Date: Fri 13-Sep-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Habitat-For-Humanity-P&Z

Full Text:

Habitat For Humanity Housing Plan Approved

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members have approved a two-lot

residential subdivision on Philo Curtis Road for the construction of two

owner-occupied, single-family houses for low- and moderate-income families.

Habitat for Humanity's (HHH) development proposal for affordable housing

apparently meets all applicable regulations, said P&Z member Heidi Winslow in

making a motion at a September 5 P&Z meeting to approve the project.

An issue concerning access at the development site has been resolved, she

said.

Ms Winslow congratulated the town's Local Housing Partnership for its work to

bring affordable housing to Newtown, terming it "a great addition to the

town."

P&Z member John DeFilippe, however, cautioned that the town may face a legal

challenge over approving the two-lot subdivision.

Mr DeFilippe said an easement which allows the Stefanko family of 71 Philo

Curtis Road to cross town-owned property to gain access to their house and

garage poses a legal problem for the town in connection with the affordable

housing project.

The town now owns the development site, which it plans to give to HHH.

P&Z members voted 4-to-1 in favor of the subdivision, with Mr DeFilippe in

opposition.

Habitat for Humanity's construction commmittee is slated to meet September 23

to take up the home building project. It is unclear when construction will

begin.

HHH wants to build two basic houses for low- and moderate-income families on

3.5 acres on Philo Curtis Road, just south of its intersection with Riverside

Road.

The subdivision was one of the last such subdivisions to be considered

involving one-acre, rear lot zoning. P&Z repealed one-acre rear-lot zoning

August 12. The commission accepted HHH's development proposal for review on

August 1, thus allowing the application to be considered as a rear-lot

development project.

The affordable housing proposal encountered various delays before reaching the

P&Z for review. The delays involved deed restrictions on the land proposed for

development.

Thomas Gissen of Ridgefield, a land use planner who donates his services to

HHH, has said the proposal involves "good, well-designed rectilinear lots."

HHH is eager to start building the houses as soon as possible to meet the need

for affordable housing in the area, according to Mr Gissen.

Barbara Burkert of Bethel, chairman of Newtown's Local Housing Partnership,

said the partnership in 1991 identified the land as suitable for affordable

housing. Since then, the partnership has explained the development proposal to

nearby residents. Seven Newtown families have qualified for consideration as

homeowners by HHH. Participants in the HHH program must either live or work in

Newtown and meet financial eligibility requirements.

John Stefanko of 71 Philo Curtis Road lives right next to the site planned for

development. Mr Stefanko has said he fears that if low-income housing is built

nearby, his property's value would decrease. "I don't want anything taken from

me that I've worked so hard to achieve," he said recently.

Mr Stefanko said he doesn't object to one house being built next to him, but

two houses will crowd the area.

Nancy Gossling of Country Squire Road has said the development proposal

provides an opportunity to build two affordable houses, an opportunity which

should be seized because it is unclear when another such opportunity might

arise again.

HHH is an independent, non-profit affiliate of the international Christian

housing ministry based in Americus, Georgia. Volunteers and low-income

families work together using tax-deductible donations of money and materials

to build new homes. Volunteers, churches, businesses and civic groups donate

or help raise funds to purchase, materials, tools, services and labor. Houses

are sold at no profit to families, and no-interest mortgages are issued over a

fixed period. The cost of the homes built is significantly lower than market

value. The small monthly mortgage payments made by participating families

support continuing construction. Homeowners volunteer their labor to build the

home they will live in, according to HUH.