Tonight, Wilton’s Planning and Zoning Commission will continue its review of 118 Old Ridgefield Rd., the latest multifamily development headed to Wilton Center.
The proposal envisioned for the half-acre site is a multifamily, 4-story apartment building with 3,300 square feet of retail space at the ground level and underground parking for 29 vehicles. The current plan has divided the 20-unit building into seven 1-bedroom units, nine 2-bedroom units, and four 3-bedroom units.
It’s a concept that has attracted a lot of public attention but there hasn’t been a formal way for the members of the community to provide their thoughts to town officials — until tonight.
The proposal’s design has already been through months of review that included the P&Z Commission’s feedback to the developer during the pre-application period, when comments from commissioners are considered non-binding and public input is not allowed. P&Z and other town entities can shape projects during pre-application, sometimes extensively, before any public input is heard. There will be a public comment period tonight, but it will come after P&Z and the Village District Design Advisory Committee have already expressed non-binding support for the overall design and layout.
Planning and Zoning began the formal review process for 118 Old Ridgefield Rd. when it opened the public hearing during its last meeting on Monday, Mar. 24. The applicant presented its proposal in full during that meeting, and engaged in discussion with commissioners who asked questions.
The public has been especially vocal about this project, but not in any significant way that P&Z commissioners have officially heard — in large part because the vigorous discussion has been on social media, and commissioners can’t consider online feedback. Unlike the Boards of Selectmen, Finance and Education, P&Z does not have a standing public comment section of its meetings for general comments, and it follows strictly-defined steps for when public input on specific projects is accepted, allowing it only at the end of a project’s public hearing process. The public can only comment about the project under review at that specific public hearing. The Commission does accept written comments at any point in the review process; for this application, the majority of comments P&Z has received as of Mar. 27, 2025 have been written in opposition to the project.
Now, as part of the project’s formally submitted application, the public will have its opportunity to be heard during the public hearing this evening, Monday, Apr. 14. Residents can watch the hearing on Zoom. To participate with a comment, notify the webinar host when the comment time is announced, and participants will be promoted one at a time to provide comments live on Zoom.
Design is the Focus
When Planning and Zoning began its review of 118 Old Ridgefield Rd. at its last meeting, much of the discussion revolved around design elements.
Several commissioners pressed for further details to be provided at the Apr. 14 meeting; in particular, they focused on understanding how the building will fit in with the surrounding landscape and built environment.
“We need some context. We need to see [renderings with] the buildings adjacent,”Chair Rick Tomasetti said. “My concern with this project is that this is a building you dropped onto a site, that does not have a contextual relationship with the buildings around it.”
Vice Chair Melissa-Jean Rotini also sought contextual renderings of the proposed building, but from another perspective.
“What are we going to be seeing from Danbury Rd.?” she asked. “If I remember correctly, this is the spot, this is the site that has the least amount of coverage and is the most visible from Danbury Rd.”
The Commission also requested more information about landscaping, civic space amenities, and other elements of the site plan.
The applicant has provided new architectural renderings, including street views from both sides of the proposed building, and images of the rear pocket park and the civic space in the front of the building. These renderings can be found in the online application file.
Good evening. I repeat below the concerns I have expressed repeatedly regarding our quality of life that this growth will result in with no apparent care or concern about it from the decision makers.
Date: March 25, 2025
To: Wilton Board of Selectmen
From: Alex Sgoutas
I just completed and submitted your Budget Approval survey and would like to provide some additional information to my comments and to explain why I answered “ no” to many of your proposals. We have lived here at the top of Range Road for 50 years. We are now “seniors” and “empty nesters” . Our four grown children, who attended our excellent Wilton schools, and their families live elsewhere.
I am impressed and compliment all involved including Good Morning Wilton for the information and financial budget details provided. I read through and was overwhelmed with the 391 pages from the Education Board and the 135 page report from the Board of Selectmen. We are clearly no longer the small rustic town that we were used to and I was amazed at the number of departments and expenses that are needed to support what we have and for our projected growth.
While I recognize that many of the expenses and increases requested may be needed, I fear that the recent and planned growth particularly in huge apartments and other building complexes right in our center will have a negative effect on the quality of life that many of us who have lived here for a long time seek and are used to. From everything I see and read, I believe that not enough time and consideration is being given to the consequences and effects on our quality of life particularly regarding congestion, crowding, traffic, parking, pollution and natural environmental deterioration that we will be facing. For example, already with the traffic backups and problems on Belden Hill and even Rte 7, steep and winding Range Road, where we live, has become an alternate throughway. It is often difficult and even dangerous to get onto from our driveway and to drive on that we do a lot and that will only get much worse. Is there a planned “ fix” for this and other similar situations. ?
We would like to continue living here for as long as possible and hope to see more being done to proactively address and provide specific solutions to some of the growth concerns and consequences mentioned. Any increased relief for us senior citizens who love this town and wish to stay would be most welcome.
Thank you.
Alexander T. Sgoutas
237 Range Road
Wilton, CT 06897
(203) 762-9977
Alex77@optonline.net