Ridgefield Winter Club drops special permit application

RIDGEFIELD — On the eve of its final public hearing with the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Ridgefield Winter Club has withdrawn its special permit application.

The eighth and final hearing was held as planned at East Ridge Middle School on Wednesday night, according to Commission Chairwoman Rebecca Mucchetti.

“The applicant is still going forward with his special permit application in front of the Inland Wetlands Board,” Mucchetti told Hearst Conecticut Media just a few hours after the applicant had submitted his letter to withdraw plans for a private skating rink on 340 Peaceable Street. The nine-member zoning commission acts as the Inland Wetlands Board.

“The application to the commission has been withdrawn,” Mucchetti said. “The application for a special permit in the wetlands and upland review area around the site will still receive a hearing (Wednesday night).”

Jeff Hansen, who founded the Peaceable Neighbors Alliance in the summer of 2017 when the developer originally proposed to build the club, heard about the withdrawal from his attorney Peter Olson.

“After three months of hearings and the day before the hearing must officially close, the applicant for the Ridgefield Winter Club has withdrawn its Special Permit Application before the Planning & Zoning Commission,” Hansen wrote.

In the withdrawal letter, the club’s attorney, Robert Jewell, said the applicant plans to submit revised applications to the Planning and Zoning Commission after the Inland Wetlands Board decides on the wetlands application.