Highlights From Last Week's Ridgefield Board of Finance, PZC Meetings

**News Release Submitted by Town of Ridgefield**

April 4, 2025

This week, the Board of Finance (BOF) wrapped up budget deliberations with a final vote on four budget items Tuesday evening. Here is what they approved:

1. Proposed Roads/ADA budget of $2,147,250.
2. Proposed Debt Service ($7,934,527) and Town budget ($44,934,019) of $52,868,546
3. Proposed Board of Education (BOE) budget of $119,796,000.
4. Use of $1.6 million fund balance as revenue in the FY 2026 mill rate calculation.

The Town/Roads/ADA Infrastructure budget increase comes out to 2.51%, the BOE budget increase is 4.13%, and the Mill Rate increase is 3.98%.

The next budget vote falls to Ridgefield residents at the Annual Town Meeting on May 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ridgefield Playhouse, followed by the Budget Referendum on May 13 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Yanity Gym.

The Annual Town Meeting is when residents have the opportunity to vote on budget items under $100,000. The Budget Referendum is when residents can vote on all other budget items. As the date approaches, a sample ballot will be made public so that residents can familiarize themselves with the budget questions before voting day. The sample ballot will be available on the Town website and at the Town Clerk's Office.

These two events are important steps in the budget approval process. Be sure to get out and vote on those days.

Watch the BOF budget meetings here.

Highlights from Tuesday’s Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) Meeting

• Calling all Parents! The Enchanted Garden on was approved for a revision to their already existing special permit that will allow them to open a day care with two pre-school programs at their Route 7 location. One program will be for two-year-olds, with a maximum of eight students, and the other for ages three to five, with a maximum of twenty students.
• Per the applicant’s request, the public hearing regarding an Affordable Housing Application per CGS §8-30g for a twenty unit apartment building at 43 Danbury Road will be continued to the next meeting when the applicant is able to compile and present further research.
• Attorney Robert Jewell has submitted a proposed text amendment change to the PZC regulation section 3.2.B.1; 3.3.B.2.b and 3.2.B.2.d regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). His proposed amendment includes:
  • 1. Permit two-family dwellings as a permitted use in all residential zones
  • 2. Amend the ADU regulation to permit ADUs accessory to both one and two-family dwellings
  • 3. To permit ADUs on properties that are not owner-occupied provided the ADU is deed restricted at 80% AMI in perpetuity
  During the meeting, Mr. Jewell spoke at length about his proposal. The details and documentation can be viewed here. The public hearing will be continued at the next meeting. Did you know? Any individual can submit a proposed regulation change to the PZC, and the Commission is required to provide a fair and unbiased public hearing.
• The Temporary & Limited Development Moratorium is still in the works. PZC Chair Rob Hendrick reviewed the modifications made since the public hearing was closed this past February. View the proposed moratorium here, and stay tuned for details on further discussions.