[goldenband]

Yeah, I had a feeling that the first reply after my post would say something to that effect. But I don't know of a country on the planet where affluent people aren't basically free to build or buy whatever they can afford. Money talks.

That has nothing to do, though, with the question of how you regulate new construction so that it benefits the community and the environment, rather than detracting from them. Unless you favor the repeal of all zoning and building laws, we do have those policies in place; it's just a question of degree. IMHO, a lot of new construction doesn't pass that test. And that's something that can, and does, affect us all; just look at the water crises going on in the semi-desert areas of the West, where people built houses in areas that really couldn't support that kind of population without putting an excessive strain on the water supply.

[andthentherewere3]

Originally Posted by goldenband

Yeah, I had a feeling that the first reply after my post would say something to that effect. But I don't know of a country on the planet where affluent people aren't basically free to build or buy whatever they can afford. Money talks.

That has nothing to do, though, with the question of how you regulate new construction so that it benefits the community and the environment, rather than detracting from them. Unless you favor the repeal of all zoning and building laws, we do have those policies in place; it's just a question of degree. IMHO, a lot of new construction doesn't pass that test. And that's something that can, and does, affect us all; just look at the water crises going on in the semi-desert areas of the West, where people built houses in areas that really couldn't support that kind of population without putting an excessive strain on the water supply.

Are you speaking of new homes in general, or new homes specifically in Newtown? Most of the homes in Newtown are modestly sized. There are a lot of new developments with larger homes, but generally not of the same magnitude as those you would find in lower Fairfield County. And out of curiousity, what do you feel is too big when it comes to homes?

[goldenband]

Really, my beef is less with the size of homes per se, and more with people's tendency to build larger homes using cheap or poor-quality materials, instead of either building something smaller and better, or rehabbing an existing structure. It's true that huge houses cost an arm and a leg to build, maintain, and heat/cool; they also tend to encourage families to isolate themselves both from their environment, and within the house itself, with everyone doing their own thing.

It's true as well that huge houses tend to go along with the kind of car-oriented development, away from walkable town centers and the like, that I think is toxic to communities. But a larger house in an appropriate location can be gorgeous, of course; it's just that doing it right costs serious $$$.

I also loathe the tendency to level large chunks of woods or farmland, whether for a single house or for a subdivision. I've seen some places in Colchester that are like that, where people flatten everything up to their property line so that they can have this gargantuan lawn to match their gargantuan house, and then wonder why their AC bills are so high. I think everyone benefits when construction is integrated into the existing landscape, rather than imposed upon it.

I'm not familiar with Newtown specifically, and I'd certainly be pleased to know that it's an exception to the trend.

[JayCT]

Actually I can understand people's desire to live on a larger piece of property away from others. I live near town in a walkable "family" neighborhood with homes on modest sized lots. Quite frankly, I am kind of sick of it.

First people know too much of each others business. One neighbor knows the coming and goings of everyone and reports it all to everyone else. A person I know has a neighbor that can see when they are walking past their telephone and will call them exactly as they are passing the phone. They will even admit it by saying that they called then because they knew they weren't busy with something.

Second it is noisy. I am sick of each of my neighbors cutting their grass at different times of the day or doing a noisy home improvement project. In the warmer months, it is rarely quiet for more than a half hour or so each. Hard to enjoy your backyard or deck when someone is cutting their grass 100 feet away. On top of that I have one neighbor that cuts his grass every couple of days. It is also hard to get yard work done in a walkable neighborhood because so many people are walking and they will stop and chat with you when you are trying to do something.

Also my neighbor's problem somehow becomes my problem. They neglect their dog all day and I am the one getting calls from other neighbors complaining about it. What am I going to do about it?

When we bought my wife wanted a "family" neighborhood so the kids have other kids to play with. I have found that I do not necessarily want my kids playing with some of the kids because they have picked up things that are IMHO inappropritate. My kids have learned all too many bad habits from the other kids in the neighborhood. I also do not appreciate it when my kids pass it on to other kids either.

