Put Upzoning On Hold

To the Editor:

I will begin this very public letter by first noting that as a Newtown resident for some 27 years, I have never offered a public criticism of the Newtown Planning & Zoning Commission. This is not because I have never differed from their opinion, but instead have understood and accepted that varied opinion is both the norm among conscientious people and in fact a healthy indication of democratic debate. The members of P&Z give a great deal of time and energy to the citizenry of Newtown doing a job that is more often than not thankless.

The recent decision to “upzone” is, I believe, an action that demands comment due to its far-reaching and dramatic effects and the actions efficacy in protecting the aquifer. Judging by last week’s “letters to the editor” of The Newtown Bee there is a great deal of misunderstanding in town regarding the aquifer resource. Upzoning the half acre zone, actually doing away with that category, has a dramatic effect on a single economic segment of Newtown citizenry and will have the effect of reducing the economic, social and cultural diversity of the town. This will further reduce the already short supply of affordable housing.

The aquifer is a resource of major importance to present and future residents of Newtown. Clean and potable water is and will become of ever-increasing importance. Focusing public attention, resources, and political capital on upzoning as a major protective measure is perhaps as negative a result as loss of affordable housing inventory.

As I read one of last week’s letters to the editor that mentions… “Toms River, New Jersey… and children diagnosed with leukemia and other concern”… My first reaction was that this letter was an overreaction of an extremely concerned resident. However, upon consideration, this assertion may be on target.

The planning efforts in town should study and protect this valuable resource. It would seem unreasonable to attempt to solve the problems representing a danger to potable water in the order of the magnitude of danger and in the priority of the permanence of the potential contaminant. There are several major sources of contaminants in the aquifer protection zone which outrank potential septic pollution by several orders of magnitude. Batchelder’s abandoned smelting operation, the town dump, the abandoned town dump, the old state storage facilities, and D’Addario sand and gravel operation should all be top priority items. These contaminators, directly on the primary aquifer zone, do represent a danger of the magnitude suggested by last week’s letter referenced.

I would recommend that the first selectman establish a study committee to review the upzoning, and look at all potential threats to the aquifer in an effort to assure that the best, longest lasting and socially-just protective measures are in place. Meanwhile the upzoning should be put on hold.

Erwin Potter - Landscape Architect, Environmentalist

25 Washington Avenue, Sandy Hook   March 15, 2000