I am pleased to announce the formation of the Circle Drive Neighbors Alliance (CDNA), representing the deep concerns of a great number of families standing in opposition to the “Front Porch Farms” application to convert 47 Circle Drive into a Bed and Breakfast in the middle of residential neighborhood.

CDNA spokesperson Rob Pacifico writes: “Once again, families in Ridgefield are faced with the threat of a commercial business forcing its way, unwelcomely, into a residentially zoned area. The bed and breakfast application submitted for 47 Circle Drive would set an awful precedent for neighborhoods throughout the town, undermining the fundamental reason why people purchased houses in a residential neighborhood – to make a home among other permanent residents – not to live in a transient motel zone.

Those who would convert their residential home to a short term rental property are committing a blatantly selfish act: the owners benefit financially from additional rental income and saddle their neighbors with all of the costs - reduced safety from introducing hundreds of strangers into a neighborhood, lowering home values, and robbing their neighbors of what they purchased – a home among other permanent residents – not hundreds of temporary strangers a year.

When someone purchases a home in a residential zone they should not have the right to turn it into a transient motel to the severe detriment of their neighbors? Should we just accept that we will never know who our neighbors will be any given day? For families raising young children – must we be constantly exposed to the drastically increased risk that rooms will be rented to someone wishing to do our children harm? Are we to kid ourselves that this will not considerably reduce the value of the most significant financial asset many of us have - our homes?”

To learn more about the many risks of introducing B&B’s, Air BNB’s, and other short-term rental properties into residential neighborhoods visit circledriveneighbors.com.