Town Manager Karl Kilduff has been invited to attend this month’s regular Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) meeting to outline his thoughts on the future of planning in Clinton. The meeting will be held virtually on Monday, Nov. 9.

There are several high profiles sites in town such as the old Morgan School and the former Unilever property on John Street among others that are in various stages of development or potential development. With so much potential for new development in the town, PZC Commissioner Alan Kravitz suggested earlier this year that Kilduff attend a PZC meeting to outline his vision for Clinton.

“I want to know what he thinks is the role of the PZC in our new governmental structure. In particular, how the town will establish and prioritize development objectives,” said Kravitz.

On Nov. 19, 2019 Clinton officially switched its form of government from a board of selectman style to a town manager form and Kilduff came aboard as town manager in January 2020. In his role, Kilduff is responsible for the day to day operations of running the town. Kilduff can recommend different policy objectives to the elected seven-person Town Council, who can then vote to approve or not approve those recommendations.

Kravitz sees multiple policy objectives that he feels the PZC could be focusing on with direction from Kilduff.

“There are several issues that should be addressed in addition to coordinating goals and policy; budgeting for adequate legal and planning capability is a key. Our fees need to be restructured by the council, which controls them. We are far behind other towns in dealing with coastal resilience [and] affordable housing, and need to look at the impact of the pandemic on development,” said Kravitz.

Kravitz asserted that while the Town Council recently adopted a vision statement of its own and the PZC has is plan of conservation and development, there hasn’t been much communication between the council and PZC since the change in government.

Kilduff said that when he does speak at the next PZC meeting, he plans on pointing to different tasks the PZC could focus on moving forward.

“My intention is to speak to planning needs and areas I have been able to identify thus far. It was not my intention to lay out a vision as the Town Council has adopted a vision. [My] view is focused on implementation, prioritizing certain activities, filling gaps, and identifying challenges and opportunities for the town and the role the commission could play in addressing those matters. The commission is a separately elected board, but can be a partner in key strategic projects of the Town Council and broader community,” Kilduff said.

The next PZC meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 9 at 7 P.M. A link to the meeting will be provided in the agenda for the meeting at clintonct.org.