Article’s Assertion Challenged

To the Editor:

I take exception to an article (“Hearing January 6 on P&Z Upzoning Proposal”) appearing in last week’s Bee, 12/31, concerning our P&Z board’s proposal to upzone certain areas of Newtown.

The question was raised at the initial P&Z meeting by a resident of Cedarhurst, a sizable lakeside community in Sandy Hook, as to the evidence of tainted wells. The answer from the board was, as reported by this paper, “I don’t know of any, but do we have to wait for wells to become contaminated?” This answer begs the question of Mr Gorosko, the author of the piece in question: What is the basis for your statement that there is “A history of groundwater contamination problems due to failing septic systems” in the lakeside communities?

James Swift

11 Cedarhurst Trail, Sandy Hook       January 3, 2000

(Editor’s note: The question referred to in Mr Swift’s letter was posed by Jeff Washburn of Algonquin Trail at the Planning and Zoning Commission’s December 2 meeting. At that time, Mr Washburn asked about evidence of tainted wells in the proposed aquifer protection district, which does not include the lakeside communities.)