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Bennett's Pond: Victory!December 20, 2001 was an important day for open space preservation in Ridgefield. On that day, Ridgefield took title to the 458-acre north parcel of the Bennett’s Pond property. After 3 years of intensive, grass-roots efforts by ROSA members and supporters, the north parcel was acquired by the town by eminent domain.
But the battle with Eureka goes on. Not surprisingly, they have contested the town’s valuation of the parcel in court. However, they have also withdrawn all pending appeals of Zoning and Wetland decisions, and withdrew their last development application in March. ROSA fought to acquire the entire property, both north and south parcels, for open space. However, despite our petition drive which garnered 2,800 signatures in favor of a referendum vote, the Ridgefield Board of Finance would not allow a referendum to take place on our strictly open space proposal. Instead, a compromise was crafted by the Selectmen to acquire the north parcel for open space, and the south parcel for future corporate development. The referendum on this question was held on September 25th, 2001, and was overwhelmingly approved by the voters of Ridgefield. The town proceeded quickly on the north parcel — the acquisition itself was not contested by Eureka, and was completed within 3 months. However, the 155-acre south parcel required a number of procedural steps, including the creation of an Economic Development Commission and the approval of a master plan. Consequently, the offer was not made on that parcel until March, 2002. In anticipation of the town’s action on the south, Eureka filed a request for injunctive relief in federal court, temporarily blocking the acquisition. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for July. Although the fate of the south parcel is still undetermined, we take great pride in the fact that the 458-acre north parcel is now owned by the town, and will remain in its current natural state in perpetuity.
Trail system design in progres The funds from the state Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust committed to Bennett’s Pond remain available, although it will be some time before the town actually conveys the property to the state in exchange for the state’s $4.25 million contribution. Before that can happen, some follow-up work to the Phase I environmental study must be done, a second appraisal and an A-2 survey must be obtained, and the old Burton house must be razed. In the interim, ROSA members encouraged the Selectmen to delegate authority for Bennett’s Pond north to the Ridgefield Conservation Commission so that trail design and mapping could commence. ROSA’s Scott Sharlow is leading this project as a member of a committee appointed by the Conservation Commission. Trail design is nearly completed. In the coming months, volunteers will be needed to help establish the trails and install the markers. Please call ROSA at 431-6662 if you would like to volunteer for this project. How long is " in perpetuity?" In anticipation of the town conveying title to Bennett’s Pond to the state, the question was raised — will the land remain as open space in perpetuity, or could the state eventually use it for other purposes? ROSA Secretary Bob Kleinberg researched this subject, and determined that, indeed, the state could utilize the land for other purposes in the future. Those uses would be limited by statute to recreational, scientific, educational, cultural and aesthetic purposes. Although use of Bennett’s Pond for other than passive open space seems unlikely, we intend to work with Town officials and State Rep. John Frey to request conservation easements be granted to the town when title is conveyed. Although this type of easement will not prevent such alternate use in the future, is will provide some level of assurance that the land will remain in its current natural state.
McKeon’s Farm — The Next Preservation GoalArguably the most scenic property in Ridgefield, the 85-acre McKeon’s Farm is targeted for purchase by the Town. In an effort to avoid additional burden to Ridgefield taxpayers, First Selectman Rudy Marconi has proposed a joint public/private effort to save this beautiful land. State funds secured Thanks to the efforts of Conservation Commission Chairman George Orlan, State Representative John Frey, and First Selectman Marconi, the Town obtained a $641,250 open space grant from the State toward the purchase of McKeon’s. With a total purchase price of $2.4 million, the town plans to sell two building lots for at least $1.2 million, leaving a shortfall of approximately $600,000. The Conservation Commission will contribute $300,000, and the balance must be raised from individual and corporate donors. Coalition Formed Knowing that significant fundraising would be necessary to save McKeon’s, ROSA formed a coalition with the Ridgefield Conservation Commission and the Land Conservancy of Ridgefield. In February, we wrote and designed a fundraising brochure that we mailed to about 3,000 households. This brochure has raised about $26,000 to date. An additional $25,000 contribution was received from one very generous individual, bringing the total raised to slightly over $50,000. Recently, the Land Conservancy committed $20,000 towards the purchase. But there remains a shortfall that must be raised from other sources. Yet another generous Ridgefielder has donated a Bentley automobile to the McKeon’s fundraising effort. In order to maximize the proceeds from this donation, ROSA may conduct a raffle for this unique vintage car. Please watch for us (and the Bentley) this summer! "Friends of Bennett’s Pond" to be formedWhile ROSA will continue in its role as an environmental advocacy organization (see box on Page 2), we plan to form a new, separate, charitable organization dedicated to the maintenance, protection and restoration of the Bennett’s Pond property. Funds raised would be used for development of a natural resource management plan, eradication of invasive species, and restoration of the stone wall and root cellar on Bennett’s Farm Road. All efforts would be conducted under the authority and direction of the responsible town or state agency. "Nature Matters" Lecture Series BeginsROSA has collaborated with the Ridgefield Library on several events in recent months. In January, ROSA members were invited to a pre-screening of the National Geographic special on "BioBlitz", an event that took place last June at Danbury’s Tarrywile Park. The National Geographic Explorer program was aired on the Discovery Channel in March. This Spring, ROSA is co-sponsoring a lecture series entitled "Nature Matters," presented by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History. The first two lectures took place in March and April, and were very well received. See Upcoming Events box for details on the May lecture. The series will continue in the fall with three additional lectures. The interaction between Ridgefield and the State Museum of Natural History is thanks to the efforts of Ridgefielders Christine Lodewick, Walter Slavin and Bill Morlock. Bennett’s Pond: Danbury parcel statusApproximately 69 acres of the Bennett’s Pond property lie in Danbury — just 3 acres south of Bennett’s Farm Road, and the balance to the north. Last fall, Danbury voters approved a bond issue that included $375,000 for the purchase of the 69 acres, representing 50% of its appraised value. The balance of the funds would be obtained from the DEP open space grant program. ROSA intends to solicit help from our friends in Danbury to meet with Danbury Mayor Boughton and encourage the pursuit of this important component of the "Ives Trail" open space concept: a vast area of open space land that begins at the Terre Haute land in Bethel, extends to Tarrywile Park and Wooster Mountain in Danbury, to Bennett’s Pond, Pine Mountain, Hemlock Hills and McKeon’s Farm in Ridgefield. Bennett’s Pond north:
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