On Thursday, November 6, the Ridgefield City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1460, updating the City’s Commercial Development Code to create greater flexibility and lower costs for small businesses.
These updates reflect direct input from community members, including small business owners, commercial developers, and residents, who shared their experiences and suggestions through public comments and discussions with staff, Planning Commission and City Council. The result is a set of amendments that make it easier and more cost-effective to do business in Ridgefield while maintaining community standards for high quality design.
Among the most impactful changes is the expansion of the City’s downtown traffic impact fee reduction program to the Commercial Neighborhood Business (CNB) zone. This adjustment lowers upfront costs for developments in the CNB, helping local entrepreneurs build and grow in Ridgefield. In December, Council will consider another proposed amendment to allow commercial traffic impact fees to be paid in installments, creating greater flexibility for small businesses by spreading out startup costs.
The adopted provisions apply to future commercial development and building improvements and are part of Ridgefield’s ongoing effort to be responsive, forward-thinking, and supportive of a strong local business economy.