Property owner donates $1K for razing without permits
RIDGEFIELD — A local builder appeared in Danbury Superior Court last week after demolishing two structures on New Street in September without the proper permits.
In lieu of paying the maximum $500 fine pursuant to state statutes, CV Building Concepts owner Rich Szentkuti will instead make a $1,000 donation to the Ridgefield Historical Society.
Szentkuti is the current property owner of 8 and 10 New Street, where a house and a garage, respectively, once stood. The Building Department accepted a demolition permit application from CV Building for review on Sept. 15, but the structures were demolished on Sept. 25, before the end of the town’s 30day demolition ordinance.
“From that day, when it’s accepted by us, that’s when the 30 days start,” building official Jason Celestino said.
The ordinance, approved by voters in 2020, states that no person, firm, cor
poration or other entity shall demolish any building or structure without first obtaining a permit from the town’s building department.
Applicants must also notify adjoining property owners, the Ridgefield Historic District Commission, the Ridgefield Historical Society and the town clerk of their intent to demolish a structure via certified or registered mail.
In an earlier interview, Szentkuti said a notification of demolition was sent to concerned parties on Aug. 19. But Phil Esser, head of RHS’s Preservation Committee, said the notification was not sent by certified mail.
The historical society subsequently began compiling a report to assess the historical significance of the structures. On Sept. 21, the committee sent a letter to Szentkuti objecting to the house’s demolition, noting its historical value. Town officials were also copied on that email, Esser said.
Under the ordinance, if a written objection to the issuance of the demolition permit is filed with the building department within 30 days following the date of the permit application acceptance, the building official shall delay the issuance of the permit for a period of 90 days.
As far as a plan for the properties go, the Planning and Zoning Commission previously approved a special permit application for an access-way on New Street to serve two singlefamily residences. First Selectman Rudy Marconi said that building permits will only be issued to CV Building upon receipt of payment.
At Wednesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, Historic District Commission Chairman Dan O’Brien said the situation took many local builders by surprise.
“I heard from one builder who said the building community was really taken back by that, and they felt it made them all look bad,” he said. “We don’t want to send the wrong message to ... anyone that you can tear down any building. In this case it was a historic property, but he didn’t even have a demolition permit.”
The two-and-half-story vernacular house was built in the 1870s “in the sophisticated Queen Anne style,” presumably by William H. Gilbert, who purchased the land from Daniel Sherwood, according to the historical society’s report.
The purpose of the ordinance, Marconi explained, is to ensure potentially historic homes in the community are preserved. The 90-day waiting period, he added, allows concerned parties to work with applicants on finding ways to maintain these historic characteristics in their site plans.
Szentkuti and Celestino did not respond to a request for comment by press time.