Blue Colony Diner just off Exit 10 has been a destination for not only several generations of Newtowners but also countless others from neighboring communities.
Gino’s Parlor has made a name for itself since opening in Sandy Hook in 2021, bringing its 40-year history of serving families throughout New York City and Long Island to Connecticut
Despite opening in late January of this year, The Ranch Pub has already made a name for itself as a cozy and inviting establishment for anyone who walks through its doors.
Since its 2014 opening, Barnwood Grill has become a beloved dining destination in Newtown, known for its warm atmosphere, personable service, and elevated take on New American cuisine.
Bruce’s letter paints a picture of runaway development, but the real story is the collapse of local cooperation — not the rise of §8-30g. That law has been on the books since 1990. For decades, towns and developers worked together to shape projects that made sense: added sidewalks, deeper setbacks, fewer units — genuine compromise.
What’s changed isn’t the law, it’s the politics. A loud social media mob has made any compromise politically toxic. The “no growth” crowd demands nothing be built anywhere, ever, and bullies anyone who suggests otherwise. Planning and zoning boards no longer negotiate; they hunker down, hoping to appease the Facebook comment section.
But here’s the irony — when compromise dies, developers stop compromising too. Once a project triggers §8-30g, the town can fight it, but state law ensures the developer will eventually win. So instead of working out a reasonable design, everyone heads to court. The developer doubles the unit count to pay for the lawyers, and the town burns taxpayer money trying to lose more slowly.
That’s how we end up with the very projects the NIMBY mob fears — because they made reasonable development impossible.
If people truly care about Newtown’s character, they need to stop the performative outrage and start engaging in real planning again. Screaming “no” to everything isn’t preservation — it’s self-sabotage.
I’m honestly surprised Bruce had to look up what an “agreement in principle” means. After years of business experience and managing 200 people, I would have expected that term to be familiar by now. Hard to believe it’s a new concept at this stage in his career. Although rest assured Newtown, vote row A and when times get tough, we have Google to help the selectman.
I asked AI what does agreement in principle mean
An "agreement in principle" is a preliminary, non-binding understanding reached between two or more parties that outlines the fundamental terms of a future contract. It is considered a stepping stone toward a formal, legally enforceable agreement.
This type of agreement is used to establish mutual intent and a basic framework for negotiations before the parties commit to a detailed, final contract.
I think the Municipal part of the town should develop similar programs to identify strategies and measurable objectives thus driving even better results and possible efficiencies.
The commissioners literally said — in plain English — that because this is an 8-30g application, traffic isn’t a valid reason for denial. But sure enough, there’s Dave Ackert up there grandstanding about traffic again.
It’s almost like some folks will say anything to keep affordable housing out, even if it means ignoring state law and wasting everyone’s time.
