Tech Park Strikes A Conservation Nerve

By Kendra Bobowick

Holding a photograph of a scenic, rippling landscape as it appears from Queen Street and looking past a red wooden barn toward hills forming a far horizon, Conservation Commission member Pat Barkman compared the image to another, similar photo. The second photograph of the same vista included small, square pieces of tape that she stuck to the paper to represent buildings proposed for one distant fold in that landscape.

“It looks like the laundry is hanging out,” Ms Barkman said. A proposed tech park may find a handful of buildings tucked into the landscape near a portion of Deep Brook downhill and across the open fields tapering away from Queen Street and stretching into Fairfield Hills.

Last week Conservation Commission Chairman Joseph Hovious opened a map and traced a finger along the line representing Deep Brook — an environmentally critical stream running through the center of town, and specifically, seated down-slope from the proposed park.

Commission member Pat Barkman explained, “It’s a nerve.” Based on a scoring sheet the commission uses to rate and evaluate properties, she explained, “It has historic significance, a trout stream that has been breeding trout since the Ice Age, and prime agricultural land.” Ms Barkman places a high value on that land and the accompanying wetlands. “The agricultural land is important in case we need it. If anything happens we would be able to produce our own food.” Wetlands protect the ecology, she said.

In all, she explained, “A lot of people use it for passive recreation; there are a lot of ski and snow shoe marks and gorgeous views.” Nesting birds, owls, and more live on the parcel tucked in along Commerce Road in a wooded area conservationists are now calling Deep Brook Meadows, Ms Barkman explained. Those wetlands occupy the site for the proposed technology park.

Under development guidelines, a certain percentage of land is reserved as open space — in this case 34–35 acres. Conservation members are concerned about how the property is allocated between economic development and open space. Mr Hovious asked, “Which 34 acres of open space is important to us?” Explaining his position, he continued, “We feel it is our job to be sure citizens get the best open space they can possibly get.”

Unlike laundered shirts and pants interrupting the scenery, that piece of land and brook combined earns the commission’s highest mark, and commissioners want to protect it.

 

Making The Grade

Part of the commission’s responsibility includes evaluating and, if funds allow, preserving, land. The higher the score the better, Ms Barkman explained. Criteria include scenic and aesthetic values, protecting water quality, links to other protected land, ecological conservation, heritage and recreation, active recreational use, and development potential. Under these headings several categories earn high point value. Among them are protection of views around the town’s scenic spots; protecting public water supply and trout habitat; whether a property augments existing protected lands; whether a property promotes conservation of soil, wetland, beach, or rare plant or animal species; whether it promotes trail uses or contains historic property or trails; and the potential number of homes that could be could be constructed on the site.

Will construction replace the tree line? Ms Barkman said, “When you take the forest and imagine it as large houses, it would certainly spoil it.” Disliking the image she congers, Ms Barkman said, “As you’re going around Newtown imagine how it would be if it was wall-to-wall houses. It would be far less healthy.”

Stressing the possible health hazards, she said, “We risk our water, our air, our health and even though cities can be exciting, they’re generally not as healthy.”

An Argument For The Economy

Director of Community Development Elizabeth Stocker is aware that the conservation members were lukewarm to some aspects of the proposals — specifically how to best configure the 34 acres of open space.

She is optimistic that the two groups will find a compromise, however.

“I am hopeful the Economic Development Commission and the Conservation Commission can come up with a mutual agreement in what will be the best interest of the town. We’re trying to balance needs,” she said.

While aware of environmental concerns, at the same time she is reaching for the dollars that will benefit Newtown.

Ms Stocker said the park is one of several ongoing projects that she hopes will bring funds to Newtown. From the old Fireside lot at Highland Plaza to Fairfield Hills reuse, the tech park, to the Plaza South project next to Sand Hill Plaza where, “they’re starting to move the earth,” she hopes for an overall economic benefit to the town, she said. Ms Stocker also noted other prospects such as a private development near Mt Pleasant Road to Eton Center redevelopment in the borough.

Economic Development Commission Chairman Chet Hopper stressed that the building lots will be treated with environmental sensitivity. His commission also seeks “clean industry” for the building lots. Working with “max build-out” in mind, the commission is working to take environmental measures to protect Deep Brook and the surrounding land from the worst case scenario, he said.

With rainwater run-off in mind, he said, “We’ve gone overboard.” He is not saying a maximum build-out will occur, but if it did, they are prepared to protect the waterway. He stressed that the river banks are also unstable. “We’ll take the precautions we need to so it doesn’t collapse.” Mr Hopper said.

The tech park is still a conceptual plan only.

Land Use Agency Deputy Director for Conservation Rob Sibley noted that Newtown is growing at a “furious rate,” with the ideas for a technology park included. He also stressed that currently the park is still in preliminary planning stages.

According to the Economic Development Commission’s website at www.newtown.org, “The Newtown Technology Park involves approximately 76 acres of land located approximately one-half of a mile from Exit 10. The Park will accommodate various business buildings ranging in size from 8,000 square feet to 60,000 square feet on individual lots that will range in size from two to six acres. The potential of combining lots for larger buildings is also an option.”

The website states, “The Technology Park is expected to realize the following objectives: enhance the local tax base and provide local employment opportunities, preserve critical natural resources in the area, provide for future traffic circulation options, provide a beautiful setting for high technology businesses in close proximity to an educated work force, maintain the acreage designated by the Legislature for open space and economic development, provide new opportunities for business growth and development.”