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10/08/2009 12:00 AMIn one of the most interactive meetings held at the Greene Community Center last week, more than 80 residents, colored adhesive dots in hand, played a variety of exercises in the first public forum held for the Plan of Conservation and Development.
Architect and resident Mary Jo Kestner, joined by Glenn Chalder, principal of Planimetrics, a planning, zoning, and development consulting firm for public agencies, led the group in discovering what it liked and disliked about the town and what was most important to it in planning for the town's future.
All of the ideas initiated at the meeting will be compiled by Chalder in an effort to update the town's Plan of Conservation and Development. The document, which outlines land use guidelines for many of the town's agencies such as the Planning & Zoning Commission, Engineering Department, and Land Acquisition Commission, was adopted in 2002. Under state laws, the document must be updated every 10 years.
A committee formed to update the plan is composed of Chairman Kestner, Conservation Commission Chair Jennifer Allcock, Planning & Zoning Commission Chair Shirley Girioni, Town Planner George Kral, and economic development specialist Jackie Simonetti.
Such a plan provides guidance on how to address growth, change, zoning, community needs, community facilities, utility infrastructure, transportation, economic development, historic preservation, the protection of natural resources, and much more, said Kestner.
"Let's think about what we need to be and develop strategies to get there," added Chalder.
The first exercise that attendees completed was placing a blue dot on a map of Guilford noting where they lived. The results clearly indicated that, of those present at the meeting, only a handful, if that, were represented from North Guilford. It was suggested that a follow-up meeting be held north of Route 80 in the future.
The second and third exercises asked people to name their "prouds" and "sorrys" about their town-or what they were most proud of and, conversely, what they saw as blemishes or irritants. A huge show of hands for "prouds" produced things such as open space, natural resources, the Town Green, water and boating recreational opportunities, farming, the harbor, the Shoreline Greenway trail, view sheds, monuments, historic buildings, a sense of community, scenic roads, the quality of education, the library, and wetlands, for example.
"Sorrys" came as quickly and included the "Rockpile" development (or lack thereof), congestion on Route 1, lack of sidewalks, lack of transportation for the elderly and disabled, poor school facilities, closed businesses, lack of industry income, Arrow Paving, industrial zones on fragile wetlands, hostile commissions, no sewers, lack of
bicycle paths, poor water quality at Jacobs Beach, favoritism, lack of activities and space for young people, and the inappropriate placement of the town's Department of Public Works.
Chalder said the purpose of the exercise was to compile everyone's opinion and to encourage the "prouds" and remember the "sorrys."
"Perhaps the 'sorrys' don't fit into the overall plan for Guilford," said Chalder.
The last exercise asked audience members to recognize what was most important to them out of several categories by placing one or all of their five "bills" in one of many boxes.
The number one issue of importance to those in the audience was open space, followed by community facilities, coastal resources, the character of the community, business development, and natural resources. Residential development ranked last.
Other possible topics not on the list that were gleaned from the audience include the Town Center South plan, the development of the railroad station, and public transportation. Other trends that have emerged since the plan was written include global warming, green development, sustainable buildings, and regionalization and sharing of town services.
Look to the Guilford Courier for a future date of the next brainstorming session on the update of the Plan of Conservation and Development. The plan is available for view at the town's website, www.ci.guilford.ct.us.