On Jan. 17, the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) voted unanimously, 5-0, to adopt Branford's 2019-2029 Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD).  For the next ten years, the updated plan will act as a guide to help town commissions and boards make community-based decisions with the best outcomes for Branford and its residents.

The POCD, which can be viewed in its entirety at the Town of Branford website here  was shaped over a 12-month process led by the PZC-appointed POCD Steering Committee working with Planimetrics (Avon), a consulting firm hired by the PZC. Committee members were chairman Phil Carloni, Cathy Lezon, Peter Basserman, Joseph Chadwick, Vincent Hanchuruck, Bill Horne, John Lust, Marci Palluzzi, Gavin Renz, Barbara Ricozzi, Town Planner Harry Smith and Special Projects-Economic Development department head Terry Elton. The committee was supported by town staff including Smith and Assistant Town Planner Richard Stoecker. Throughout the draft process, a working document outlining changes and additions was posted for public review at the town website, www.branford-ct.gov.

Following a brief public hearing and discussion on Jan. 17, the PZC voted to adopt the 2019-2029 POCD. PZC chairman Chuck Andres thanked the committee for its hard work and also commended those from public who participated, noting there was certainly some "back and forth" during process. Andres also said updating a POCD involves striking "...the classic balance between conservation development and what type of development you want. And so to get the proper balances and reflections is great."

The new POCD becomes effective on Feb. 1, 2019.

Discussing the Updated Plan

Prior to the PZC's vote, Planimetric's president Glenn Chalder gave an overview of the updated POCD, which succeeds the town's last POCD adopted in 2008. By state statutes, a town must update its POCD every ten years.

Among an audience of approximately 20 attending the Jan. 17 PZC meeting, two residents brought up comments during the POCD's public hearing. Resident Pam Roy asked about additional coastal resource analysis and policy guidance offered by the state DEEP in a Jan. 4 letter. The letter was sent to the town following the DEEP's state-mandated review of the updated POCD. In the letter, DEEP Senior Coastal Planner David Kozak said he found no inconsistencies with the policies and standards of the CT Coast Management Act. Kozak recommended strengthening the POCD's coastal management sections with further specifics of proposed policies, strategies and actions; as well as incorporating recommendations outlined in the Town's 2016 Coastal Resilience (CR) Plan. In response, to Roy's question, the PZC discussed digitally linking the CR plan to the POCD document.

Thimble Islands Association secretary Tracy Everson reiterated earlier input she'd given to the POCD Steering Committee on specific issues facing residents of Stony Creek and Thimbles; noting the issues are not specifically addressed in the updated POCD. Some of the issues include unaddressed include kayak overcrowding at the town boat launch and beach and the need for parking solutions during summer months. A discussion among PZC members determined such specific issues should be sent to the appropriate town agencies to be addressed, and that those agencies could then turn to the POCD and/or the CR plan for overarching guidance.

POCD Strategies for Conservation, Development, Infrastructure

Main areas of guidance covered Branford's 2019-'29 POCD put the focus on conservation-related strategies, development-related strategies and infrastructure-related strategies. All of the strategies grew out of input and feedback gathered beginning in January, 2018. The information-gathering process included an online survey, a phone sampling survey, options to send emails and letters to the town, meetings with heads of town departments, commissions and boards, and public invitations all other town stakeholders and residents to take part in multiple community meetings. Planimetric's research, data and demographics – such as finding Branford continues to be an aging community – were also baked into the updated POCD.

Based on that input, data and research, townwide priorities outlined in the 2019-'29 POCD are: coastal issues, protecting natural resources, preserving open space, enhancing community character, strengthening community structure, enhancing Branford center, promoting appropriate economic development, guiding residential development, promoting sustainability and resilience, maintaining and enhancing community facilities, addressing vehicular circulation, promoting pedestrian, bicycle and transit facilities and addressing utility infrastructure.

Also in the updated POCD, the steering committee notes the implementation of the 2019-'29 plan will be determined a success if the Town can accomplish, or at least make major progress towards, several key recommendations. Those recommendations include: establishing a framework for addressing coastal vulnerability, promoting improvements to I-95 Exit 53, supporting economic development and tourism, protecting natural resources and open space, improving bicycle and pedestrian facilities around Branford, keeping Branford Center vibrant and attractive and promoting transit-oriented development, promoting sustainability and re-invigorating Branford's Strategic Review Committee.

Branford first enabled the formation of a Strategic Review Committee in 2008, following the 2008-'18 POCD. Since that time, forming up a committee was never fully implemented, noted Chalder, who recommended kick-starting the committee as a first step following the adoption of the 2019-'29 POCD. PZC chairman Chuck Andres also recognized the importance of starting up the committee as key next step in helping Branford to implement the goals outlined in the new POCD.

As well as many other details guiding conservation and planning impacting the town, the 2019-'29 POCD also incorporates Branford's completed 2017 Transit Oriented District (TOD) study. The 2017 TOD study area is roughly a half-mile stretch from the train station, incorporating land bordering the Branford River and reaching toward the town center. The study outlines strategies such as establishing "overlay zones" to allow for a TOD to exist and supporting funding and pursuing grants and other financing for specific TOD projects  to be developed which will generate potential residential, tourism, economic development and recreational opportunities. The 2017 TOD study area is roughly a half-mile stretch from the train station, incorporating land bordering the Branford River and reaching toward the town center.