The next round with Eureka has begun: the owners of the Bennett's Pond Property have submitted to the Ridgefield Inland Wetlands Board a permit application to construct roads that cross wetlands and watercourses on the RAAA (3-acre residential) portion of the Bennetts Pond property. The application was submitted on October 14, and appears on the Board's agenda for Tuesday night, October 19, although no action will be taken at that meeting other than to schedule the site walk. The application relates to the proposed construction of roads to access the residential portion of the property from Bennetts Farm Road. The documents submitted do not indicate the type of project planned by Eureka for this land, as the application relates only to the proposed wetlands crossings and construction of roads. It is our understanding that meetings have been held between Town Planner Oswald Inglese and Eureka representatives to discuss a residential subdivision on this portion of the property.

We have obtained copies of the application and will advise you of the date of the public hearing when it is set. It will be very important to successfully oppose this wetlands application, which if granted would allow the construction of roads into the heart of the property, from Bennetts Farm Road to Bennetts Pond and beyond. Allowing such wetlands crossings may enable residential development of the property, disrupt the wildlife corridor, destroy the natural habitat and have a detrimental impact on the adjacent Pine Mountain/Hemlock Hills open space.

In an April 26, 1995 memo from our Town Planner to then-First Selectman Sue Manning, Mr. Inglese states with respect to the RAAA portion of the property: "the pristine characteristics of the land, the existing wetlands, the terrain grades and the obvious natural habitat makes this land highly desirable for long-term conservation purposes."

We agree.


Ellen Burns
Ridgefield Open Space Association