A DISCUSSION WITH JIM VENTRES, Land Use Administrator of East Haddam
by Shiloh Dodge
Question: Why did you decide to go into planning?
Answer: I actually didn't plan to go into town planning, my background is in wildlife and fisheries. For years I was watching staff turnover constantly nobody wanted to stay involved. My background in the environment ties into East Haddam very well, though, being such a rural area.
Question: The recreation section of the plan says that the survey of scenic views and vistas needs to be updated and could be put into a guide book- do you think that this will promote tourism in East Haddam?
Answer: Absolutely- we have sort of a "Where's Waldo" effect in town. We might do a letter boxing things where you have a list and check off the things you have seen. There are 77 scenic views and pictures and they need to go into a format on the web. The problem is of those 77 views, how many are left? We need to find out what resources we still have and what we have lost.
Questions: Is the East Haddam Walking Trails booklet aimed towards residents, visitors, or both?
Answer: It is geared more towards tourists because there is a lot to do here and they could make a good weekend out if it if they know about it. It is not online but hopefully will be by next fall. It is currently only available in the Town Clerk's office.
Question: The plan mentions the possibility of a Farm Market for local farmers- has this idea been explored and is it a possibility?
Answer: We dabbled with it and there is a small market sometimes at the library but it isn't really the farmers. What really needs to happen is a boardwalk by the Goodspeed parking lot and farmers could sell there. The agriculture is growing- there are farmers in town trying to crops and growing grapes for wine, but there is just no local place for them to sell.
5/10/10
Who Reads the Comprehensive Plan?
by Michael D'Amato
Comprehensive plans are read by many people including developers, citizens, and commission members. A citizen might read the plan to see where the town looks to go in the future. This is important if they are looking at a piece of property with a large vacant parcel nearby. It can also be important to examine a town’s policy for conserving it’s natural features and water resources.
In the case of a developer, showing that their project is in keeping with the plan (POCD) will increase the likelihood of approval.
The commission members of the town-- Planning and Zoning (P&Z) , Zoning Board of Appeals, Water Control Commission and the Town Council are just a few groups that need to be especially well acquainted with content of this document. When the Planning and Zoning Commission receives an application for development they are going to want to reference this to see if it parallels the plan and what they want to ultimately achieve. The P&Z should only make decisions based on this plan and what is best for the town. Escaping the impression that it is their own personal preference in the decision making process, the plan allows them to have ground to stand on with their decision.
Comprehensive plans are read by many people including developers, citizens, and commission members. A citizen might read the plan to see where the town looks to go in the future. This is important if they are looking at a piece of property with a large vacant parcel nearby. It can also be important to examine a town’s policy for conserving it’s natural features and water resources.
In the case of a developer, showing that their project is in keeping with the plan (POCD) will increase the likelihood of approval.
The commission members of the town-- Planning and Zoning (P&Z) , Zoning Board of Appeals, Water Control Commission and the Town Council are just a few groups that need to be especially well acquainted with content of this document. When the Planning and Zoning Commission receives an application for development they are going to want to reference this to see if it parallels the plan and what they want to ultimately achieve. The P&Z should only make decisions based on this plan and what is best for the town. Escaping the impression that it is their own personal preference in the decision making process, the plan allows them to have ground to stand on with their decision.
5/9/10
What is a Town Comprehensive Plan?
by Jacqueline Rubin Kelly
A comprehensive plan goes by many different names. In Connecticut, it is called a “Plan of Conservation and Development.” The idea behind the Plan of Conservation and Development (PoCD) is a simple one; A PoCD is a tangible representation of what a community wants to be in the future. The PoCD allows members of village, town, or city to have an active role in how their community will progress into the coming years.
In the state of Connecticut the acceptance of a PoCD entitles that town to the distribution of state funding. For the plan to be adopted, the state has specific rules and regulations on what the PoCD needs to contain. Below is a short list of topics that must be included within the chapters of a Plan of Conservation and Development according to Connecticut State Statutes:
• A statement of policies, goals and standards for the physical and economic development of the municipality
• Transportation – parkways, bridges, streets, sidewalks, etc
• Housing – zoning, affordable housing options
• Land use – development (residential, recreational, commercial, industrial)
• Conservation – land, cultural/historical elements
For the full list of state regulations on adopting or amending a PoCD, visit the link below:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/act/Pa/2005PA-00205-R00HB-06570-PA.htm
So, how does a Plan of Conservation and Development affect you and your community? Each plan is different and is supposed to represent the voices of the townspeople. The members of the community can attend their town meetings to give their opinions on zoning laws, lands they want to protect, or even building a new park with a playground for the children of the community. The committee that oversees the plan takes all requests from the community into consideration when writing and approving their PoCD.
To find out about town meetings and to become involved in the future of your community, visit your town website or call your town hall.
