To the Editor:

In the 1970s, a Stanford University researcher ran an experiment involving delayed gratification. A child could opt to eat one marshmallow immediately or wait fifteen minutes for two marshmallows. As might be expected, some children opted for an immediate, smaller reward and some exhibited self-control to wait for the larger award. However, a follow-up study yielded more surprising results. The kids who waited for two marshmallows had better life outcomes than those who succumbed to early, one-marshmallow temptation. Childhood willpower correlated to success in adult life.

The battle of whether to allow housing at Fairfield Hills has many parallels to the marshmallow experiment. Many people in town favor the purported short-term gains of housing because they can’t wait for the larger, long-term benefits. The Fairfield Hills campus has become the beating heart of town government, recreation, and community events that benefits all residents. Why should we allow developers to spoil acres of our beautiful land for apartments and parking lots? No one would tolerate the destruction of New York City’s Central Park for more skyscrapers when the “undeveloped” land provides more value to the city’s residents.

Dense housing on public property would inevitably lead to conflict when the “voice” of Newtown’s prized Fairfield Hills campus suddenly becomes divided between the apartment owner, apartment residents, and the rest of us. It’s not hard to imagine Fairfield Hills apartment dwellers complaining about the lights from a baseball game, the noise from a festival, or excessive traffic (of the car, pedestrian, or even canine/equestrian variety) from other events. And when the shared parking situation that adequately serves the campus now, fails for Fairfield Hills apartment dwellers, what price will we all pay to resolve the situation?

A better future for Fairfield Hills preserves the campus-for-all vision that builds upon the success of established active and passive recreation, open space, community events, and government. The removal of dilapidated buildings will take time, money, and most of all, willpower, but the reward is much greater than a lousy apartment complex and parking lots that are sure to create conflict and expense for taxpayers. Fairfield Hills is a town gem and we should consider its future as if we were kids choosing between one marshmallow now or two later. Please join me to vote against housing at Fairfield Hills.

Kelley Johnson

16 Chestnut Hill Road, Sandy Hook October 13, 2020