi

Newtown