MONROE, CT — A flurry of events for the revision and update of Monroe’s Plan of Conservation and Development took place early in the year, until the coronavirus pandemic seemed to grind things to a halt. But First Selectman Ken Kellogg says the work never stopped.
He recently told members of the Economic Development Commission how land use staff continues to work with the consultant hired by the town
“We still are on track to get this in by December,” he said at a virtual EDC meeting Thursday. “That is still the goal. It’s absolutely still being worked on. It just has been maybe less visible during the pandemic. But it’s about to be visible once again.”
A POCD is a blueprint of people’s vision for their town’s future, informing zoning regulations and goals for the environment, open space, parks, housing and commercial development. Connecticut requires that plans be updated every decade in order for municipalities to be eligible for state grants.
Town Planner Rick Schultz and the Planning and Zoning Commission are leading the effort on the update of Monroe’s POCD, and Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc., a Hartford based consultant, was hired to assist them.
The POCD Advisory Committee was formed to solicit input from town officials and Fitzgerald & Halliday has led focus group meetings. The firm also plans to arrange public hearings and is working on a community survey to garner public input.
Kellogg said social distancing efforts and state guidelines on the size of gatherings has complicated planning for public hearings.
“In terms of large public hearings, we may have to bite the bullet and do some things virtually,” he told the EDC.
Kellogg said the consulting firm and Schultz are working on the launch of the town wide survey.
“A survey will go out in the near future to get input from that mode,” Kellogg said. “Then we will figure out where we and the state are on phases of reopening to plan hearings.”
Past POCD stories
Here is a listing of links to past stories on the POCD:
Are Monroe’s zoning regulations like a car with square wheels? March 18, 2020
POCD Update: A desire to reshape Monroe’s commercial centers March 3, 2020
POCD Update: Police retain skilled officers, town benefits from volunteers March 2, 2020
POCD update focuses on housing, schools, town facilities, Feb. 18, 2020
Officials plan to protect natural resources, enhance Monroe’s parks, Feb. 13, 2020
Monroe’s POCD: A blueprint for this ‘typical New England’ town, Dec. 5, 2019
POCD meeting starts the process of revising the blueprint for Monroe’s future, Dec. 12, 2019
Monroe’s POCD: A blueprint for this ‘typical New England’ town, Dec. 5, 2019
