Open Letter to the chairperson of Ridgefield Planning and Zoning

Open Letter 

Dear Planning and Zoning Chairperson Rebecca Mucchetti,

The Ridgefield Winter Club Special Permit should not be approved because the Club is not in a suitable location. The hours of operation and intensity of the use for land without town sewers and water is too great in a residential zone. The location, size and nature of the buildings housing a clubhouse containing a restaurant, bar and bowling alley is not compatible with neighboring properties and their uses which are residential homes. This development would be detrimental to the significant animal, fowl and aquatic habitat in Peaceable Refuge.

This property is in a 3-acre residentially zoned neighborhood. When we bought our house (4 driveways away from this proposed RWC) in 1998, we knew that the Nursery was grandfathered in and would revert back to 3 acre residential zoning if sold. We made a huge financial investment based on the zoning regulations, the laws, to choose this specific rural quiet neighborhood.

A private club, like Westmoreland, Mimosa and Silver Spring, has a lot of undeveloped land in its perimeter in order to support its justification in a residential neighborhood. You can't even compare Silver Spring Country Club to the RWC Application. Silver Spring was purchased in the late 20's early 30's with more than 200+ acres of land. Residents purchasing their houses in the Silver Spring Area knew they were buying a property that had this massive Country Club with an 18 hole Golf Course nearby. Prospective homeowners had a choice if they wanted to live near the country club where further development on the land would be probable. The Ridgefield Winter Club is being proposed in an existing residential neighborhood that has 3 acre zoning only. When we bought our house on Peaceable Street, we knew we had a choice to live in this quiet rural 3 acre residentially zoned part of Ridgefield, which currently has no streetlights, and that is the choice we made.

The proposed RWC project is on an area of land just shy of 6 acres. There are multiple residential houses on all sides of these 6 acres that have their property within 50-100 feet of this proposed project. Approving this special permit application would truly be absurd and wrong on so many levels. The existing resident taxpayers are having their choices taken away if you approve this special permit application, which would be morally and ethically wrong. This isn't a "not in my backyard" issue. This is a for-profit business trying to take advantage of a loophole in a residential area and build a monstrosity in the space of what should be 1 or 2 residential houses in this area.

We implore you to not approve this application for this specific location at 340 Peaceable Street. 

Sincerely,

Jane and Michael Donnelly