The relocation to Ridgefield of Ergotech Inc. — a business that designs ergonomic equipment to reduce discomfort manufacturing workers — is gone, withdrawn, for now at least.
The Planning and Zoning Commission officially accepted the withdrawal of Ergotech’s application at what would have been a continued public hearing last Tuesday night.
“It’s a real shame that the applicant has chosen to withdraw this application,” said Commissioner John Katz. “On its face, it’s seriously correct and it belongs on that site — it’s really too bad.”
The company, which is owned by Dr. Earl Hagman of Ridgefield, had submitted its plan to purchase a three-acre site on Route 7 below the Regency at Ridgefield townhouse complex on June 4.
The 20,000-square-foot light manufacturing facility that would have employed 20 or 25 people drew the ire of Regency residents, who voiced their opposition to proposal — particularly blasting and stone crushing during construction — at a public hearing on July 2.
Mr. Katz added that Dr. Hagman did not want to spend “years and years in court battling legal issues.”
“He was really taken aback by the threatening tone of the group at the public hearing and the calls he received at his house and the letters that were written to The Press,” said Chairwoman Rebecca Mucchetti.
The commissioners discussed the July 2 public hearing for about 15 minutes Tuesday night before acknowledging the withdrawal and moving on to their agenda.
“I hope that in the future, we are more careful about what discussion we allow ourselves to have with the public,” said Commissioner Joe Fossi. “We shouldn’t have to talk about issues that don’t pertain to us, such as blasting permits, because this is sometimes the only venue for some of these people to vent and they take us way off topic and drag down any potential meaningful discussion.”
“I look at this application and think of what could have been — it’s the perfect use for the property.”
Town Planner Betty Brosius said that she had not received any new information from the applicant, other than the application to withdraw on Aug. 2. She said she reached out to Dr. Hagman to reconsider his withdrawal.
“At this time, it’s all we’ve received,” she said on Tuesday afternoon. “There has been no proposal for a new location.”
First Selectman Rudy Marconi said he had lunch with Dr. Hagman last week and apologized on behalf of the town.
“He told me that he never wanted to be located on a property with neighbors who didn’t want him,” Mr. Marconi said. “I apologized to him because he did everything he had to do.
“We’re going to try everything we can to keep him here and show him that we really do want his business.”
Mr. Marconi would not speculate on whether or not Dr. Hagman had been pursuing locations in other towns, but he did confirm that Ridgefield still has an opportunity to land Ergotech.
“There are alternative locations in Ridgefield and he said he’s been approached about them and that he’s open for suggestions,” Mr. Marconi said. “He doesn’t have any plans as of yet so we will have to wait and see.”