Ridgefield Public Votes 'No' On Ridgebury Cell Tower Resolution

Applause rang out in the Veterans Park Elementary School auditorium when the moderator read the vote results -- months of public hearings and community rallying came to an end.

A cell tower will not be built at this time in the Aspen Ledges and Old Stagecoach area of Ridgebury as voters denied the resolution set forth by the town 254 to 108.

The proposed purchase of 28.8 acres of land for open space by the Ridgefield Conservation Commission ($650 thousand) and the town ($350 thousand) to include the construction of a 140-foot cell tower on the ridge has involved months of public hearings and community rallying.

The vote itself proved slightly hectic in the standing-room-only auditorium. Although there were only about 350 voters, the room was packed with over 450 people in attendance and out the auditorium doors.

"We've worked hard for this," said Mary Walsh, who lives nearby the proposed site and who has been vocal in her opposition. "We're just hoping the town officials realize that people don't want to see this happen and that they fight to keep cell towers out of the town."

Manny Vicente, principal of Homeland Towers, the firm that was to be responsible for building the tower, said that "the need (for cell service) doesn't go away." He indicated the company will still be on the lookout for other pieces of land in the area on which to build, public or private.

"We're done," First Selectman Rudy Marconi said. "As far as we're concerned, the people have spoken, and it's a 'no' vote."

"I just hope everyone thought it was a fair and open process, and that's all we can ask for," Marconi added.

The Conservation Commission still has $650 thousand worth of privately raised funds with which to purchase land, and commission chair Ben Oko said the Aspen Ledges area is still not out of the question.

"I'm happy there was a vote," Oko said.

"From my point of view, it's a totally satisfactory outcome," Oko said. "It was critical that the people decide what they wanted -- it wasn't critical that the commission purchase this land."

Maxime Francis has been another vocal opponent of the resolution.

"I always knew it was more than just our small group," Francis said. "We did the best we could with the resources we had."

Walsh could be seen talking with her neighbors after the vote, her thumbs in the air.

"I'm proud that a community can come together for a cause like this, and it's brought us closer, for sure," Walsh said. "We did it."