Politics & Government
Ridgefield IWB Sets Septic Application Review, Votes to Appeal Court Decision
Ridgefield's Inland Wetlands Board voted to appeal a court ruling and scheduled review of a Barrack Hill Road application.
RIDGEFIELD, CT — The Inland Wetlands Board voted July 9 to appeal a Superior Court decision involving a wetlands application at 599 Branchville Road and scheduled a site walk and review of a proposed septic system installation at 340 Barrack Hill Road.
Following an executive session, the board voted 4-0, with one abstention, to appeal the court's decision in Moreton Binn v. Inland Wetlands Board concerning 599 Branchville Road. Vice Chair Tim Bishop made the motion, which was seconded by Recording Secretary Alan Pilch. Board member Keith Carlson abstained. The board entered executive session at 7:27 p.m. with Town Attorney Tom Beecher and Inland Wetlands Agent Caleb Johnson and returned to public session at 7:48 p.m. before taking the vote.
The appeal stems from the board's 2024 denial of Moreton Binn's application to construct a 75-foot bridge, access driveway and related site work within the wetlands upland review area at 599 Branchville Road. The bridge is intended to provide access to a proposed redevelopment of the nearly 20-acre former Binn Animal Rescue property with about 40 apartments, including a mix of affordable and market-rate units. In a June 26 decision, Connecticut Superior Court Judge William Clark ruled that the board's reasons for denying the wetlands application were not supported by substantial evidence of environmental harm and ordered the permit approved, giving the board the option of complying with the ruling or appealing it.
Earlier in the meeting, the board unanimously accepted an application for a proposed septic system within the upland review area of wetlands and watercourses at 340 Barrack Hill Road. The application, submitted by York Mueller on behalf of property owner Reina Guzman-Soni, will be the subject of a site walk on July 19, followed by discussion at the board's July 23 meeting.
The board also reviewed an ongoing enforcement matter at 225 Bennetts Farm Road, where Johnson reported the property owner continues to seek an engineer to prepare an application addressing the wetlands violation. Chair Susan Baker said she wants confirmation by the board's next meeting that an engineer has been retained. Johnson suggested establishing a deadline for submitting a remediation application because none has yet been received.
Commissioners discussed the Superior Court's decision in Veton Alimi v. Inland Wetlands Board involving 27 Abbott Ave. Beecher advised that the court directed the board to issue a permit subject to conditions consistent with its ruling. Members discussed applying the board's standard conditions, including extending monitoring of invasive species to two years to match the board's standard planting plan requirements. Beecher said he would provide additional guidance before further action is taken.
Related: Ridgefield Inland Wetlands Board To Review Septic System Proposal, Enforcement Matters
The board also reviewed remediation work at 25 Seymour Lane, where Baker and Johnson recently inspected wetlands restoration plantings. Johnson reported that several required plants were missing, some approved species had been substituted and newly planted vegetation showed signs of heat stress during the inspection. Members agreed the remaining plantings should be delayed until after Sept. 1 because of weather conditions, while mulch and seed mix could be installed sooner. The property's next court date is scheduled for Sept. 16.
The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
