Work is underway on the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Government (RiverCOG) Regional Plan of Conservation and Development (RPOCD), a visionary document for the 17 towns that make up the region.

A series of municipal meetings have been held by RiverCOG this summer as part of the organization’s outreach for input on the project. Local input shows some support for better branding of the region as a destination.

The municipal meeting for Chester, Deep River, and Essex held Aug. 13 was attended by various town officials, including those with responsibilities on planning and zoning commissions.

“We are working on a regional plan, so it’s important to keep in mind that our focus should be on how your town’s issues and goals fit into the region as a whole,” said RiverCOG Senior Planner Megan Jouflas as she started the meeting.

Although each municipality is unique, its “geographic proximity” means that “many issues and goals cross municipal boundaries,” she said.

Jouflas highlighted RiverCOG’s analysis of each town’s individual Plan of Conservation of Development, noting “the breadth of topics covered” in the stated goals of these plans while also acknowledging similarities.

“So, now when we look across the region, at all of the municipal plans of conservation and development, we see that these goals are very widely shared,” said Jouflas.

All 17 towns in the region had two goals in common: (1) approving bicycle and pedestrian connections and (2) diversifying housing stock. Goals related to tourism and recreation were included for 16 towns and 14 towns had goals related to increasing mixed-use development, especially in town centers.

After the regional comparison, RiverCOG Deputy Director and Principal Planner Torrance Downes said it was important to hear from each of the towns because “you all live in each of your towns…You have an intimate understanding of what your towns are, what your towns need, what makes them special.”

The meeting was opened for participants to share feedback on a series of questions related to each town’s role in the region, how working regionally or with neighboring towns could help in terms of overcoming challenges, what is being done well in the region, and what can be improved upon.

They were also asked about a vision for the Lower Connecticut River Valley, which prompted numerous responses spanning various topics.

As an example, Jane Siris, an alternate member on Essex’s Planning Commission, said, “It’s an incredibly beautiful area that’s been very stable and managed to keep its integrity. The river, while there’s been a lot of development, it’s still an incredibly beautiful river.

“It’s very different than places like the Hamptons where development has ramped along. [That area has] become very busy. I think wherever our development goes, we ought to keep in mind that what we have is precious and we should develop in such a way that we should keep that beauty,” she added.

Other participants discussed the need to attract younger individuals and families to the region.

“I think it’s important that we find ways to keep, or even attract younger families to settle in this area. And what that means in practice, I’m not really sure. I think affordable housing is part of that and some kind of economic development, some reason for young people to settle here, I think is important,” said Essex Planning Commission Chair Alan Kerr.

“I’d like to echo too how important it is to attract younger families and youth and to employ them here to house them here and to improve our diversity in our area as well,” said Cindy Lignar, an alternate on Chester’s Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC). “Part of that is creating or expanding on our outside activities, like the bike paths and the hiking, and sidewalks, connecting our communities with those.”

Chester PZC Vice President Michael Sanders discussed how Chester, Deep River, and Essex already share certain resources, such as the regional school district. He also indicated a need for a change in mindset.

“I think part of my vision for the valley is to really start thinking in terms of it’s a valley, it’s not 17 towns or just the 6 towns or 7 towns in the lower valley, really thinking in terms of how we can work together…We need to find ways to open those lines of communication among ourselves and really find better ways to coordinate, really have those open lines of communication,” he said.

In addition to increased communication among different governing boards and commissions, many participants discussed the development of a regional identity that could be promoted, drawing individuals, couples and families to the area.

“This whole area should be considered a tourist [destination] like the Berkshires… reimagining it like that,” said Essex Planning Commission alternate Hope Proctor.

“That’s the point…the individual towns will prosper through regional branding of the area,” said Downes.

At the September conclusion of RiverCOG’s municipal meetings, the organization will create an existing conditions report that will be reviewed by the Regional Planning Committee (RPC).

The RPC is made up of volunteers representing the 17 municipalities in the region. This group, RiverCOG and planning consultant Fitzgerald and Halliday have oversight for the RPOCD project.

More information can be found on the project website rivercogregionalplan.org.