Save Our Towns/Save Our Schools

02/19/2026

SHOULD THERE BE 1/10TH AN ACRE BUILDING LOTS IN YOUR TOWN? HARTFORD THINKS SO
LET THEM KNOW YOU OPPOSE THE DESTRUCTION OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND CT'S OPEN SPACE
SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY BY FRIDAY

The land-use radicals in Hartford have sponsored a new Housing Bill that completely eliminates local zoning control and permits 1/10 building lots in every town in CT that has public water and sewer, which means most towns.

SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY @ LINK BELOW
https://www.cga.ct.gov/aspx/CGATestimonySub/CGAtestimonysubmission.aspx?comm_code=HSG

Instructions:
Click Submit Testimony by using the link above
Hearing date: choose Feb 17, 2026, at 11:00 AM
CHOOSE BILL: RAISED ED BILL 151 – AN ACT PROHIBITING CERTAIN LAND USE AND ZONING LIMITATIONS ON HOUSING.
Click OPPOSE or COMMENTS
Type in testimony using the language below, or attach testimony via Word or PDF

Suggested testimony:
Subject line:
HOUSING COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 17, 2026 PUBLIC HEARING TESTIMONY ON S.B. 151 –

[I/we] respectfully request that the Housing Committee OPPOSE S.B. 151 – An Act Prohibiting Certain Land Use and Zoning Limitations on Housing. This bill undermines local zoning discretion without adequate consideration of the on-site conditions in areas with existing or planned public water and sewer. Despite the developer's and other proponents' advocacy, SB 151 mandates small lots of no more than 0.11 acres for single-family or townhomes.

There is no requirement for affordability or for modest attainable starter homes. Removing height restrictions, setbacks, and other density-reducing measures will encourage high-density, larger homes on postage-stamp properties. It will accelerate the decline of single-family neighborhoods by allowing the construction of townhouses and apartments.

It removes the local authority's ability to protect historic structures not on the historic register after July. It will hasten the destruction of open space across the state through subdivision development.

Why would you pass a law that hastens the destruction of nature, farms, and open space?

For more information on this bill, click here:
https://bit.ly/3ZFJgSY

CT 169 STRONG IS ONE OF THE FEW ORGANIZATIONS THAT IS FIGHTING TO KEEP LOCAL CONTROL OF ZONING.

THEY HAVE A LOBBYIST IN HARTFORD
WHO IS FIGHTING AGAINST THIS BILL
THEY NEED TO RAISE $20,000 TO PAY HER

PLEASE DONATE
THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR YOU
https://ct169strong.org/donate/

SIGN UP FOR THEIR MAILING LIST HERE:
https://ct169strong.org/

Informing residents to foster better public policy Join a virtual conversation on what it means to maintain our local decision rights Use this easy form to reach out to your… Read more

02/18/2026

Here is my testimony to the State Housing Committee opposing their bill to strip the power to zone away from CT towns and mandate 1/10 of an acre building lots across the state, with minimal setbacks, and no height restrictions in every town in CT with water and sewer.

What this means is that you can cut a 1-acre lot into 10 building lots that are 50 feet wide by 100 feet long and build 10 townhouses or apartments.

My name is Dana Benson, I live in Easton, CT and I am speaking in opposition to this bill:

Easton borders Bridgeport. We are home to three major reservoirs that supply 90% of Bridgeport’s water, and we furnish over 700,000 people in Southern CT with drinking water. We also host 20 working farms. Our one- and three-acre zoning rules were established in the 1940s to protect CT’s drinking water. Like other rural towns, we play an important role in CT’s ecosystem, supplying food and water to the people.

Some argue that Hartford represents the people of the state of CT. The truth is, Democrats, primarily from big cities, control Hartford, and Hartford is taking zoning power, which is the power to control what is built in CT towns away from them, despite their opposition.

I have heard a lot of discussion about the problem of homelessness. I believe we should take care of those who can’t take care of themselves, and I support a tax increase to improve and expand existing programs, including hotel room subsidies, and, importantly, mental and physical healthcare. I do not understand how people who are homeless will be able to afford to buy or rent all these new units.

The Committee keeps saying this bill is not about affordable housing, it’s about starter homes. But I don’t see any definition of a starter home in the bill. What is the acceptable price of a starter home, and when does it stop becoming a starter home? Is there a mechanism in the bill to prevent a McMansion construction boom?

