Eureka Public Relations Campaign

This weekend, every Ridgefield resident received a letter and color map in the mail from Carl Goldberg of Eureka, promoting what they now call the "Compromise Plan." The April 19 edition of the Ridgefield Press contained a full-page ad and a letter to the editor with the same message.

It must be made clear to the voters that the so-called "Compromise Plan" is no plan at all, and has no benefit to the people of Ridgefield. It does NOT have the support of Selectmen Manners, Zemo or Yanity, or that of State Rep John Frey, despite implications to the contrary from Eureka. Bottom line: the "Compromise Plan" is the carrot, and the "Concept Plan" containing 700 units of housing, including an affordable component (on file with the P&Z as a part of their pending 10-lot subdivision application) is the stick.

But the carrot is a fiction, and the stick is real. The "Compromise Plan" would require:

• Relocating a large section of Bennett's Farm Road to the north - Significant zone changes to allow residential development in the CDD (corporate development district) zone - Provision of water and sewer service to the property
• The creation of two 10-acre "estate lots" in the core of the open space

IF all of the required permits are obtained, Ridgefield would be ALLOWED to purchase the land north of the relocated Bennett's Farm Road for $8 million - the price Eureka paid for the entire parcel just 3 years ago! If ANY of Eureka's conditions are not met, the deal is OFF, and the stick will be used.

So where is the benefit to the town under their plan? They claim the plan will meet the needs of Ridgefield senior citizens, yet the 200 units proposed are MARKET RATE condominiums expected to sell for in excess of $500,000. They claim the revenues generated will relieve our tax burden, yet at full build-out the gross revenues would be less than 3.5% of our total budget.

Let's be serious - these people are not concerned about senior citizens or Ridgefield's tax burden - they are interested in money. Eminent domain is the only solution.

Ellen Burns
ROSA