The Ridgefield Conservation Commission was established in 1962 by Town Ordinance after enabling legislation was adopted by the Connecticut General Assembly in 1961. Drawing from the State Statutes, the town’s Charter requires that the Conservation Commission devote its efforts to the sound development, conservation, supervision, and regulation of natural resources, including water resources of the town, and shall be responsible for the duties of the Flood and Erosion Control Board as prescribed in the General Statutes and applicable ordinances.
To this end, the Commission oversees 2500 acres of open space. This includes 40 areas with developed trails. These areas are managed by the commissioners, volunteer rangers, and a seasonal two-person crew. The commission also plans for the future, cultivating relationships with land owners and routinely updating a listing of desired open space. Open space is acquired through donations of land and purchases funded by the Open Space Conservation Fund and town funds. The Open Space Conservation Fund is formed from the contributions of individual donors and organizations in Ridgefield as well as monies received in lieu of open space obtained from subdivision development.
Beyond open space management, the commission reviews land use applications and provides advisory comments to the Inland Wetlands Board and the Planning and Zoning Commission. This requires the commission to conduct site inspections and attend the weekly meetings of the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Conservation Commission also works in cooperation with the Parks and Recreation Department to partner in the sound management of the town’s multipurpose properties. Additional partnerships are with the state to maintain the Pierrepont Park trails and with the Ridgefield Open Space Association's Friends of Bennetts Pond, which manages the state’s Bennetts Pond park. We also coordinate activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes. We prepare books, maps and plans as necessary and are available to residents to assist in dealing with natural resource issues.
The commission has one part-time administrative staff person and shares a part-time inspector with Planning and Zoning Department. Beyond this, the members lend their time to carry out the work of the Commission. The Commission is composed of volunteer residents appointed by the Board of Selectmen for staggered three-year terms. Regular meetings are held in the evening twice a month in the Town Hall Annex.