The Ridgefield Historic District Commission, with support from the Ridgefield Historical Society, hopes to create two new town regulated historic districts, in a process that takes about a year, HDC Chairman Dan O’Brien told residents of the districts this summer.
The two districts are the West Lane Proposed District, from the corner of High Ridge Avenue to the corner of Olmstead Lane, and the Olmstead Lane Proposed District, from West Lane to Wilton Road West. (West Lane east of the proposed district is already included in the High Ridge Avenue Historic District.)
As an early gateway to Ridgefield, West Lane was laid out in 1722, and was part of the original stage coach road to Bedford, N.Y. The proposed extension of historic West Lane includes 17 properties, 15 of which are considered historic houses, with 12 older than 100 years.
Another old road, Olmstead Lane was home to some of the first Ridgefield settlers. Today, there are 27 properties, 22 of which are considered historic (11 over 100 years). The lane has been home to notable civic leaders as well as authors, artists and actors.
In a letter to the Historic District Commission supporting the new districts, the board of directors of the Ridgefield Historical Society, wrote, “The goal of historic preservation encourages the retention of historic character, both in architecture and its setting. The proposed West Lane and Olmstead Lane Local Historic Districts are an excellent collection of period residential buildings that have retained many of their original forms and character-defining features.”
After making preliminary contact with property owners in the two districts, the Historic District Commission has been working on an in-depth Study Report, documenting the historical and architectural significance of the areas. Ridgefield Historical Society volunteers and staff are involved in this process.
The completed report will be submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office for review and approval and then will be submitted to the Ridgefield Planning and Zoning Commission and to the Ridgefield Economic and Community Development Commission for their review and approval. A secret ballot will be sent to property owners following a public meeting on the districts; a two-thirds vote to approve the districts will move the process forward. After the Historic District Commission meets with the Board of Selectpersons to set a hearing date for district residents and other townspeople to ask questions or raise concerns, the final step will be a town meeting to approve the Historic District designations.
It’s a long process and a careful one, designed to provide as much information as possible about the districts and why their protection is important. More information about the proposed districts can be found in the June 23, 2026, minutes of the Historic District Commission at ridgefieldct.gov.
