Council Panel Suggests Fairfield Hills Environmental Review

By Kaaren Valenta

Besides taking up the issue of the failed town budget, the Legislative Council is slated to hear recommendations of its Fairfield Hills advisory subcommittee when it meets at 8 pm on Tuesday, May 2, at the senior center on Riverside Road.

Council President Pierre Rochman said on April 26 that the Fairfield Hills report would be on the agenda of the special meeting. Members of the committee met on April 25 to discuss the process for the council to follow in the development of a master plan for Fairfield Hills should the town decide to buy the property.

Emphasizing that their work is very preliminary, the committee members agreed on three recommendations: That a non-profit group like Kings Mark be asked to do a free environmental assessment of the 185-acre Fairfield Hills campus; that the council’s finance committee be asked to determine how much money the town could afford to spend on the purchase and development of the property; and that a public hearing be scheduled soon to solicit comments from the public.

“I’m sure that if asked, Kings Mark will do an assessment at no cost just as it did for Orchard Hill,” Melissa Pilchard said. “They will look at the whole 185 acres, where there is wildlife, wetlands, the soil and topography, water supply, sewers – not just look for contamination.”

Mrs Pilchard pointed out that Stephen Driver, the town’s conservation director, is the current chairman of Kings Mark, a statewide volunteer consortium of environmental specialists.

“I think we should ask the council to ask the first selectman or Board of Selectmen to ask King’s Mark to do an environmental assessment,” Mrs Pilchard said. “It would be helpful and it’s free.”

“We’re not anywhere near ready to decide anything until an environmental assessment is done,” Ruby Johnson agreed.

Mrs Johnson said she was troubled that there has been little opportunity for the community to express its opinion on whether to buy the property. “The council needs to get a sense of what the community wants, not just what town officials want,” she said.

Doug Brennan said the town charter may require a vote by residents even if the council decides that the property not be purchased.

“Right now we have an interest in Fairfield Hills – a right of first refusal,” Mr Brennan said. “The charter says that disposing of an interest in real property requires a recommendation and a town meeting.”

Mrs Pilchard said the charter also requires an economic impact study. “Everything we want to do requires three other things to be done at the same time,” she said.

Brian White suggested that a representative from the selectman’s office be present at all future meetings. The other committee members agreed. “We will be knocking our heads together if we don’t get everyone on board,” Don Studley said.

  The committee members discussed such issues as whether an authority should be created to manage the property, how to hire a master planner,  and what are the planning and zoning implications, but no conclusions were reached. The task of trying to set parameters for the process is formidable, they agreed.

“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time,” Mr Brennan said.