If the goal is to provide moderately priced starter homes, why not pass a bill that increases state subsidies or offers low-interest loans to income-qualified citizens to rent or buy units at prices that, for them, with the subsidy, would be below-market starter home prices?

If I had to summarize this bill in one word, it would be DESTRUCTION:

It will hasten the destruction of historic homes and single-family neighborhoods by removing the local authority to protect historic structures not on the historic register after July.

It will hasten the destruction of CT’s farms by creating a new incentive to subdivide and develop them, on top of the pressure last year’s bill put on farmers by raising their taxes.

It will hasten the destruction of open space across the state through subdivision and development, and, as I read it, it strips away the power of town zoning boards to require set-asides of conservation land as a condition of subdividing large parcels, which has been a major driver of open space conservation in CT.

Why would you pass a law that hastens the destruction of nature and farms?

Some have argued that the increased taxes paid by the buyers of the new housing units on 1/10 of an acre lots will pay for the increased population’s needs for schools, waste treatment, and other infrastructure.

If the increased population attracted by cheaper/dense housing makes up for the cost of the increased demand for infrastructure they bring with them through the new taxes they pay, why is it that Bridgeport, with so much dense housing, has had a cumulative education budget deficit of 47 million since 2020 and is facing a 30-million-dollar education budget deficit this year?

Consider sewage treatment infrastructure. Many towns in Southern CT send their sewage to be treated in Bridgeport, an overloaded facility on which very little money has been spent in the past twenty years, which regularly dumps barely treated sewage into Long Island Sound. Any legislation that increases households and population must address upgrades to waste treatment plants.

Before passing this bill, I would ask the Committee to consider the words of Hippocrates, which still guide our doctors today, “FIRST, DO NO HARM.”

01/15/2026

Audio of hearing on apartments/townhouses in Easton/Trumbull
The Plum Tree development

Here is a link to my imperfect audio recording of the “full” 1/12/26 hearing. Only the official recording should be relied on. https://vimeo.com/1154162371?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Here are select audio clips:

Michael Klemens, a wildlife expert who has published more than 80 books and articles on amphibian and reptile conservation, spoke. His “The Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles in CT” is considered a definitive work in this area. https://vimeo.com/1154158173?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
https://vimeo.com/1154159027?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Steve Trinkaus, a licensed professional engineer in CT and an expert in Low Impact Development, also holds a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management from the University of New Hampshire.
Trinkaus audio clips:
https://vimeo.com/1154156684?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
https://vimeo.com/1154157456?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

David Brant, Executive Director of Aspetuck Land Trust https://vimeo.com/1154160056?fl=ip&fe=ec

Schyler Sherwood, Easton Fire Marshall
https://vimeo.com/1154159560?fl=ip&fe=ec

Below is a photo of the original 60-apartment 9-townhouse proposal, which has been revised to 29 townhouses.

01/15/2026

Below is a list of experts who testified at the request of the Conservation Commission at the recent hearing on the revised proposal to build 29 townhouses in Easton and Trumbull, 150-200 feet from the Mill River. The original proposal was 60 apartments and 9 townhouses.

Congratulations to Dori Wollen and the other members of the Conservation Commission for locating and retaining these professionals. It is good to see a greater emphasis on conservation in Easton's town government.

Tom Ryder, ecologist; Rob Pryor, engineer; and social scientist Anthony Zemba, soil scientist, from Landtech Corp. Landtech is a land consulting firm based in Westport, CT.
https://www.landtechconsult.com/about/company

Chris Sullivan, Executive Director, and Courtney Gilligan, from the Southwest Conservation District. The Southwest Conservation District is one of five regional organizations funded by the state to protect the environment.
https://conservect.org/southwest/about/

Michael Klemens, a wildlife expert who has published more than 80 books and articles on amphibian and reptile conservation. His “The Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles in CT” is considered a definitive work in this area.https://www.eastonct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3071/f/pages/mwk_cv_revised_january_16th_2021_2.pdf

Steve Trinkaus, a licensed professional engineer in CT and an expert in Low Impact Development, also holds a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management from the University of New Hampshire.
https://trinkausengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/CV-2022.pdf

Keith Ainsworth, a well-regarded environmental attorney and chairman of the CT Council on Environmental Quality, is representing the Town of Easton.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-ainsworth-a9a096a/

David Brant, Executive Director of Aspetuck Land Trust. https://www.aspetucklandtrust.org/

01/14/2026

Recap of the Plum Tree Apartment Hearing 1/12/26

Michael Klemens, is a wildlife expert who has published more than 80 books and articles on amphibian and reptile conservation over his 50-year career. His “The Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles in CT” is considered a definitive work in this area.

