Date: Fri 10-May-1996

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Rocky-Glen-Association-growth

Full Text:

GROWING PAINS

An Unpopular Development

Galvanizes A Grass Roots Movement

Jack McGarvey and Eric Roundy of the Rocky Glen Area Association. -Bee Photo,

Gorosko

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

A development group's recent proposal to build 19 houses on a 26-acre parcel

in a densely-developed section of Sandy Hook galvanized neighborhood residents

to form the ad hoc Rocky Glen Area Association.

The association formed, in part, to ensure that: the town's New England

character remains intact as Newtown develops residentially; natural resources

are conserved despite development; and development which takes place is done

in an imaginative manner, according to acting association president Jack

McGarvey of Fleetwood Drive.

The association has about 25 member families, according to Mr McGarvey.

Fleetwood Drive is in the area where PSD Partnership proposed the 19 homes

known as Whispering Pines. The development project later was rejected by the

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) due to P&Z members' concerns over

excavation, drainage, erosion, sedimentation and grading.

Residents from the Cherry Street/Pine Street area turned out in large numbers

at an April P&Z public hearing to protest the home construction proposal,

charging that building 19 homes in the neighborhood would jeopardize well

water supplies, worsen existing traffic problems, and put enrollment strains

on the public schools.

A new version of the subdivision proposal is in the works.

Mr McGarvey said the association takes its inspiration from the town's plan of

development, a document published by the P&Z in 1993 which outlines the

conceptual underpinnings of local residential, commercial and industrial

development through the year 2003.

The association's goal is not to stop or to slow development, but to shape it,

Mr McGarvey said. Association members want to preserve the unique quality of

the existing hamlets in Newtown, be involved in community service, support

similar community associations in other sections of town when questionable

development proposals arise, attend public hearings on development proposals,

and endorse quality education in local public schools, according to Mr

McGarvey.

"We're utilizing the land almost to the maximum at this point," said

association vice president Eric Roundy of continuing residential development

pressures in town.

The association wants to make life tough for developers who don't respect

Newtown's vision for the future as expressed in plan of development, Mr

McGarvey said.

Association members don't want remaining land in Newtown subjected to

high-density residential development, resulting in overcrowding pressures on

the public schools, Mr McGarvey said.

The rate of residential growth in Newtown has been too rapid, resulting in

well water supply woes and septic system problems, according to Mr Roundy.

Developers must be sensitive to the character of a place when developing it,

he said.

Of the Whispering Pines proposal, Mr Roundy said "Neighbors began talking to

each other. Neighbors got concerned." The public hearing on Whispering Pines

created a sense of momentum for those concerned with developmental issues.

"I looked at it and it just didn't make sense to me," he said of the plan for

the rugged land with steep slopes. He believes town land use officials are

relieved that a community group has surfaced to pose questions about

development proposals.

Mr McGarvey said association members will be meeting with the PSD Partnership,

which has been preparing a revised proposal for the 26 acres. It's better to

be in a position to negotiate with a developer than not be able to negotiate,

he said.

The association wants reasonable, responsible residential development which

maintains the local rural character of the area, according to Mr Roundy.

"Whispering Pines has been a `lightning rod' for public opinion and the public

officials are glad about that," Mr Roundy said.

Mr McGarvey added "We're trying to make Newtown like it was back in the

colonial days" when there was an intense sense of civic interdependence.

He said he plans to distribute an association newsletter to families in the

vicinity of Rocky Glen to publicize developmental issues.

The association will be making specific recommendations to the P&Z on how its

planning and zoning regulations can be improved, Mr McGarvey said.

The reason the P&Z rejected Whispering Pines was that residents in the area to

be developed turned out in numbers to protest the project, according to Mr

McGarvey.

"I've really come to believe that the people can take the town back," Mr

Roundy said. The P&Z has been "rubber stamping" subdivision requests for

years.

The best thing members of the public can do to be heard is to attend public

hearings at which development proposals are aired and to speak their minds, he

said.

Mr McGarvey said the Rocky Glen Area Association is a founding member of the

Newtown Coalition of Neighborhood Associations, an alliance that the Rocky

Glen group is working to forge with neighborhood groups based in other parts

of Newtown. Those groups have been formed in Hawleyville, Taunton Hill and the

Tamarack Road and Butterfield Road areas.

Malcolm Andrew 'Andy' Bryant

Top Of The Mountain

Garden Club Spring Plant Sale Saturday

Full Slate Of May Programs Planned By Flagpole Photographers

Girls' Golfers Take On Notre Dame, Immaculate, And Masuk

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 10-May-1996

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