Ridgefield Committee Reviews New Police, Fire Station Plans As Cost Questions Remain

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Ridgefield's Public Safety Facilities Committee is seeking to reduce the size of a proposed combined police and fire headquarters after reviewing preliminary designs showing a building approximately 5,000 square feet larger than previously envisioned.

The committee reviewed updated architectural plans for several alternatives during its Oct. 28 meeting, but members said construction estimates, traffic studies and emergency response-time data are still needed before the options can be presented to residents.

The committee's preferred option remains a combined public safety facility on Danbury Road, although that proposal depends on acquiring additional property that the town does not yet own.

Sean Schmigle, associate principal at architecture firm Kaestle Boos Associates, presented preliminary designs for standalone police and fire stations and a combined facility.

Related: Ridgefield Public Safety Committee Reviews 4 Building Plans, Targets November Cost Estimates

The combined building at 217 and 221 Danbury Road would contain approximately 53,000 square feet, plus a 2,000-square-foot outbuilding. Committee member David Brickley said the earlier target was 48,000 square feet for the main building and 2,000 square feet for the outbuilding.

"I think we got to try to get it down under 50," Brickley said.

Schmigle said the combined facility's design remains preliminary and that additional work with police and fire officials could improve the layout.

The proposed building would include seven drive-through fire apparatus bays, separate police and fire operational areas, shared public spaces, firefighter living quarters and administrative offices. The design would also provide secure police parking and separate public access.

Schmigle said the building would remain outside the property's 100-foot wetlands upland review area, an advantage over the standalone fire station alternatives presented during the meeting.

Fire Chief Raises Concerns About Apparatus Access

Ridgefield Fire Chief Rommie Duckworth said the combined facility could meet the department's operational requirements, but emphasized that access for emergency vehicles must remain a priority.

Duckworth said acquiring the additional property would provide greater flexibility for moving large fire apparatus around the grounds and through the station's bays.

"One of the biggest concerns and an absolute deal breaker for us from the very beginning has been stacked apparatus," Duckworth said.

He explained that providing rear doors on apparatus bays would not solve the problem if the configuration prevented fire engines from moving independently.

See Also: Ridgefield Selectpersons Approve State Aid, Advance Leaf Blower Proposal Toward Public Hearing

Duckworth said the combined design would improve vehicle movement compared with the department's existing facilities, although some interior spaces would require further adjustments.

The chief also addressed questions about relocating fire headquarters away from its current Catoonah Street location.

He said a move could increase travel times to some neighborhoods while reducing them elsewhere, particularly in areas generating more emergency calls.

"Some people are going to get help a little bit faster. Some people are going to get help a little bit more slowly," Duckworth said.

He said improvements in firefighters' ability to leave the station, particularly for volunteers, could produce an overall operational benefit.

Duckworth also said the department's strategic planning includes a potential future presence along Route 7, particularly toward the southern end of town, depending on development and emergency service needs.

A formal response-time study remains pending.

Standalone Police And Fire Station Alternatives

Schmigle also presented standalone fire station designs for the Danbury Road site, including two-story and three-story configurations.

Both would contain approximately 26,000 to 27,000 square feet and include seven apparatus bays, decontamination facilities, administrative offices, training areas and living quarters for career and volunteer firefighters.

See Also: Ridgefield Finance Board Reviews $1.6 Million School Budget Shortfall, Plans For 2027 Budget

The three-story design would reduce the building's ground-level footprint but would not eliminate construction within the wetlands upland review area.

Schmigle said the taller design could require zoning relief and additional construction expenses for stairs and elevators, without producing substantial differences in heating and cooling costs.

For the Police Department, architects presented alternatives involving the existing East Ridge Road property and a new standalone building near the ACT of Connecticut theater.

The East Ridge Road proposal could involve renovating and expanding the existing police headquarters or replacing it with a new structure designed to maintain the character of the current building.

Schmigle said members of the town's historic preservation commission had indicated openness to demolition if a replacement maintained a similar architectural character.

A replacement or major renovation could also require temporarily relocating police operations during construction.

The alternative near ACT of Connecticut would include a roughly 24,000- to 25,000-square-foot police station and a separate outbuilding of approximately 2,500 square feet.

Schmigle said the building had been repositioned on the site to reduce excavation, retaining walls and other site preparation costs.

Committee Vice Chair Adam Safir questioned whether the police station designs adequately separated public areas, operational spaces and secure facilities.

Schmigle said police officials had participated in multiple design discussions but that further refinements were needed.

Property Acquisition Remains Unresolved

During public comment, a resident questioned whether the combined facility remained a realistic option after First Selectperson Rudy Marconi withdrew a related application before the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Committee Chair Steve Scalzo said the withdrawal appeared to involve a procedural issue rather than a change in the town's interest in acquiring the property.

He acknowledged that the proposal still depends on the owners agreeing to sell.

Scalzo said the standalone alternatives would provide backup options if the property acquisition cannot proceed.

Safir said the committee previously voted 6-1 in favor of the combined facility, subject to resolving outstanding issues.

Committee Develops Criteria For Comparing Proposals

Committee member Pamela Dunaway presented a proposed evaluation system intended to help residents compare the alternatives at a future public information session.

The system would use red, yellow and green ratings to assess operational needs, emergency response times, opportunities for future expansion, property ownership, temporary relocation requirements and construction costs.

Dunaway said she also wants residents to understand how the cost of each proposal could affect their property taxes.

Scalzo clarified that Ridgefield does not have property tax brackets and that estimated increases would instead be based on assessed property values or existing tax bills.

Brickley recommended adding regulatory risks, including wetlands, zoning and historic preservation considerations, along with construction schedules.

Committee members also discussed potential noise impacts on nearby neighborhoods and the need for traffic signals and other safety improvements.

A disagreement emerged over how much influence police and fire officials should have in evaluating the alternatives.

Dunaway said the committee should review its proposed ratings with the department chiefs to ensure operational concerns were accurately represented.

Committee Secretary Edward Tyrrell argued that members must exercise independent judgment.

"I'm not going to change my score from red to green because of" the chiefs' views, Tyrrell said, adding that department officials could submit their own assessments.

Scalzo said the committee's evaluation should explain its own reasoning while incorporating information received from public safety officials.

Dunaway emphasized that the committee's responsibility is to present the alternatives and public feedback to the Board of Selectpersons, which will make the final decision about what to pursue.

Cost Estimates Could Delay Public Meeting

Brickley said he and Public Works and Facilities Director Jacob Muller planned to meet with NASCO, the project's cost estimator, to discuss pricing for the alternatives.

Schmigle said preliminary estimates could take approximately two weeks once the necessary drawings and specifications are available.

Committee members said the combined facility requires additional design work before reliable pricing can be completed.

Brickley also recommended preliminary site testing and a review of building materials and mechanical systems.

The committee discussed moving its next meeting to Nov. 18 to allow more time for the estimates, although the date was not firmly established during the discussion.

Members acknowledged that the committee might need an extension beyond its existing deadline.

Dunaway said a public information session could require approximately three weeks of preparation once the committee receives the necessary cost estimates and supporting studies.

The committee identified construction pricing, site testing, traffic analysis and emergency response-time studies among the outstanding items.

Scalzo asked Brickley to report back after the meeting with consultant Nasco Construction Services so members could determine whether to reconvene in two or three weeks.

The committee also deferred approval of its Sept. 30 and Oct. 14 meeting minutes until its next meeting.