Date: Fri 12-Jul-1996

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Whispering-Tamarack

Full Text:

Hearings Continue On Whispering Pines And Tamarack Woods

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Proposals to create a total of 55 residential lots will be on the agenda July

18 when the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) meets to consider five

separate subdivision proposals.

The meeting is scheduled for 8 pm at Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen Street.

The P&Z has continued public hearings on two of the development proposals to

July 18 from previous hearings in June.

PSD Partnership, headed by Thomas Maguire and Larry Edwards, is proposing a

16-lot residential subdivision on 26 acres, known as Whispering Pines, on

Cherry Street, Pine Street, and Narragansett Trail in Sandy Hook.

In April, the P&Z turned down a previous version of the subdivision proposal,

which contained 19 lots. P&Z members cited concerns over drainage, erosion,

sedimentation, excavation and grading in rejecting the application.

The developers say they have made changes to their proposal which answer the

P&Z's concerns, adding that the land use agency should approve the development

project because it meets town land use rules.

A basic controversy over Whispering Pines focuses on whether drilling 16 new

domestic water wells for the subdivision will deplete existing well water

supplies in a densely built neighborhood known for its unreliable wells.

M&E Land Group, also headed by Mr Maguire and Mr Edwards, is proposing a

10-lot residential subdivision on 33 acres, known as Tamarack Woods, located

within the triangle of land bounded by Tamarack Road, Sanford Road, and Echo

Valley Road.

Residents from that area have kept a close watch on the proposal during recent

months. They followed the proposal when it was submitted to the selectmen for

the creation of a road work agreement between the town and the developers, and

also when it was submitted to the Conservation Commission for a wetlands

construction permit.

Tamarack Road area residents have said the Tamarack Woods project would damage

the area's ruralness, especially the isolated, primitive Sanford Road area.

Sanford Road is a narrow, dirt road that twists through a rocky, wooded area

bounded by Upper Paugussett State Forest, near Lake Lillinonah.

Area residents have said Tamarack Woods would degrade the area's environment

and potentially threaten area well water supplies through the depletion of

groundwater supplies by new wells.

The developers have agreed to perform an environmental study to gauge the

impact of the project on the area.

Three Others

Besides the continued public hearings on Whispering Pines and Tamarack Woods,

the P&Z has scheduled three new public hearings on residential development

proposals.

Bennetts Farm Associates, John C. Sibilia and Aido Melchionno have applied for

the resubdivision of Lot 50, and other land, at Bennetts Farm, Section III, in

Sandy Hook.

The application involves creating 15 lots on 132 acres at the northerly

extension of Yogananda Street.

Newtown Development Group, Limited Liability Corporation, is seeking a

subdivision approval for Pinnacle Ridge.

The proposal involves creating 10 house lots on 14 acres in Dodgingtown. The

property is located on Route 302, Sugar Street and Dodgingtown Road, not far

from the Rock Ridge Country Club.

Applicant Joseph Dewhirst, and others, are seeking approval for the

resubdivision of Lot 8 at Hemlock Hills.

The proposal involves creating 4 lots on 32 acres at the easterly extension of

Winesap Road and the end of Rockywood Drive.

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Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 12-Jul-1996

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