Date: Fri 12-Apr-1996

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

golf-course-Belmont-DEP

Full Text:

Golf Course Developer Gets Needed DEP Permit

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has given professional

golfer Peter Belmont its approval to place fill materials at the closed

D'Addario Bulky Waste Landfill in Botsford as part of Mr Belmont's plans to

build an 18-hole golf course there.

Under the terms of the permit, the DEP allows Peter A. Belmont, Inc, of

Ridgefield to place approximately 200,000 cubic yards of clean fill to the

east of and adjacent to the closed bulky waste landfill on Buttonshop Road.

Two hundred thousand cubic yards of fill is the equivalent 20,000 dump trucks

full of fill carried by 10-cubic-yard trucks, or 10,000 20-cubic-yard trucks.

Placing the fill on the site would allow Mr Belmont to construct fairways,

greens and cart paths at the site.

Any additional grading, seeding and creation of cart paths for a golf course

would occur on top of the bulky waste landfill and on top of additional clean

fill, according to DEP's waste management bureau.

The terms of the DEP permit provide that no disruption of the landfilled area

occur as a result of Mr Belmont's earth moving there and no additional solid

waste is to be disposed of at the property.

During the placement of additional fill at the site, Mr Belmont will be

required to maintain storm water runoff controls to prevent the erosion and

discharge of sediments into adjacent ponds and watercourses, according to DEP.

Also, Mr Belmont will be required to continue a program of on-site groundwater

and surface water quality monitoring at the landfill as a condition of the

permit.

Receipt of the permit to add fill at the 130-acre site, is the latest in a

series of approvals needed by Mr Belmont to build the golf course and an

adjacent golf driving range.

The landfilled area that Mr Belmont will be regrdaing primarily contains

demolition debris, including wood and roofing materials, plus some tree

stumps.

Proposals such as Mr Belmont's which involve filling work typically are given

environmental reviews by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Newtown Conservation Commission members March 13 approved a wetlands

construction permit for Mr Belmont's golf course proposal. Members approved

the permit for the Par-54 couse after Mr Belmont modified his plans to do less

filling work in a pond on the site than he had initially proposed.

In February, the commission had asked that less of the pond be filled to

protect some aquatic wildlife habitat for small fish which live there, such as

sunfish and bluegills. The modified plans call for building a land bridge

across a section of a pond on the site, instead of completely filling in the

body of water.

Several acres of the 28 acres of ponds and wet areas at the site would be

filled in to create the course.

Most of the ponds on the site would remain unfilled for use as irrigation

sources and for aesthetic reasons.

Mr Belmont is proposing the construction of an "executive golf course" and

golf driving range on the site which has been surface-mined by the D'Addario

Sand and Stone Company, Inc. Mr Belmont has said he has an option to buy the

land, provided that he gets all required approvals for golf course

construction.

Real estate acquisition and construction costs would put the price of the golf

course and range project at over $7 million, Mr Belmont said.

On January 4, the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) approved a set of

zoning amendments which would allow a commercial golf course and driving range

in the industrial zone. P&Z members said converting the surface mine into a

golf course is the best possible use for the scarred property.

Besides the approval he has gained the Conservation Commission, Mr Belmont

still needs approval from the P&Z for a site development plan.

Mr Belmont said he expects that the golf range and most holes on the back nine

would be built initially, with the remainder of the holes built later.

All holes on the course would be Par 3 holes. The holes would range in length

from 85 yards to 250 yards. At least seven holes would have water in play.

The driving range would have 110 tees. The range would be set in an area

approximately 60 to 70 feet lower than adjacent land, minimizing neighbors'

concerns stemming from nighttime illumination of the golf range, according to

Mr Belmont.

The site eyed for the golf course is at 2-18 Buttonshop Road. It lies in the

area bounded by Buttonshop Road, South Main Street, Botsford Hill Road and

Little Brook Lane. The golf course and driving range complex would include a

5,000-square-foot golf pro shop.

Mr Belmont operates Belmont's Ridgefield Golf Range on Route 7.

Malcolm Andrew 'Andy' Bryant

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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 12-Apr-1996

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