News

Snow Throwers Selling Briskly As Storm Approaches

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: Mar 13, 2017 12:00 AM

Staff at Newtown Power Equipment in Hawleyville on Monday, March 13, said that the firm's stock of snow throwers was selling briskly as residents prepared for what was predicted to be the heaviest sno...

Parking, Traffic Flow Improvements At Eichler's Cove

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: Mar 13, 2017 12:00 AM

Drizzle fell on loose earth, pooling inside ruts etched by heavy machinery at Eichler's Cove last week. Where once stood trees, overgrowth, and an old foundation on a hillside, will soon be a level pa...

Town Departments, Eversource Fully Prepared For Blizzard - Are You?

By John Voket

Published: Mar 13, 2017 12:00 AM

Newtown Emergency Management Director Bill Halstead called a meeting at the town's Emergency Operations Center Monday morning, March 13, to meet with officials from local police, fire, communications,...

Newtown Public Schools To Be Closed March 14

By Shannon Hicks

Published: Mar 13, 2017 12:00 AM

In a proactive move, Superintendent of Schools Dr Joseph V. Erardi Jr announced Monday afternoon that all Newtown Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, March 14, in light of an approaching blizzar...

Fire Marshal Issues Pre-Storm Reminders

Published: Mar 13, 2017 12:00 AM

Newtown Fire Marshal Rich Frampton has issued safety reminders for residents and businesses, in light of the impending snow storm. newtown-ct.gov.newtownbee.comCheck the town website or at Facebook pa...

All-Star Transportation Full-Service Facilities Receive Blue Seal Of Excellence

Published: Mar 13, 2017 12:00 AM

WATERBURY - All-Star Transportation's three full-service facilities that repair and maintain its fleet of school buses have each received a Blue Seal of Excellence from the National Institute for Auto...

Governor Declares Civil Preparedness Emergency, Travel Ban Ahead Of Blizzard

By John Voket

Published: Mar 13, 2017 12:00 AM

At a brief 5 pm press conference, Governor Dannel Malloy announced that he signed a declaration instituting a Civil Preparedness Emergency, and instituted a travel ban ahead of a late winter blizzard ...

Red Cross Issues Safety Reminders Ahead Of Winter Weather

Published: Mar 13, 2017 12:00 AM

Connecticut is expecting winter weather tomorrow with Newtown among the large section of the state under a Blizzard Warning, while other parts of the state are under a Winter Storm Warning. Large snow...

Moving 'Newtown Forward' Is Focus Of New Advocacy Group

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Mar 12, 2017 12:00 AM

Since November, the local advocacy group Newtown Forward has been expanding, but it may not have started without a Facebook post. Rebekah Harriman-Stites felt discouraged the day after the national el...

Beginning March 13: Alternating Traffic Flow Planned Near Sugar Street Bridge

Published: Mar 10, 2017 12:00 AM

Preliminary aerial utility relocation work, which is required for the replacement of the Sugar Street (Route 302) bridge, near its intersections with Elm Drive, South Main Street, Glover Avenue, and M...

‘Timeless Newtown’ Series Updated With ‘Ageism Unmasked’ Book Talks

Longest Day Fundraiser Continues Raising Funds For Alzheimer’s Research

Borough Continued Traffic Safety Discussion, New Cultural District

‘The Isle of Skoo’ Premieres New Assembly Show

PD Open House Planned

Thank you for pointing out the trail access provisions included in the BOS motion—it’s an important clarification that deserves more attention in this conversation. If the development is, in fact, required to provide permanent free public access and commit to ongoing maintenance of this section of the Rochambeau Trail, that is a remarkably beneficial outcome for the town. oIt’s not every day that a private project shoulders the long-term burden of preserving and caring for a public historical corridor at no taxpayer cost—especially one that previously had no formal access, upkeep, or visibility. Let’s be honest: the idea that the only way to protect history is by preventing any development nearby is a rigid and unworkable standard. What’s being proposed here appears to strike a rare balance—historic preservation, public access, and smart development all rolled into one. That’s not a loss its a win. So rather than allowing a handful of voices to derail progress under the banner of “historic purity,” maybe it’s time to acknowledge the reality: this trail is better off with structured stewardship and visibility than remaining an overgrown ghost on old maps. Let’s move forward. Bring in the easement, bring in the public access—and yes, bring in the bulldozers!!! Progress and preservation can coexist. Let’s not let the NIMBY use fear or nostalgia keep us stuck in the past.