Klemens explained that, because several “state-listed” declining species were on the property, including the wood turtle, the applicant should have hired a scientist to conduct a species survey and develop a conservation plan. That has not been done.

He also mentioned that the State Department of the Environment had guidelines requiring minimal development within 300 feet of the river, as that’s where the turtles forage and lay eggs.

Klemens said “Putting a sheer wall of development 130 feet from the river” was incompatible with the State Department of the Environment’s guidance and was inappropriate.

Here is a link to his resume: (https://www.eastonct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3071/f/pages/mwk_cv_revised_january_16th_2021_2.pdf)

Here is a link to audio clips:
(https://vimeo.com/1154158173?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci)
(https://vimeo.com/1154159027?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci)

01/12/2026

Public Hearing on Apartments in Easton
The Plum Tree Lane Project
Conservation Commission Public Hearing
Mon. 1-12-26 7 pm
Library Community Room, in person-Zoom
You can only speak if you are there in person
The agenda and the Zoom link are here:
https://www.eastonct.gov/home/events/133176

This hearing is a wetlands matter. The only factors that will affect their decisions are concerns and expert opinion regarding the project's impact on the wetlands, the Mill River, and the animals and plants that live there. Other concerns will not carry much weight with the Commission.

The Plum Tree project is:
60 apartments and 9 townhouses
Approximately 6 acres
150-200 feet from the Mill River
On a hillside location that requires major earth moving
Opposed by Trout Unlimited, Aspetuck Land Trust
Requires 10-12-foot walls to keep it from sliding downhill
Threatens sensitive trout spawning areas in Mill River
Is proposed by Easton resident Steve Shapiro
Hooks up to the Trumbull sewer and water systems
Will include some affordable units

State Representative Hughes's comments on Plumtree:
https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/developer-apartments-easton-trumbull-ct-21037733.php

BELOW ARE IMAGES OF THE PLUMTREE PROJECT
IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION
PLEASE REPLAY "EMAIL PLANS"

Developer Stephen Shapiro has filed plans with wetlands commissions in Easton and Trumbull for development of 70 apartments in the towns.

01/05/2026

6 Important Easton Governance Meetings this week--

Easton Zoning Board of Appeals Tues. Jan. 6, 5:30 pm Town Hall In person/Zoom
PUBLIC HEARING: Variance Application -25-05 to reduce the side yard setback from 40′ to 31′ for a detached Accessory Dwelling Unit and garage at 60 Crossbow Lane.
https://www.eastonct.gov/zoning-board-of-appeals/events/131721

Easton Board of Finance Tues. Jan. 6 @ 7 pm
Senior Center In person/Zoom
The Board will discuss and may take action on Emergency Medical Service matters, the establishment of a Board of Education Capital account, and a forward-looking review of the 2026/2027 budget. Additional items include a $20,000 special appropriation for the legal budget, anticipated FY 2026 legal expenses, and funding for those expenses.
https://www.eastonct.gov/board-of-finance/events/130366

PNZ Meeting/Public Hearing Tues, Jan. 6, 2026 7:00 pm Staples In person/Zoom
The Public Hearing continues regarding the proposal to grant a zoning exception that would allow the Yoga Studio to relocate to the Apple Barn. The public hearing on the new school has concluded. The Commission will discuss taking action on the proposed school next to the firehouse.

They will also discuss taking on a proposal to grant zoning exceptions for historic structures, such as Greiser's, which would permit modernization in exchange for preserving their historic facades.

Also, citizen Lovejoy, whose complaint against Greiser's expansion was dismissed by the Zoning Board of Appeals for being filed late, now has his complaint on the PNZ agenda.
Click below for the Zoom link and the agenda.
https://www.eastonct.gov/planning-and-zoning-commission/events/133141

Republican Caucus Wed. Jan 7, 2026, 6 pm,
Senior Center In-person only
All Easton Republicans are invited to come (caucus/meet) and vote in their new Republican Town Committee (ERTC), which will serve for two years. The ERTC, which has 25 to 30 members, makes decisions on behalf of all Easton Republicans. If the weather is bad, the Snow Date will be on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Senior Center. Please bring Voter I.D. If you are interested in serving on the ERTC, please reply to this communication.

