Date: Fri 22-Mar-1996

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Walnut-Tree-Village-condos

Full Text:

Condo Developers Seek To Settle Sewer Connection Issue

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

The Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) and Walnut Tree Developers are

negotiating to set the payment terms for Walnut Tree Village condominium

owners' sewer line connections.

Closed talks between WPCA members and the developers took place during a WPCA

meeting March 14 in Edmond Town Hall.

Initially, WPCA members conducted a closed session among themselves to discuss

the sewer payment issues. Later, the WPCA, the developers and lawyers met

behind closed doors to discuss the matter further.

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) approved the controversial Walnut

Tree Village in 1995 following a protracted review of the construction plans.

Following the approval, the developers sued the town to gain legal leverage in

getting the project connected to the town sewer system. The 18-acre

construction site lies just outside the town's designated sewer district. The

condominium complex under construction on Walnut Tree Hill Road, near

Schoolhouse Hill Road, is planned as an 80-unit community for people at least

55 years old. An initial construction phase of 35 units is planned, after

which an additional 45 units would be built by the year 2002.

Several condominium owners attended the March 14 session to tell WPCA members

they want sewer connections to the condos to be affordable. The owners

stressed they are on fixed incomes.

Attorney Stephen Wippermann, representing Walnut Tree Developers, said the

developers already have sold 11 units and another 10 units are under contract

for sale.

Mr Wippermann said that because older people will be living in the

condominiums, they will be using less water than younger families, and hence

require less wastewater treatment capacity. The property is in an EH-10 zone,

designated for multifamily housing for the elderly.

Mr Wippermann asked that WPCA members allow the condominium owners to pay for

their sewer connections across the longest period possible.

A 20-year payment period, or at least a 10-year period, would be good, he

said. Mr Wippermann suggested that each condo owner pay $450 every six months

until the sewer connection charge is paid off.

Mr Wippermann said the developers will pay for the sewer pipe that connects

the condo complex to the town sewer system.

WPCA member Alan Shepard asked why the town shouldn't collect all the sewer

connection fees when the connections are made.

Such a one-time fee would be an "unfair burden" to the owners of the 35 condo

units in the first construction phase of the project, Mr Wippermann said.

Mr Wippermann said that although the P&Z approved the Walnut Tree Village site

for high-density development, the P&Z and WPCA unfortunately didn't coordinate

the site's development.

Payment Agreement

WPCA Chairman Peter Alagna said March 15 the WPCA will be working out a formal

agreement with the condo developers on payment for sewer connections.

According to Mr Alagna, the owners of the initial 23 units built at Walnut

Tree Village would be allowed to pay their sewer connection costs across a

10-year period.

The owners of the remaining 12 condo units of the initial construction phase

would pay the town the sewer connection fee across a 7-year period, Mr Alagna

said.

Owners of the last 45 units built would pay the town the sewer connection fee

as a lump sum, he said.

Total sewer connection charges for the 80 condo units would amount to

$765,000, Mr Alagna said. When divided by the 80 units, the per-unit

connection fee averages out to $9,562.

The town's condominium sewer connection charge isn't based on the flow of

wastewater from the condos into the sewer system, he said. But each condo

owner's sewer user charge will be based on wastewater flows, he said.

WPCA members recently decided that residential property owners within the

sewer district will be charged a $9,900 sewer assessment across a 20-year

period to cover sewer system construction charges. Those residential property

owners are eligible for a two percent subsidizied loan across the term of the

payback period.

But the condo owners won't be eligible for such low-interest loans, Mr Alagna

said.

Mr Alagna said he hopes to soon have a draft agreement prepared on the Walnut

Tree Village sewer connection charges.

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Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 22-Mar-1996

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