Date: Fri 29-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

greenways-committee-open-space

Full Text:

PAGE ONE: Challenge For Greenways Panel Will Be Putting The Pieces Together

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

It's been more than a year since the Greenways Committee began the formidable

task of connecting all of Newtown's open spaces.

Since then, the committee has been mapping all available open space in town

seeking to create a system of trails stretching from one end of town to the

other - without having to cross any roads.

"Now we've got to connect all the pieces," said committee chairman Gary

Fetzer.

It won't be easy, however, especially with Interstate 84 running through the

center of town. But there appears to be a way around even that. The committee

has discovered a tunnel near Commerce Road that actually goes underneath the

highway.

The Greenways Committee will need to acquire easements from various property

owners to be used as trails to connect Newtown's major open space areas: Upper

Paugussett State Forest near Lake Lillinonah, Lower Paugussett Forest near

Lake Zoar in Sandy Hook and the Hattertown/Poverty Hollow area.

"We want to have no breaks in the trail," said committee member Cathy Andrews,

who doubles as a member of the Conservation Commission. "One way or another

we'll connect them all."

Member Phyllis Zygmont, who represents both the Newtown Forest Association and

the Newtown Bridal Lanes Association, said the project is many years away from

completion but believes the Greenways Committee needs to keep taking bites.

"The long-term goal is to get a greenway around the town that can be picked up

from anywhere," she said.

The idea for the trail system was originally proposed in October 1995 by

Conservation Commission Chairman Donald Lawrenson, who was looking to create a

system of trails to be used by hikers, cross country skiers, horseback riders

and mountain bicyclists. No motorized vehicles would be permitted on the

trail.

Mr Fetzer's committee has already begun looking at where and who it will need

to seek easements from, but in this age of litigation, members believe many

land owners will be worried about liability.

"We have a lot of handshake agreements from people that say, `you can use my

property,' but what we're after is a legal trail system," he said.

As Mrs Andrews points out, that's not as easy as it used to be. With all the

development and subdividing of land in recent years, there are now more people

who the committee will have to receive easements from.

"The town used to have lots of large amounts of land owned by one person," she

said.

Of course, developers must set aside 10 percent of their land for open space,

but as Mrs Andrews points out, most of what they set aside is wetlands, which

would be of no use to the Greenways Committee.

Currently, the committee is pursuing a land acquisition from Bridgeport

Hydraulic, which owns several acres of land in the southwest corner of town

just north of Hopewell Road. This land would provide parking in Newtown and

access to Huntington State Park in Redding.

"This would open up a whole new area of open space," Mr Fetzer said.

The Iroquois Gas Transmission System supports the plan and has pledged to fund

up to $450,000 from its Land Preservation and Enhancement Program, but before

it does so, it needs more information about the plan. Among the information

requested from Iroquois are maps identifying potential trail system routes,

easement acquisition, identification of open space acquisition, an explanation

on how the trail system would improve environmental quality, a time line and a

budget.

"I'm getting anxious," admitted Mrs Zygmont. "I feel we should be putting

together our goal, short-term and long-term, and getting them out there. I

know the money has already been earmarked for this project but we should

really put a plan in writing."

Anti-Development

Or Recreational?

Mr Fetzer and First Selectman Bob Cascella have had a long-standing

disagreement on the purpose of the Greenways Committee. Mr Cascella has

pointed to the Greenways Committee in the past as a way to control local

development. But Mr Fetzer believes they are two separate issues.

"Greenways is more than just a way to preserve the town, it means a trail

system," he said.

Mr Cascella believes the Greenways Committee can be a "piece of the puzzle" in

the town's effort to maintain the quality of life in Newtown.

However, Mr Fetzer believes a greenway is intended to establish a trail system

for low-intensity recreational purposes and has nothing to do with controlling

over-development.