Conservation Comm. Hearing-Saddle Ridge,
Wed. Jan. 7, 7 pm Staples in person/Zoom-
You can only comment if you're there in person.
https://www.eastonct.gov/conservation-commissioninland-wetlands-agency/events/133166

Board of Selectmen Meeting Thurs. 1/8/25 7:30
Town Hall in person/Zoom
No agenda or Zoom link up yet.

Samuel Staples Cafetorium 515 Morehouse Road, Easton

12/20/2025

WHAT: FORUM/DISCUSSION
ON: Overdevelopment & CT's Affordable Housing Law
WITH: Audience questions answered by the panel
WHEN: Sat., December 20, 2025 - 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 am
WHERE: Fairfield Regional Fire School,
205 Richard White Way, Fairfield, CT

TOPIC: Overdevelopment, Housing & Local Control:
What HB 8002/PA 25-1 & 8-30g Mean for Our Communities

PARTICIPANTS:
State Senator Tony Hwang – Moderator
State Senator Ryan Fazio – Planning & Dev Committee
State Rep. Tony Scott – Housing Committee
Alexis Harrison & Maria Weingarten – CT169 Strong

Subjects to be discussed:

Connecticut’s affordable housing law, CGS 8-30g
The recently passed housing law HB 8002 / Public Act 25-1
The land use, zoning, housing policy, and infrastructure implications for local communities

How town leaders and residents can work with the State Office of Policy & Management (OPM) and Regional Councils of Governments (COGs)

How to increase affordable, accessible, and diverse housing without compromising neighborhood character, overwhelming local infrastructure, or creating unsafe, congested roadways

WHY: State housing mandates like HB 8002/PA 25-1 and 8-30g are reshaping local planning, zoning, school capacity, environmental protections, and infrastructure demands. This forum will:

Provide a clear legislative update on these laws. Explain how they impact local control, taxes, traffic, schools, sewers, and public safety. Offer practical guidance on how community leaders can engage with OPM and COGs. Explore ways to meet genuine affordable housing needs while protecting the quality of life in our towns.

This event is free and open to the public. Residents, local officials, members of the land use board and commission, and community advocates are especially encouraged to attend.

11/20/2025

Apartments in Easton?
Hearing tonight 11/20, 7pm Staples

Tonight at 7 pm at Staples School, there will be a Conservation Commission Public Hearing on A proposal by Easton resident and developer Steve Shapiro to build a three-story building with sixty-plus units on the Plum Tree Lane properties in Easton and Trumbull. The meeting is in-person only, the applicant is expected to make a presentation, and the public will be allowed to speak.

Agenda:
https://www.eastonct.gov/conservation-commissioninland-wetlands-agency/events/131461

Here is a clip of Easton resident and developer Steve Shapiro berating Easton’s Conservation Commission at the October hearing on his apartment proposal which was continued to tonight.

https://vimeo.com/1138741576?fl=ip&fe=ec

(To unmute the video, click the microphone icon on the lower right corner)

Shapiro claimed the Conservation Commission’s unit count of 70 was wrong, even though the Commission said that was the number Shapiro's lawyer had given them in July. Shapiro said the right number was 60 apartments and 9 townhouses. He held up a map and argued that development, which is within 200 feet of the Mill River, did not encroach on the watershed or wetlands.

Shapiro felt that an apartment building with 60 units should pay only one fee, as if it were a single unit, and that the nine townhouses should be treated as a single residential unit and pay one application fee. The Commission asked for a fee for each separate unit of housing in which a person could live. Shapiro wound up paying the fee per unit as requested by the Commission under protest, and in so doing, he completed the application.

Since the application is now complete, we expect the applicant to give a presentation at the hearing, and the public will be allowed to comment.

This is "shapiro clip pnz total oct 2025" by Save our Towns/Save our Schools on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

09/23/2025

If you were young impressionable person and for eight years or 12 years, every time you looked at TV or you went online to watch the news you were told by the Left that Trump was Hi**er and his followers were fascists, maybe you start to believe it…

I feel sorry for whoever put this sign up next to the Charlie Kirk celebration of life sign. They are obviously brainwashed and that is scary.