Chaudhary Sworn In; Council Approves New Open Spaces

After welcoming new member Neil Chaudhary, the Newtown Legislative Council took action on approving new open spaces for the town and approved a business incentive for the Betts Square medical and office park in Sandy Hook at their Wednesday night meeting at Newtown Municipal Center.

Chaudhary replaced incoming State Representative Mitch Bolinsky, who was elected in November. Council Chair Jeffrey Capeci said Chaudhary would take Bolinsky's former spots on Ordinance and Finance and Administration.

Five New Open Spaces for Newtown

Deputy Director of Planning and Use Rob Sibley and conservation commission member Joe Hovious told the town the open spaces were years in the making.

"This is the best part of doing the open space, when other community members and citizens choose to donate our property to the town," said Sibley. "It's a good day. It means we're doing something right."

The open spaces included two lot line revisions, in which the town adjusts property lines. Hovious said he was particularly excited about a revision that opens access to approximately 54 acres of Pole Bridge Reserve. Conservationists hope they can fill the extra space with walking trails and other activities.

"We're hoping to develop trails there," Hovious told Patch. "We actually already have the Trails group working on some of those activities. There's also some meadow habitat up there for songbirds and that sort of thing."

Business Incentive for Betts Square in Sandy Hook

Developer Michael Burton started renovating Betts Square, at 10 Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook, in 2008. The 15,000 square foot medical office park offers space for 12 tenants. The council awarded him the Business Incentive Program, which offers small tax breaks for developers that bring existing buildings back into the tax structure. 

The council congratulated Burton on his work.

"When you cut down the trees in front of that building, I thought, 'Oh, there's a building there?'" said council member Mary Ann Jacob, who lives in Sandy Hook. "It's a great improvement to that whole neighborhood."

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