Recap of the Ridgefield P&Z Public Hearing on Eureka's request for zone changes to support the development plans

RECAP OF First Session - June 8

We'd like to thank all of you who came out for the first night of the Bennetts Pond property public hearing. We had a huge, capacity crowd at Veterans Park School (nearly 400), in spite of the heat emergency which closed the schools that day. The hearing, which began at 8:00 p.m. with the Eureka representatives giving their presentations, followed by the reading of correspondence and some comments from the public, was ended by the Chairman at 11:00 p.m. and will be continued to Tuesday, June 15 at 8:00 p.m. A third night, if needed, is slated for Wednesday, June 23.

Turning the oppressive heat to our advantage, ROSA supplied water to the crowd throughout the proceedings, which netted us some goodwill, contributions, as well as 70 more names for our mailing list.

We believe that the first night of the hearing went fairly well for our side. The audience listened politely to the presentations made by Eureka's representatives, and our behavior towards them was exemplary - I'm sure they were expecting much worse.

During the reading of technical correspondence, George Orlan, Chairman of the Ridgefield Conservation Conservation Commission read a very strong letter in opposition to the changes in regulations proposed by Eureka, which provoked a spontaneous outburst of applause from the audience. He was followed by Rich Longo, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, who indicated that the ECD supported the status quo on the land - CDD only. Obviously they do not support our effort to preserve the property as open space, but neither do they support the introduction of residential development in the CDD zone.

Our attorney, Frank Cochran, then made his statements in opposition to both the zone change and change in regulations, and we feel his arguments were well received by many of the Commissioners, based upon their reactions and note-taking during his presentation. Frank was followed by ROSA members Eric Kristoffersen and Bob Kleinberg, and Redding resident Victor DeMasi.

ROSA'S EFFORTS TO OPPOSE EUREKA'S PETITIONS
Frank Cochran, in addition to his oral presentation, submitted to each Commissioner and for the record a Memorandum of Law on our behalf which addresses all of the legal issues to be considered by the Commission.

ROSA has filed as an intervenor in this proceeding under Connecticut General Statute 22a-19, which makes us a party to this process, compels the Commission to consider environmental concerns in their decision, and to look at all "feasible and prudent alternatives" to what Eureka has proposed.

ROSA has submitted to the Commission an C.G.S. 8-3(b) protest petition, signed by the owners of more than 20% of the area of the lots within 500 feet of the Bennetts Pond CDD-zoned property. The petition imposes a two-thirds majority vote requirement for approval of the change in regulations, rather than the simple majority called for in our zoning regulations. This protest petition was prepared and circulated by ROSA members, and the identification of the eligible owners and lot area calculations were done by ROSA members Eric & Beth Kristoffersen. Eric is a member of the Board of Directors of ROSA, and is a licensed land surveyor.

Many ROSA volunteers helped distribute flyers all over town on Saturday to get people out for the hearing.

RECAP OF The HEARING's SECOND SESSION - JUNE 15

Many ROSA members made presentations on relevant topics including golf course environmental issues, aquifer protection, sewage treatment, and traffic. Many other members of the public spoke eloquently and forcefully in opposition to Eureka's plans. Not one individual spoke in support of Eureka's petitions.

In addition to ROSA members and other Ridgefielders, three representatives from Redding (John Hayes, Planning Consultant, Robert Dean, member of the Planning Commission, and Victor DeMasi, member of the Conservation Commission), and one from Weston (Paul Green, member of the Weston Conservation & Wetlands Commission) spoke in opposition to the development of the property and in support of its acquisition as open space.

ROSA also arranged for the Commission to hear from Milan Bull, Director of the Audubon Center at Fairfield, and Steve Polizzi, owner of the Rural Water Company (a licensed utility providing water service to the Ridgefield Lakes area) whose wells could be significantly impacted by the proposed development.

The June 15 session ended with ROSA member Eric Kristoffersen reading a report from Dan Donahue, an environmental consultant who studied the property for IBM during its ownership. Mr. Donahue's report, based upon his personal, in-depth knowledge of the property, opposed the Eureka petitions on environmental grounds.

Throughout the proceedings, the only statements made in support of Eureka have been made by their paid consultants!

We believe that Ridgefielders who oppose this development were very well represented at the hearing. The professional manner in which we conducted ourselves reflected well on Ridgefield as a community. Let's keep it up!

Ellen Burns,
President
Ridgefield Open Space Association