It’s time that Ansonia faces its growing residential over-development problem.
The bottom line is that Ansonia does not need any additional residential developments. Our education system and public services are already stretched to their limits.
Increasing the population will have a negative impact on the quality of town services and unfairly increase the burden on our taxpayers.
Unfortunately, the recent proposal to build 23 new homes off of Castle Lane is just the latest of several major residential developments proposed in the last two years. Other proposals include the following:
- A 22 unit residential development on Hull Street;
- A “cluster” development of between 30 and 36 houses on Coe Lane between Farrel Drive and Fitzpatrick Drive; and
- A plan to build 55 one- and two-bedroom condominiums on Main Street.
Ansonia is in desperate need of a comprehensive development plan to combat over-development. Without a long-term strategy, Ansonia’s future will be dictated by the plans of out-of-town housing developers who have little interest in the overall success of our city.
It is imperative that we preserve what little open space we have left. How can we seriously talk about going “green” in Ansonia if we allow developers to devour the last wooded areas in town?
Additionally, we need to save space downtown for future business use. Attracting vibrant new businesses into our downtown area is one of the best ways to grow our Grand List and revitalize our economy. Allowing new residential developments on Main Street may very well become an impediment to future business growth. Further, there is no guarantee that condominiums on Main Street will remain at “market rate” in a flagging economy.
Our elected officials must take the initiative and chart a defined course for development. Ansonia’s future is too important to be left up to chance.
I look forward to discussing this issue with my fellow aldermen at our next meeting, to be held at 7 p.m. at Ansonia City Hall on Tuesday, August 9. I encourage Ansonia residents to attend and share their own thoughts on this issue.
Editor’s note: The writer is a Republican member of the Ansonia Board of Aldermen.
