LTE: More Overdevelopment is Coming to Fairfield

Dear Editor,

As a recently elected member of the Fairfield Planning and Zoning Commission, I am writing to express my profound disappointment and outrage at the current state of affairs in our local and state governance as it pertains to overdevelopment.

There is a need for new leadership to combat the biggest issue I’ve heard from Fairfield residents - overdevelopment. Residents who oppose overdevelopment and all that it brings, from our town budget and taxes to traffic congestion to future school redistricting - should view the situation through a non-partisan lens and support those who have already shown they are committed to our town and will do everything possible to prevent Fairfield from turning into a city.

The single-sex, single-political-party supermajority rule that now dominates Fairfield’s Planning and Zoning Commission has already raised red flags by flat out rejecting the non-partisan way the TPZ normally operates in its selection of the vice chair position. Rather than following the nonpartisan manner of selecting a minority commissioner as vice chair, the majority party chose its own party for both the chair and vice chair positions and rejected Commissioner Braun who has served for 6 years, is an attorney, and brings a much-needed environmental perspective to the board. (But they did nominate and vote for the highest ranking of the two females for Secretary and then applaud her for her ability to that job.) This is a disservice to our community; I believe strongly that we check our partisanship at the door and this is not a good sign.

Governor Lamont’s recently passed anti-zoning bill HB 8002 last week, was aggressively lobbied for by developer interests, and represents a devastating blow to local control and the character of towns like Fairfield and Westport. This legislation forces massive changes, including imposing development quotas that the TPZ must pass regulations to achieve which must be approved by the State; new restriction of the TPZ’s discretion and ability to hold public hearings on certain types of applications; prohibits any parking requirements for apartment buildings up to 16 units in size; and allows conversion as-of-right from commercial to residential. This could result in the complete redevelopment of downtown Fairfield into 4-5 story residential developments that will forever alter our skyline, local charm, traffic flows, flooding, and quality of life. It will require dedicated commitment by the Planning and Zoning Commission to protect Fairfield from the worse aspects of this new law. The dedication and commitment to protecting our quality of life and our open and historic spaces have been shown in the past by Commissioners like Alexis Harrison who unfortunately is no longer on the commission and by Kathryn Braun, who was just summarily prevented from being in a true leadership position.

We needed strong leadership from our state representatives, which did not happen. In fact, all 3 of our state representatives (McCarthy-Vahey, Leeper and Keitt) VOTED FOR HB 8002 and are now attempting paint that bad vote in a good light, when in actuality they appear to disdain local control over the land in our town. In contrast, Senator Hwang spoke out eloquently and forcefully, and voted against it, and he has steadfastly opposed all attempts to pass anti-zoning laws.

The First Selectperson also has failed our Town by supporting the Town in joining the housing accelerator program known as CMDA, and by approving giving money to the developer of 980 High Street, which our Town’s Conservation Commission had rejected twice and which our Town defended twice in Court. She also has not publicly commented about bill HB-8002 and her position on it unlike our neighboring First Selectman in Easton who found a legal loophole against it. We need bold and committed action by our First Selectperson to take a stand for local control over zoning and not rewrite our zoning books to accommodate the current Governors’ demands for overdevelopment.

Combating overdevelopment requires committed leadership at all levels, and Fairfielders should be concerned by all these events.

Our Town does not need, nor is there any real local demand for, thousands more apartments, and hundreds already sit empty across the region. We already have almost 2,000 apartment units approved but not yet built or occupied yet in Fairfield alone with thousands more being forced on neighboring Fairfield County towns as well. Forcing added density upon us will not make single-family homes (the housing type families actually want and need and condos with elevators for others) any more affordable. It will only permanently change the character of our town. But at what cost?

It’s time for residents to wake up to the dangers of one-party dominance and demand a return to balanced representation that respects local voices. In the upcoming special election on February 3, I strongly urge my fellow Fairfielders to elect Tony Hwang who is on record for years opposing anti-zoning laws, and is committed to preserving Fairfield as a Town, rather than allowing it to be turned into a city. Once the bulldozers arrive, it is too late.

Sincerely,

Veronica Monahan, Fairfield resident for 27 years and member of Fairfield Town Plan and Zoning Commission. Comments are my own and I do not speak on behalf of any commission or organization.