Date: Fri 01-Aug-1997

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-New-Lebbon-High-Bridge

Full Text:

P&Z Approves Relocation Of Intersection

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members have endorsed a proposal to

relocate the intersection of High Bridge Road and New Lebbon Road farther west

on High Bridge Road.

In a unanimous vote, P&Z members Thomas Paisley, James Boylan and Daniel

Rosenthal backed relocating the intersection to improve traffic safety in the

area.

Abandoning the section of New Lebbon Road which now connects to High Bridge

Road will be subject to action by the Legislative Council.

The selectmen will vote on whether New Lebbon Road should intersect with High

Bridge Road about 300 feet west of the existing intersection. If the selectmen

agree to such a change, the Legislative Council would vote on whether to

abandon a roughly 525-foot section of New Lebbon Road which now approaches

High Bridge Road.

At a past meeting between police and members of the New Lebbon/Beagle Trail

Neighborhood Association, residents told police they consider the existing

intersection to be hazardous due to the very limited sight lines which

motorists have while looking eastward when exiting New Lebbon Road onto High

Bridge Road.

Having a new section of New Lebbon Road intersect with High Bridge Road

farther west can be accomplished on existing town-owned property, according to

First Selectman Robert Cascella. The work would be done by Blakeman

Construction, LLC, a construction firm that is in the process of building the

nearby Rollingwood residential development.

If the intersection is relocated, the 525-foot section of New Lebbon Road

which now meets High Bridge Road would be permanently closed to traffic.

At a July public hearing on the intersection relocation proposal, resident

Neil Baldino of 23 High Bridge Road said he opposes a relocation.

Relocating the intersection would put the new intersection within 40 yards of

his property, Mr Baldino said.

Mr Baldino objected to: clearing land for new road construction; potential

pollution problems that might result from the project; damaged aesthetics;

decreased privacy, as well as negative effects an intersection relocation

might have on the future marketability of his home, among other concerns.

Mr Baldino suggested other measures to improve traffic safety at the existing

intersection. He suggested the use of a stop sign on High Bridge Road, as well

as mounting a parabolic traffic mirror across High Bridge Road from New Lebbon

Road to enhance traffic visibility.

But resident Gary Walter of 45 New Lebbon Road, who's lived there for more

than a year, said he's had a few "close calls" at the intersection. Overgrowth

in the area now makes the view even more limited than usual, he said.

Iris Baldino of 23 High Bridge Road suggested that the town post a Stop Ahead

sign and a Stop sign on westbound High Bridge Road to improve traffic safety.

Resident Jean Marie Roche-Hoover of 21 High Bridge Road said traffic on that

road is fast, adding that speeding vehicles are at the heart of the problem.

The area is posted for 30 mph.

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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 01-Aug-1997

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