The Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) is seeking input from residents on proposed zoning regulations revisions through a series of upcoming public informational meetings with the Guilford Planning and Zoning Department (PZD) in collaboration with PZC. The entities are currently working on a comprehensive re-write of the Town’s zoning regulations and are urging residents to become part of the process.

According to Town Planner Jaime Stein, zoning is how the Town directs and regulates activities on private property, and the zoning code or regulations are administered by PZD and PZC.

“Zoning is the tool by which we implement the Town’s plans, whether it be the Comprehensive Plan of Conservation and Development, the Affordable Housing Plan or the initiatives of our many wonderful volunteer Task Forces,” Stein said.

Town departments and commissions have, and will continue to, engage interested members of the Guilford community in public informational meetings and feedback sessions pertaining to special topic areas within the proposed Zoning Regulations, Stein added. A schedule of sessions and their relevant materials are available on the PZC’s section of the town website at https://www.guilfordct.gov/agenda_center/planning_and_zoning_commission.php

The next scheduled public meeting is Thursday, Aug. 25. Times will be posted to the town events calendar, and related documents for each meeting can be found on the PZC’s website.

The sessions, which are held over the Zoom platform only, started July 28 and will continue through the end of the year. Each session will have a focus area and is designed to offer an opportunity to review and comment on a specific section of the regulations, according to Stein. Focus areas include affordable housing, business districts along Route 1, farming and agriculture, and sustainability. Stein and the PZC encouraged engagement with town government to ensure that citizen feedback is heard and incorporated.

Town officials noted that the new regulations are still in draft form and will be codified by a public hearing process and vote of the PZC which will take place in January of 2023.

Stein said, it is critical that all Guilford taxpayers understand these new revisions.

“Simply put, Zoning is how the Town directs and regulates activities on private property. At some level, zoning touches all residents and business owners in Town,” Stein said. “A comprehensive rewrite of Zoning regulations is not a common occurrence. As such, we are taking the time to reach out and facilitate a series of public discussions with the aim of completing the re-write successfully and transparently.”

For more information or to provide feedback, contact Town Planner Jaime Stein at steinj@guilfordct.gov or 203-453-8032.