To the Editor:

The facts are clear... housing was consistently rejected as a desirable use on the [Fairfield Hills] campus by Newtown residents starting in 2001 and continuing to this day... over 18 years.

The economic and social benefits of this current effort, which circumvents residents’ documented aversion to housing, are misstated and misleading. But equally important, any such advancement of a mixed-use apartment component on the campus will forever destroy the character of the campus and the long-standing vision of it serving civic, cultural, recreation, and social needs of our fellow residents.

One only needs to refer to the 2005 Master plan that states, “The plan is based on the philosophy of achieving identified community goals while not precluding decisions by future generations.” The community goals expressed through numerous reviews and surveys did not include a mixed-use apartment component.

Much has been accomplished since our purchase of this property... We must stay the course and not succumb to short-term decisions that are inconsistent with the past and future vision of this priceless town asset.

As expressed in the 2005 plan, “Make a habit of two things — to help, or at least, to do no harm...” Hippocrates (460-377 BCE).

This is as true now as it was then.

Robert Geckle

35 Queen Street, Newtown October 19, 2020