Golf group scraps range plan, promises bigger building

A golf facility operator in Ridgefield, Connecticut, withdrew its proposal for a public driving range on Friday. The company plans to return to local officials with a larger, more complex project.

Robert Jewell, an attorney representing the applicant and property owner Roger Knick, sent a letter to the Planning & Zoning Commission. He stated that the next application will feature a large building with additional golf facilities. Jewell explained that the initial idea for a low-key site evolved into a full construction project.

"We modified the plans during the application process based primarily on the concerns expressed by the neighbors during the public hearing," Jewell wrote in the letter. He added that the team will use the next month to retool and present a more intense proposal.

The original plan called for a driving range on a 3.19-acre vacant lot. This land sits across Ethan Allen Highway from the existing 50-member Golf Performance Center. The proposed range would have included nine hitting bays and a 10-space gravel parking lot. It would have operated only during daylight hours and in favorable weather because the bays would not be covered.

Residents objected to the plan during a 90-minute public hearing on Tuesday. About half a dozen speakers voiced opposition. Their main complaints included noise, traffic, and potential impacts on property values. One neighbor, Suzanne Sherter, argued that placing a large structure in a residential area did not look out for local families.

Designers had already adjusted the plans to address specific criticisms. They replaced artificial turf with natural grass after the Norwalk River Watershed Association raised concerns about water quality. They also added an enclosure with acoustic panels to absorb sound. Despite these changes, the applicant decided to pull the application rather than proceed with the modified design.

The driving range was intended to serve nonmembers of the Golf Performance Center. A signalized crosswalk currently connects the two sites. The existing center offers additional parking and support facilities, but the new range would operate as a standalone facility.