Newtown Community Picnic Takes Aim At Proposed Trail Development

NEWTOWN, CT — An “immersive community picnic and experiential event” meant to raise awareness around a historical area of Newtown some residents believe may be threatened by development is scheduled for Saturday.

On June 26, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve a developer’s request to discontinue the unused portion of Reservoir Road. The Board of Selectmen is set to vote July 15 regarding whether the road, also known as “Rochambeau Trail,” should be discontinued and handed over to the developer, or remain under the town’s stewardship.

Representatives of the developer speaking at the Special Meeting told P&Z members that there would be a permanent easement and deed that will be placed to protect the open space and wetlands, and that the trail would be kept on the historical registry. But without the discontinuance and the 40-acre cluster development that enabled, the 117 home project would spread over most of the 132-acre property.

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A Mount Pleasant Road resident speaking at the meeting said he felt the cluster homes will not keep up with the character of Newtown, and remove the historical preservation of the trail and protection of the wetlands on the property, according to the minutes.

Gabe Ahmed, the chair of the Newtown Conservation Coalition’s Historical Preservation Committee, said he was “pretty nervous” about Monday’s vote, and has organized the picnic and guided tour on the property to garner support and conversation.

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“It’s a community event for people to get to know each other and get to know the area more and get to know that important trail,” Ahmed told Patch. He believes that Board of Selectmen sentiments can be swayed “if our neighbors can see, touch, feel and walk the trail, and see the undisturbed stone walls.”

The event is scheduled for Saturday, July 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The guided tour and historic enrichment through Nettleton Preserve and the Rochambeau Historic Trail begins at 10:30, and will include presentations by Revolutionary War reenactors The 5th Connecticut Regiment. Attendees may meet and park along Old Castle Drive.


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