All this said, I do wish we had bought a home further out in a quieter less developed area. JMHO, Jay

[jimazee]

Interesting. We built a very nice custom house in Newtown years ago. It is tucked away in the woods, but still convenient by car to most things. It has been on and off the sale market for a long time (yes we have dropped the price regularly). Most who look at it like it but prefer the cul-de-sac with playmates for the kids and/or neighbors they can see. Also, amusingly in another case (we were told by the buyers realtor as the lookers walked to their big shiny car...) they wanted something that others could SEE from the road. To each his/her own...

My experience is that the 'nearby playmate' requirement is overrated and often troublesome, especially in todays connected, play-date, highly mobile, and 'drive the kids to this and that' society.

[UnschoolerinCT]

Originally Posted by jimazee

Interesting. We built a very nice custom house in Newtown years ago. It is tucked away in the woods, but still convenient by car to most things. It has been on and off the sale market for a long time (yes we have dropped the price regularly). Most who look at it like it but prefer the cul-de-sac with playmates for the kids and/or neighbors they can see. Also, amusingly in another case (we were told by the buyers realtor as the lookers walked to their big shiny car...) they wanted something that others could SEE from the road. To each his/her own...

This situation happened to us when selling our Farmington house three years ago. Feedback from multiple realtors kept relaying the same desire from buyers. The buyers would love the house, location, landscaping, etc. but would ultimately choose a different house because our house was hidden from the road on a flag lot. The desire was to have street view or the ability to be seen from the road. It kept happening over and over with multiple buyers.

[goldenband]

Oh, I have no problem whatsoever with people wanting a big chunk of land out in the woods! I think that's a great way to live, actually, as long as you respect the land, i.e. treat it with an attitude of stewardship rather than looking to bulldoze it and turn a beautiful woodland into five acres of clearcut. I grew up on a smallish piece of land in a very rural area, with no adjacent neighbors and woodland cover on all sides, and it was great. And we were half a mile from the town center, so as a kid, I could easily walk or bike up the road to visit my local friends.

No, it's the subdivisions that I don't understand. Rural living makes sense, and urban living makes sense. And if you're going to have suburbs, then a suburb like West Hartford makes sense -- at least it's walkable. But when I see twenty McMansions spring up on a clear-cut field in the middle of nowhere, it seems like the worst of all three worlds. I understand that some (even most) people can't afford to have a tasteful house in a private, rural area, but I still think it's in our collective best interests to discourage this sort of development.

It's bizarre to hear that people are fixated on being seen from the road. Maybe it's a safety thing in some degree? I certainly would think that having visual privacy is, if anything, a marker of high status.

[NJ987654]

Wow... as the OP, I didn't expect to set off a firestorm. In my observation, you have many type in Fairfield county. Some want land, some don't care about land. Some what mcmansions, some what smaller or older colonials and farm houses. Some are interested in commute only. Some are definitely in it for status (frankly, just so you know, us outsiders are not impressed). I do think that these vast differences are what makes it such a nice place to live (be it an awfully expensive place to live).

I scoured Newtown. I found a lot of nice homes that had no "charm" to them. Cookie cutter type of homes (went in 3 in arow and, besides the paint, I'd swear they were identical). They were fine... they were nice, but they just were not for me and my wife. We have identified some in Brookfield and 1 in Newtown. We are far from making up our minds.

Thank you all so far.

[HelloSam]

To the OP...didn't I mention all those center-hall colonials in your price range were cookie cutter houses? You could walk into each one blindfolded and know exactly how to get to the kitchen, dining room, etc. Brookfield has a little more variety in types and styles of available housing, I think. And lower taxes.

[MetsNY]

Originally Posted by UnschoolerinCT

This situation happened to us when selling our Farmington house three years ago. Feedback from multiple realtors kept relaying the same desire from buyers. The buyers would love the house, location, landscaping, etc. but would ultimately choose a different house because our house was hidden from the road on a flag lot. The desire was to have street view or the ability to be seen from the road. It kept happening over and over with multiple buyers.

It's funny because many of the wealthiest individuals in high income towns like Wesport, Easton, Greenwich, etc. prefer their houses not to be seen at all, hence all the large, large stonewalls, fences and trees/bushes.

Then there are the people in towns like Newtown, Monroe, in your case Farmington that won't there homes to be seen. I clearly believe in privacy and would like a home secluded from others.