Ridgefield To Hold Public Hearing On Joining Connecticut Municipal Development Authority

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Ridgefield residents will have an opportunity Nov. 18 to comment on a proposal for the town to join the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority, a state organization that provides financial and technical assistance for housing, economic development and redevelopment projects.

The Board of Selectpersons will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the Town Hall large conference room at 400 Main St.

The hearing will focus on whether Ridgefield should become a member municipality of the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority, known as CMDA.

The authority is a quasi-public state organization established under Connecticut General Statutes Section 8-169ii to encourage housing development, economic growth and transit-oriented development in participating municipalities.

According to supporting documents provided by the town, CMDA works with municipalities to identify potential development areas, review zoning regulations and provide technical and financial assistance for qualifying projects.

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Projects eligible for assistance include housing construction, rehabilitation of existing buildings, demolition or redevelopment of vacant properties and transit-oriented development.

The authority also provides assistance with creating housing growth zones and development districts.

What Joining CMDA Would Mean For Ridgefield

A proposed resolution included in the town's supporting documents would authorize Ridgefield to become a member municipality of CMDA.

The resolution states that joining the authority would support the town's economic development efforts.

It would also authorize First Selectperson Rudy Marconi to negotiate and execute agreements with CMDA on behalf of Ridgefield, including agreements that could establish one or more development districts within town.

Membership would not automatically establish a development district or approve a particular construction project.

According to CMDA's informational materials, municipalities identify the areas where they want assistance and determine which types of development they wish to pursue.

The authority may review existing zoning regulations and recommend changes needed to qualify an area as a housing growth zone.

Local zoning commissions retain authority to decide whether to adopt those recommendations.

Local Control And Public Participation

The supporting documents address how municipalities retain control over land-use decisions after joining CMDA.

According to the authority, participation is voluntary, and towns are not required to change zoning regulations or pursue specific projects simply because they become members.

Municipalities may choose not to establish development districts or apply for project funding.

CMDA's materials describe public participation at several stages, beginning with a public comment period before a municipality votes on membership.

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Additional public review would occur through existing municipal zoning and project approval procedures.

For projects seeking CMDA funding, the process includes review by the authority's board and final approval by the State Bond Commission.

The materials also describe a 90-day review period for project applications.

How The Development Process Works

Under CMDA's process, participating municipalities first identify potential development areas, generally near downtowns or transit facilities.

The authority then reviews existing zoning and determines whether an area qualifies as a housing growth zone.

If changes are necessary, CMDA may recommend revisions for consideration by local zoning officials.

Once qualifying zoning is established, a municipality may work with CMDA to create a development district.

Municipalities and developers can then apply for funding for projects within those districts.

The authority may also help coordinate state permitting and regulatory approvals.

Ridgefield's proposed resolution would allow Marconi to enter into agreements needed to establish development districts, subject to the applicable processes.

The Nov. 18 hearing will provide residents an opportunity to comment before the town considers approval of the membership resolution.