Date: Fri 20-Mar-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

land-use-Rosenthal-task-force

Full Text:

Selectmen Create Task Force For Land-Use Issues

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Board of Selectmen Monday voted to create a seven-member task force to

assist the Planning & Zoning Commission in its efforts to regulate development

in Newtown.

The group will work under the direction of P&Z to take a close look at the

town's plan of development and its zoning regulations. The task force, created

for just a one-year period, will await specific duties from the P&Z.

The board will include Joe Bojnowski of the Board of Selectmen, P&Z members

Dan Fogliano and Lilla Dean, and residents Kurt Gillis, Eleanor Mayer, Eric

Roundy and Jim Setz.

The selectmen hope the committee will provide a citizens' point of view to the

mix. First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said the group will assist the zoners in

the area of planning. He said any outside groups seeking zone changes can now

meet informally with the task force rather than having to go before the more

formalized P&Z.

"As I understand it, we will be looking at zoning in selected areas of town as

defined by the Planning & Zoning department and making recommendations as to

how that zone can best be zoned," explained Mr Bojnowski, who served on the

P&Z from 1986-90.

P&Z Chairman Stephen Koch said he took a poll of commission members to

determine priorities and the one that kept popping up was up zoning,

increasing the minimum lot size in a residential area.

"I would say that's something on our hit list," he said.

Both First Selectman Herb Rosenthal and Mr Bojnowski pledged to better provide

land-use boards with the necessary tools to help them make decisions on

applications and, if needed, assistance in re-writing the town's land-use

regulations.

The theme of the Rosenthal/Bojnowski campaign was "Preserving the Character of

Newtown."

"Newtown, because it has such easy access to lower Fairfield County, has a lot

of good value. It has a good school system, and the cost of living is a good

value for your money," said Mr Bojnowski. "Clearly, there is lot of pressure

on Newtown in terms of development. A lot of resources have to be put into

play to get the best results for Newtown. We are all for good development and

sensible planning in Newtown."

Mr Rosenthal said the board should have good balance with several different

points of view being represented. Mr Fogliano, Mrs Dean, Mr Gillis and Eric

Roundy are all listed on the Newtown Neighborhood Coalition's 1996 membership

list.

"Herb did that by design," said Mr Koch. "They've been asking for input and

this was a way to get them involved."

A P&Z Focus

The P&Z has been a focal point during the early months of Mr Rosenthal's

administration. Since December, Mr Rosenthal has done much to rearrange the

land-use department.

"That was my intent," he said. "I just felt that was an area of government

that needed better coordination, more support and more funds, so that the town

continues to grow in a reasonable fashion."

In December, Mr Rosenthal and Mr Bojnowski voted to appoint Democrat Lilla

Dean as an alternate to the P&Z over Republican Tom Paisley. Republicans urged

the selectmen to choose the "more experienced" Paisley.

In January, Mr Rosenthal announced that Elizabeth Stocker, the community

development director, would have half her $58,000-plus salary funded through

the land-use account.

"She's a license planner, so we'll be using more of her services for the P&Z,"

he said.

Earlier this month, the Board of Selectmen hired Robert Fuller, a land-use

attorney with an extensive background.

Since Mr Rosenthal took office in December, Conservation Officer Chris

Majewski, Zoning Enforcement Officer Bill Nicholson and land-use clerk Kathy

Reymers have all resigned. In response, the first selectman hired Rita

MacMillan to head the land-use department. Mrs MacMillan is familiar with the

department, having served as its administrative aide for several years.

Mrs MacMillan took over for Town Engineer Ron Bolmer who was relieved of his

land-use duties, allowing him more time to concentrate on engineering work at

the highway department.