Discusses Rochambeau Trail And 6 Commerce Road

I've heard that several people are under the impression that the public might be banned from the Rochambeau Trail. Points 2 and 3 from the BOS motion (included in full below) make it clear that public access to the trail is part of the requirements for the developer. From what I understand, it requires free public access to the trail in perpetuity. Technically, this could be argued to be a "payment-in-kind," that attempts to balance public good with overall town growth. We can argue about weather that balance is acceptable and how the trail may be affected, but with the understanding that the trail is expected to be maintained as a publicly accessible trail regardless. July 15, 2024 Board of Selectmen approved motion: Discontinuance of Reservoir Road: Selectman Cruson moved the resolution: Resolved, that the Newtown Board of Selectmen, in accordance with Section 2-115(d)(8) of the Town Charter and Conn. Gen. Stat. §13a-49, and subject to the conditions set forth below, hereby discontinues an unimproved portion of Reservoir Road described as “Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued “on that certain survey map which will be recorded on the Newtown Land Records titled “Map Showing Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued” dated August, 2023 and revised September 15, 2023, and certified substantially correct by Gregory Szyszowski of SLR (the “Survey Map”), said discontinuance contingent and effective only upon the completion of the following: 1. The approval of an application for the development of land in the manner described in a letter from Attorney Thomas W. Beecher to First Selectman A. Jeffrey Capeci and Members of the Board of Selectmen dated May 30, 2024, pursuant to the “Residential Open Space Development” regulations of the Borough of Newtown by the Borough of Newtown Zoning Commission, and construction of that approval project within the timeframes required for special exception approval; 2. The inclusion of the discontinued portion of the road as part of the final Declaration of Conservation Restriction; 3. The conveyance of a mutually agreeable public easement to the Town of Newtown for pedestrian, bicycling, equestrian, and all other passive recreational uses (to exclude the use of motorized vehicles except as may be necessary by the Town or its designee to effectuate the purpose of the easement), and for municipal utility purposes; Be it further resolved, that Castle Hill Real Estate Holdings, LLC., its successors and assigns, shall not use any portion of the discontinued road as a vehicular road or access way to and from any developed portions of the property. Be it further finally resolved, that should any of the foregoing contingencies not occur, then the discontinuance contemplated herein shall not become effective and this resolution will become null and void. From: https://www.newtown-ct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif12216/f/minutes/bos_7-15-24_min-_att_final.pdf

Is this paper road (roads that only exist on paper map but not in reality) even owned by the Town? Many roads that predate the Town's road standards are privately owned and were never accepted by the Town, such as many of the nonconforming roads around the lake communities where the property owners own right to the center line. That is something we had to deal with when working on the Roads Ordinance a few years back. We also had to deal with a private road to run the utilities to the new SHS.

For anyone who wants to know, I cant post a link here, but Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority has an entire website. Look up "HRRA whats in whats out"

I Get It!

It’s important to clarify that while public process matters, so does the right of a property owner to reasonably develop land they legally own—especially when they follow the rules and engage with the town in good faith. The Board of Selectmen (BOS), whether one agrees with their decision or not, did not “give away” anything. The land in question was part of a road that had been unused and undeveloped for generations. There was no public access, no signage, and no infrastructure—just an overgrown path most residents never knew existed. Mr. Ackert calls the discontinuance “illegal,” but state law grants municipalities the authority to discontinue roads, subject to procedural requirements. The fact that this matter is in litigation shows that questions of law are being properly addressed in court—not in letters to the editor. If the court finds procedural flaws, they’ll be corrected. That’s how the legal system works. Real solutions are found through public process and the courts, not through social media outrage. What’s missing from this conversation is a recognition that towns need to balance many interests: history, environment, public access, private property rights, and economic development. And while the newly championed Revolutionary War heritage is important, there are also pressing modern realities: towns need housing, economic vitality, and responsible development. These things don’t happen in a vacuum—they require compromise, planning, and often, yes, change. If residents truly wish to preserve this trail as public space, the appropriate path is through purchase, conservation easement, or formal designation—not by expecting private landowners to bear the burden of public sentiment. If the writer believes so strongly in its value, perhaps they might consider investing in its preservation themselves. We can honor our history without freezing our town in time. Development and preservation aren’t mutually exclusive—but vilifying one side of the conversation only deepens division. Let’s focus on solutions that balance respect for the past with the rights and needs of those who live here now.

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Snow Throwers Selling Briskly As Storm Approaches

Parking, Traffic Flow Improvements At Eichler's Cove

Town Departments, Eversource Fully Prepared For Blizzard - Are You?

Newtown Public Schools To Be Closed March 14

Fire Marshal Issues Pre-Storm Reminders

All-Star Transportation Full-Service Facilities Receive Blue Seal Of Excellence

Governor Declares Civil Preparedness Emergency, Travel Ban Ahead Of Blizzard

Red Cross Issues Safety Reminders Ahead Of Winter Weather

Moving 'Newtown Forward' Is Focus Of New Advocacy Group

Beginning March 13: Alternating Traffic Flow Planned Near Sugar Street Bridge