Ridgefield Residents Encouraged to Take Schlumberger Property Survey

The Citizens Committee is asking for responses on potential uses for 30 acres of the former Schlumberger property, according to the Town’s website.

The uses and themes which the Committee is currently considering include:

• Walking/Biking Trails – High level of survey and workshop support
• An outdoor stage venue for theater and music. This outdoor amphitheater could replace the stage at Ballard Park, providing enhancements and the ability to stage a wider variety of activities – High level of survey support
• Municipal facilities – Scored in top third of September survey. Survey respondents expressed concern over long-term adequacy of current facilities
• Open space - Approximately 18 acres of the property will be held as open space, in part due to steep slopes and wetlands on the site
• Limited commercial and/or low density residential development – High level of support for purchase price recovery in survey, but also high level of concern over impact on traffic, schools, and Town infrastructure in both survey and workshop
• Land bank – Support for long-term control of property to ensure any future uses of the site not currently identified could be considered at a later time
• Retain Sky Dome building for now – consideration of potential reuses for the building, or potential demolition, will continue

Uses that the Committee has determined it will NOT recommend for the site are:

• Athletic fields/ recreation facilities - Better alternative sites are available for athletic field or recreational facility construction at the Recreation Center or near the skating rink. In addition, integration of new athletic facilities with existing facilities would help to control maintenance and management costs.
• Retail – Low level of survey support, high level of concerns over traffic and potential to negatively impact existing business centers.
• High density or large-scale residential development - Low level of survey support, high levels of concern over impact on traffic, schools, and Town infrastructure.

Click here to take the survey.

Photo by preda1or007 via Flickr Creative Commons