A comprehensive plan goes by many different names. In Connecticut, it is called a “Plan of Conservation and Development.” The idea behind the Plan of Conservation and Development (PoCD) is a simple one; A PoCD is a tangible representation of what a community wants to be in the future. The PoCD allows members of village, town, or city to have an active role in how their community will progress into the coming years.
In the state of Connecticut the acceptance of a PoCD entitles that town to the distribution of state funding. For the plan to be adopted, the state has specific rules and regulations on what the PoCD needs to contain. Below is a short list of topics that must be included within the chapters of a Plan of Conservation and Development according to Connecticut State Statutes:
• A statement of policies, goals and standards for the physical and economic development of the municipality
• Transportation – parkways, bridges, streets, sidewalks, etc
• Housing – zoning, affordable housing options
• Land use – development (residential, recreational, commercial, industrial)
• Conservation – land, cultural/historical elements
For the full list of state regulations on adopting or amending a PoCD, visit the link below:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/act/Pa/2005PA-00205-R00HB-06570-PA.htm
So, how does a Plan of Conservation and Development affect you and your community? Each plan is different and is supposed to represent the voices of the townspeople. The members of the community can attend their town meetings to give their opinions on zoning laws, lands they want to protect, or even building a new park with a playground for the children of the community. The committee that oversees the plan takes all requests from the community into consideration when writing and approving their PoCD.
To find out about town meetings and to become involved in the future of your community, visit your town website or call your town hall.
What is a Town Comprehensive Plan?
by David Marella
A Comprehensive Plan, or a Plan of Conservation and Development (PoCD) as known in the state of Connecticut, is an attempt set by commission members to plan out goals and objectives for a town for the future growth potential of that community. A comprehensive plan is the final documentation for what the overall product will be turned out after it is implemented. The document is official in nature and should be used as a policy guide for direction the community in the right direction.
There are six key principles that should follow a Comprehensive Plan, according to William I. Goodman, a well-known author on Comprehensive Planning. The concept of the Comprehensive Plan is that it is an instrument used by leaders in the community to help establish policies and make decisions regarding their physical environment. The six key principles are:
1.The plan should be comprehensive
2.The plan should be long-range.
3.The plan should be general.
4.The plan should focus on physical development.
5.The plan should relate to physical design proposals to community goals and social and economic policies.
6.The plan should first be a policy instrument, and second a technical instrument
A Comprehensive Plan, or a Plan of Conservation and Development (PoCD) as known in the state of Connecticut, is an attempt set by commission members to plan out goals and objectives for a town for the future growth potential of that community. A comprehensive plan is the final documentation for what the overall product will be turned out after it is implemented. The document is official in nature and should be used as a policy guide for direction the community in the right direction.
There are six key principles that should follow a Comprehensive Plan, according to William I. Goodman, a well-known author on Comprehensive Planning. The concept of the Comprehensive Plan is that it is an instrument used by leaders in the community to help establish policies and make decisions regarding their physical environment. The six key principles are:
1.The plan should be comprehensive
2.The plan should be long-range.
3.The plan should be general.
4.The plan should focus on physical development.
5.The plan should relate to physical design proposals to community goals and social and economic policies.
6.The plan should first be a policy instrument, and second a technical instrument
5/8/10
COMPREHENSIVE PLANS ACROSS THE U.S.
Map of U.S. States Which Require Every Municipality (towns and cities) To File a Comprehensive Plan.
Exceptions
Hawaii: Only requires the four major counties to have comprehensive plans. Those counties may or may not require the towns in their jurisdiction to have one.
Minnesota: Only required in 7 metro counties
*States that require a Comprehensive Plan if the municipality wants zoning is included under the not required category.
The Search--Two students set out to discover which states required their towns and cities to maintain comprehensive plans. The challenge to that task is related by each below:
Kristin Hadjstylianos--- I used the American Planning Association websites for each state to find numbers for the chapter’s presidents and state planners. . . At least one source sent me to the source legislation--the state planner from Maine was a professor at a college who thought having me search through Maine’s state statutes would be a better learning experience . . . I was surprised at how many people I called were unsure of their answer; several times I was directed to another person to double check. . . While I the APA’s (American Planning Association) websites for each state were generally helpful, some of them hadn’t been updated in years.
. . . My conversation with a regional planner from Minnesota was probably the most interesting. Only their 7 metro counties (the bigger cities) have requirements while their smaller towns have no requirements and few of them have plans. I found that different areas in the country refer to their plans with various names including General Plans, Master Plans, but Comprehensive Plan was the most widely used. I think this map shows how planning in general is not a united concept throughout the nation.
Katherine Galezowski--- The project began with a question in class no one knew the answer to: "Which U.S. states require a Comprehensive Plan?”
