Two Important Questions

To the Editor:

At their November 25 meeting the selectmen discussed retaining the University of Connecticut to conduct a public opinion poll to determine how citizens want to utilize Fairfield Hills. The cost: $12,500.

The Friends of Fairfield Hills conducted three public opinion polls in June 1999, February 2000, and September, 2001. They were well constructed by knowledgeable individuals and administered by unpaid volunteers. The results were reported in The Bee. In all three polls economic development (business or professional offices) received the least number of votes. We found that residents continue to be concerned about housing and traffic. Our pools were ignored by town leaders and called unscientific!

No public opinion poll is scientific! Polls rely on an area of mathematics called “probability.” The strength of the Friends of FFH pools lies in the unchanging opinion of the citizens –– economic development with business and professional offices is the least desirable use. All three polls showed citizens prefer to use FFH for recreation, schools, open space, town offices with business offices and retail trailing far behind.

After rejecting the three Friends of FFH polls, the Master Plan Committee and the HMA Consultant conducted their own poll at the FFH Workshop on Saturday, October 2002, at Canaan House. Results from attendees in order of preference were town offices, open space, active recreation, education, cultural arts, business offices. It is interesting to note that The Master Plan Committee ignored their own poll and adopted a plan with over 200,000 square feet reserved for commercial uses.

The failed master plan did not have a clearly stated goal for the development of FFH, but its contents implied the objective was: To create at FFH a commercial and business center which would include over 200,000 square feet for business offices, a conference center, a hotel, a restaurant, retail shops, parking for about 1,200 cars surrounded by playing fields.

This leaves us with two important questions: Does Newtown need to spend $12,500 for a poll that has already been done four times? If the answer is yes, will the UConn poll include the most important question?

“Which of the following best describes how you want FFH to be used?”

FFH should be developed to become a business/corporate and professional center for Newtown, allowing over 200,000 square feet for economic development along with parking, playing fields and some open space. OR

2. FFH should become a municipal center central park to satisfy the immediate and long-term needs already identified and requested by citizens. (Town offices, community center, recreation center, senior center, cultural arts center, high school academy, alternative school, playing fields, outdoor assembly area, trails, etc. and business offices limited to 50,000 square feet.)

Ruby Johnson

16 Chestnut Hill, Sandy Hook                               December 3, 2003