Ridgefield Residents Urge New Review Of Police, Fire Facility Plans At Public Meeting

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Residents repeatedly urged town officials to rethink the cost, location and public outreach surrounding Ridgefield’s proposed police and fire facilities during a wide-ranging public meeting held the morning of Dec. 13.

The meeting followed the defeat of a $77 million referendum that would have funded a combined police and fire headquarters. Speakers largely agreed that upgraded public safety facilities are needed but said concerns about the project’s price tag, proposed Quarry Hill location and the town’s communication with voters contributed to the proposal’s failure.

RELATED: Ridgefield Residents Urge New Approach To Police And Fire Facilities

Several residents questioned the estimated $13 million in site preparation costs at Quarry Hill and suggested alternative locations, including Veterans Park, existing athletic fields and renovations to the current police station. Retired firefighters and longtime residents warned that the Quarry Hill site’s steep grades and limited sight lines could slow emergency response times, particularly for fire apparatus responding from a fixed location.

Others focused on finances, urging town leaders to better explain long-term operating costs, interest on bonding, and projected tax impacts. Speakers said voters were not given enough concrete data to justify the scale of the investment, even among those who supported improved facilities.

A recurring theme throughout the nearly two-hour session was communication. Residents said many voters were unaware of the details of the proposal before the referendum and called for clearer, more consistent outreach moving forward. Suggestions included publishing detailed minutes, streaming and archiving all committee meetings, hiring a professional communications consultant, and using multiple platforms beyond the town’s weekly newsletter to reach residents.

Multiple speakers urged the Board of Selectmen to appoint a diverse building committee that includes supporters and opponents of the project, along with police and fire leadership, to rebuild trust and ensure all viewpoints are represented. Others proposed creating a separate communications subcommittee to maintain transparency throughout the process.

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Selectmen said a new building committee is being formed to reexamine options and emphasized that no final decisions have been made. Officials also said state and federal grants would be pursued once plans advance, though no funding is guaranteed.

The discussion also touched on broader pressures facing the town, including future school construction needs, housing affordability and open space preservation, with some residents cautioning that Ridgefield must carefully prioritize large capital projects.

Town officials encouraged continued public participation and said future meetings would be scheduled as the committee’s work progresses.