. . . I gathered information by individually contacting twenty five states while my project team member (Kristin) gathered the other half and created a map from the data. . . I began my search by looking for a single source online--quickly realizing this information has not been assembled in one place. Next, I attempted to call and e-mail planning departments of randomly selected towns of my assigned states. I asked them if the state required their city or town to have a Comprehensive Plan. I noticed that if I worded this question using the word legally in it, some employees reacted as if they were intimidated or thought they were going to get into trouble for not having one.
. . . To my surprise, many city planners and their secretaries or staff did not have this information at their finger tips. Because of this, I feel the data collected needs further verification.
. . . I found it easiest to call members of the American Planning Association (APA) because someone with planning experience was more than often available.
. . . Among other things, I learned that some states do not require a Comprehensive Plan because the city or town follows the County’s plan. Other states only require a plan if the city wants to obtain funding or a grant.
5/7/10
POCD and Zoning: How are they Related?
by John Boren
In order to have a broad understanding of how comprehensive planning is performed and implemented in Connecticut, the relationship between the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) and zoning must be examined. In the state of Connecticut, each town is required to create a comprehensive plan every ten years. The town is then to adopt zoning regulations that enable land uses that conform to the vision laid forth in the comprehensive plan. To be effective, the POCD must be supported by good zoning regulations, and these regulations are not appropriate if they do not directly relate to the POCD.
Per General Statute 8-23, each of Connecticut’s 169 towns is required to create a Plan of Conservation and Development. This plan is to be comprehensive in that it lays out guidelines for development and growth management, as well as to preserve and protect existing natural or cultural resources. The plan charts a course for how the town intends to grow for the following decade however it must not be so restrictive as to allow for changing conditions. The comprehensive plan is generated and approved by the local planning committee with input from the public and in coordination with related regional and state agencies.
Once the POCD has been enacted, zoning rules must be changed or modified as necessary to promote the desired outcomes of the plan. Any goals laid out by the POCD should be supported by zoning that enables them to be met. For instance, a community that desires more mixed use development must zone land with this designation so that is possible for this activity to occur. The comprehensive plan and zoning regulations go hand in hand and must be coordinated for a community to best realize its goals.
In order to have a broad understanding of how comprehensive planning is performed and implemented in Connecticut, the relationship between the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) and zoning must be examined. In the state of Connecticut, each town is required to create a comprehensive plan every ten years. The town is then to adopt zoning regulations that enable land uses that conform to the vision laid forth in the comprehensive plan. To be effective, the POCD must be supported by good zoning regulations, and these regulations are not appropriate if they do not directly relate to the POCD.
Per General Statute 8-23, each of Connecticut’s 169 towns is required to create a Plan of Conservation and Development. This plan is to be comprehensive in that it lays out guidelines for development and growth management, as well as to preserve and protect existing natural or cultural resources. The plan charts a course for how the town intends to grow for the following decade however it must not be so restrictive as to allow for changing conditions. The comprehensive plan is generated and approved by the local planning committee with input from the public and in coordination with related regional and state agencies.
Once the POCD has been enacted, zoning rules must be changed or modified as necessary to promote the desired outcomes of the plan. Any goals laid out by the POCD should be supported by zoning that enables them to be met. For instance, a community that desires more mixed use development must zone land with this designation so that is possible for this activity to occur. The comprehensive plan and zoning regulations go hand in hand and must be coordinated for a community to best realize its goals.
5/6/10
Learning More About Planning in New Britain
Excerpts of student essays on what was learned about our city--Based on a visit with the head of the New Britain Department of Municipal Development, Mr. Kenneth Malinowski---
On March 31, our class had the opportunity to do a brief walking tour of downtown New Britain with Kenneth Malinowski, the Director of the Department of Municipal Development. During this walk, Mr. Malinowski highlighted efforts to revitalize the downtown through increased historic preservation, bringing in new downtown residents, as well as a commitment to creating more attractive gateways into the city.
(John Boren)
Just like in many cities across the United States, New Britain has been influenced by suburbanization and sprawl. This has taken [much] of the downtown life away.
(Philip Hinks)
Urban renewal [also played a role in] destroying downtown according to Mr. Malinowski. He noted that New Britain’s government didn’t help matters by destroying most of downtown housing as people moved outwards . . . It is similar to the chicken vs. egg dilemma. How do you get businesses to move to a place where there are no people on the streets and how do you get people on the streets in a place where there is nothing to do, and nowhere to live? (Jackie Rubin)
This POCD has explicitly outlined new urbanism ideals which will hopefully preserve historic buildings downtown yet also incorporate them in future design of the urban fabric. (Melissa Pierce)
New Britain's Planning Department directly caters to developers with the hope that it will help facilitate and encourage development. [Ken Malinowski] informed us that if a builder comes in with inquiries on a particular parcel or land or with questions regarding the renovation of an existing building downtown, [his office] will do everything in their power to devote their time to that project. (Michael D’Amato)
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