First Selectman Expedites Discussion Of Selling Tech Park Property To The Military

By Kendra Bobowick

It happened in a hurry.

Following the Economic Development Commission’s (EDC) monthly meeting last week, First Selectman Joe Borst requested that the group reconvene to further consider a proposed armed forces reserve center for the technology park site — a roughly 70-plus-acre parcel off of Commerce Road nearing the Deep Brook River.

What’s the rush?

“The Army is interested in further discussion,” Mr Borst said. “They’re interested in considering the technology park.” He does not know, necessarily, if the military has “given up on Fairfield Hills.”

They wanted their reply by Thanksgiving.

Since the military made known its interest in the High Meadow on the former state hospital campus, the vast open field that rises up on the east side of Wasserman Way, Mr Borst had mailed a reply on November 7 indicating that the meadow was a “hard sell.” He noted another property “that would almost meet your requirements.” The first selectman indicated the commercial development space at the technology park site off Commerce Road.

Mr Borst quickly met with Conservation Commission Chairman Joe Hovious and EDC Chair-elect Rob Rau — representing the two groups most closely involved with the technology park’s potential development. “I asked that they come back with their recommendations by Wednesday [November 26].” (See related Conservation Commission story.)

If the military chooses to locate its center in Newtown, it faces two fast-approaching dates. “They have a completion deadline of 2011, and they need shovels in the ground by September 2009,” Mr Borst said.

In his opinion, “We should explore this with open minds.”

“We’re being put on the spot,” said EDC Chairman Chet Hopper. By the end of their short meeting, however, Chairman-elect Rob Rau was satisfied with the motion members had passed unanimously. “The first selectman gave us a directive and we answered it.”

After more than an hour, the group unanimously supported a motion on the floor from Mitch Bolinsky. “The Economic Development Commission has considered the request and believes it, and the rest of the town commissions and citizenry, require more information. We request the first selectman call a public meeting of multiboards with [the military] to discuss proposals and consider other alternatives before a well-considered response can be rendered.”

Looking at the small gathering of commissioners, he and several others agreed the subject is something larger than the decision of the EDC and conservation alone. “This is a big deal,” Mr Bolinsky said.

Facing one another across a table in the Senior Center less than seven days since their last meeting, their discussion prior to the motion illuminated a handful of concerns.

“Is selling this to the military really economic development?” asked Mr Hopper. After a one-time, estimated $7-plus-million for a specified amount of land — a number which the first selectman had asked the tax assessor to estimate based on $9 a square foot — the facility would pay no taxes once in place, Mr Hopper noted.

“We see a loss of sales and property tax forever,” added member Ted Kreinik.

Use of infrastructure, such as tapping into existing sewer and water lines, will also use up capacity where the commission hopes to see other business thrive, members agreed. “What if we could have had five or ten more companies come in, and now can have only three?” asked Mr Kreinik.

Mr Bolinsky was terse, taking an unfavorable tone regarding Mr Borst. “This was brought in the back door by the first selectman and it begs the question: What is the objective here?” Is this economic development, he wondered? “Or, the first selectman thinks we need a quick infusion of [$7.2 million].” Raising additional complaints, he noted, “The Army is the worst neighbor anyone could have; they are the dirtiest, most polluting group on the planet.”

What recourse does the town have asked, Robert Morey. Shaking his head, Mr Bolinsky offered, “Sure, go sue the government.” He concluded, “This is a decision that has nothing to do with economic development.”

Mr Rau noted, “We’re obligated by legislation to use that land for economic development; that’s written in blood.”

Relinquishing any say in what happens on the site after the Army moves in also worried commission members. “There is no hope for community control over the land, ever,” Mr Bolinsky said.

Why not the Batchelder property, members asked? The vacated, now contaminated property on Botsford Hill Road sits empty and overgrown. “No one is better at developing brownfields,” Mr Bolinsky noted. “Get them out of the middle of town.” Members remarked that they support the Army, but not in the Fairfield Hills vicinity.

Member John Torok ran down a list of reasons against welcoming the military to the technology park parcel. First, the decision “should not be before us,” he said. “It’s a one-shot deal with no further revenue, there are other areas [to locate the military base]. Families enjoy the area, that has to be considered.” Regarding the first selectman’s request, he said, “It’s a top-down management style; whatever is done with this property should be a team effort among town agencies.”

Members concluded that they needed significantly more information about the Army proposal before beginning to weigh an informed decision. “Part of our due diligence is getting our questions answered,” Mr Morey noted.

Again they were concerned about the military seizing the property through eminent domain, but Mr Rau reminded the group that the Army had indicated it wanted to locate to an area that welcomed its proposal.