Continuing its decade-plus process of re-examining Route 1 zoning, the Planning & Zoning Commission has formed a committee to review zoning on a two-mile stretch west of Exit 57 (just past the Rockpile) to the Branford town line. The area is currently a mish-mosh of several different commercial and residential zones.

The purpose of this project is to comprehensively review the current zoning in that specific area, with special attention being paid to expanding commercial zoning opportunities that are consistent with the town's Plan of Conservation and Development.

The six-person committee has representation with a range of interests, including property owners Victor Anatra and Chairman Tony Fappiano, local architect Chris Widmer, Economic Development Commission member Matthew Joseff, Guilford Land Conservation Trust President Sarah Williams, and Planning and Zoning Commission member Walter Corbiere. In addition, Town Planner George Kral, Environmental Planner Kevin Magee, and Economic Development Coordinator Brian McGlone have been named to the committee as town staff members to aid in navigating through the intricacies of the task at hand.

According to McGlone, zoning in this area of town has not been carefully looked at in approximately a decade, so the purpose and charge of this new committee is to see if adjustments in zoning need to be made in this area that reflect the current economy of Guilford and the trends of the shoreline. A big push for the study is the hope that if changes are made, it will enhance economic development in town and bring in more businesses, services, and tax revenue.

"Commercial buildings have no one living in them, so they do not impact the school system in town," said Fappiano, who has owned property in the area for the past 40 years. "Right now I think it's 75 cents of every tax dollar is spent on education. Since

Route 1 is a state road there is also no impact on the Public Works Department in that area, because the state takes care of that road. This makes the area a perfect place to expand a commercial presence, which will ultimately increase the tax revenue, add jobs in town, and add services to the residents of Guilford."

Fappiano added another area of focus for the group.

"One problem the town currently faces is affordable housing: People who grew up here can't afford to live here, so looking at this zoning and possible making some changes may help us increase tax revenue so we can address affordable housing," Fappiano said.

Explaining the impetus for the study, Kral stated, "We want to review and update the zoning language and illuminate any inconsistency. Right now there is somewhat of a patchwork of commercial and residential zoning there and we need to [determine] what, if any, modifications need to be made to make the area, in regard to zoning, more cohesive.

"Right now everyone on the committee is getting up to speed on the area, learning the lay of the land, so to speak, and making sure we all have the same information and are on the same page," Kral added. "We all bring something different to the table and there is a good representation that includes the preservation interests in town, the economic development interests, and the aesthetic interest of how the area can be transformed to best serve the town and our residents."

The committee has met three times and has plans to continue to meet on a bi-weekly basis on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. at the community center. The next meeting will be held on Oct. 22. Input and attendance from the public is strongly encouraged.

The review study is expected to be completed sometime in the next year, at which point all findings and recommendations will be presented by the committee to the Planning & Zoning Commission for further action. Any changes to the zoning in the area will have to go to a public hearing for approval.