Pending Fairfield Hills Review Raises The Issue Of Housing

By Kendra Bobowick

With the impending start of work by the Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee, questions about the possibility of housing at the Fairfield Hills campus arose. By the end of the week First Selectman Pat Llodra took pains to put the issue into perspective.

“No formal proposal has been made [regarding housing developments for Fairfield Hills] so I cannot comment on what may or may not transpire,” she said. The first selectman also cautioned, “We should not prejudge any concept, especially now that the Master Plan Review Committee is just beginning its work. It is equally important, however, to not allow a project proposal to rush us to judgment — positive or negative.” As the Fairfield Hills Master Plan for the campus’s reuse undergoes a review, for which a new committee met Monday, Mrs Llodra said she supports a “fair and balanced review” which “is necessary.”

“All ideas should be evaluated in terms of what that group ultimately considers to be in the best interest of Newtown,” she said.

The committee should be “free to assess/evaluate concepts for Fairfield Hills development without the pressure of a specific initiative,” she had stressed. With the committee’s review complete — they are working toward a December update — Mrs Llodra said, “Recommendations will come forward to the Board of Selectmen and to Planning and Zoning, and will engage whatever other Boards and Commissions and general public the committee identifies as part of their process.” See related story.

Regarding housing, which the current plan does not specify as a proposed reuse, Mrs Llodra said recently, “the idea of housing is an important ‘what if.’”

Fairfield Hills Authority Chairman John Reed concurred that no housing proposal is before town officials. “If we get one, we will explore it, but there is no offer. We have not seen anything.” The Fairfield Hills Authority, an advisory group, would discuss, but not make the decision regarding housing or any other proposal, as an accepted reuse.

Mr Reed said, “If something comes up outside of our charge [to carry out the master plan which specifies building reuses] we’ll look for guidance from other town bodies if something does come up.” The process would be “very, very public.” He said, “The public is best served by getting all facts out with all the information we can to make an informed decision.”

He specified this week that the Fairfield Hills Authority is “not a policy-making group,” but only implements established policies.

A broker, Michael Struna of Advantage Realty, is now at work marketing the property.