SCALE OF ANY WESTON TOWN PLAN:
At the bottom of all this is the need to recognize
that the scale of Weston development - small - and the manner in which
change takes place - incrementally - is limited by lack of
infrastructure and relate water cycle issues. What can the
community afford?
GOAL #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 and #6 - what they mean to me:
JUDGING A BOOK BY ITS COVER OVER TIME, BELOW: 2020 draft (r.) approved by P&Z, sent to Board of Selectmen, read it here
2020 PLAN OF C&D PUBLIC HEARING APRIL 4th. READ IT HERE. And for some instant implementation - thank you Governor for this!!!
Weston population growth static - historical data here.
ON JUDGING A BOOK BY ITS COVER...THE NEW PLANThe 1969 Plan was out of print before 1983...it had called for a 5 acre Shopping Center Zone, proposed purchase of open land by the Town (which instead got implemented by private developers who purchased it and constructed subdivisions). This first Plan envisioned schools, shopping and municipal government - centrality - as the desired path of future development.
- What were its goals & objectives?
- A "Road Study" preceded it, developing the first town map to include lot lines show subdivided or developed property.
- Above left, is the cover of the 1987 update.
After the Plan was adopted, it was followed in 1970 by a rewrite of the zoning regulations. This exercise provided for Special Permit zoning for various uses including home offices, an in-house apartment regulation update (Weston had allowed in-house apartments since the mid-'60's).
WESTON'S PLACE IN THE REGION TODAY
About Town — December 5, 2019
by MARGARET WIRTENBERG
Are property values shrinking? It seems to me that this is a
possibility that should be considered during development of a new Town
Plan that attempts to maintain Weston as the Weston we know today.
People are attracted to Weston by its education system, as much and
perhaps more than by any other factor. And maintaining the quality
of that system is paramount in many ways. Not only to provide
Weston’s children with the best possible education, but also to continue
to make the Town attractive to newcomers, thereby helping to support
property values and keep everyone’s taxes in check.
A modest proposal: Consider the value of land in Weston as being
more significant than the value of the building(s) upon it.
But not all two-acre lots are the same, and depending on the neighborhood some may be worth more than others.
How many “neighborhoods” are there in Weston? I would consider
that there are four major ones. Each has it special virtues.
The first is the “center of town.”
This area includes the existing shopping center district, the Town
Hall-Library-Firehouse complex, and the schools campus. As well as
two churches.
The residences in this area are numerous and beautiful, as they are in
just about every neighborhood in Weston. With the exception of 28
homes near the former landfill, and a few on the Westport border, all
are supported with private wells. All have individual septic
systems.
Much of the “center of town” is bounded by sidewalks and walking paths
that are envisioned by the Town’s Sidewalk Committee, which is hard at
work right now.
Neighborhood number two is what I refer to as “the ring,” as it basically surrounds the town center area.
Subdivisions funneling into major streets which in turn end up in the
center of Weston form this part of town. If this were New York
City, perish the thought, this area might be thought of as the “West
Side.” Vibrant and energetic. And the locale of
intersections that are probably more prone to traffic accidents than
elsewhere in Town, despite special focus they receive from local and
State authorities in that regard.
Tranquil and relatively isolated is the third neighborhood, the
Saugatuck River Valley area, occupying much of the East side of Town.
It is a village in itself. It has a church, a firehouse, and a
definite sense of “country” as opposed to “city.” And easy access
to Westport and Greens Farms.
Many subdivisions of formerly large estates are found here. They
mark its sub-neighborhoods. Each of these is defined by its own
Aspetuck Land Trust trails and parks.
And last but not least is neighborhood number four, what I refer to as the northern part of town.
It often seems that the temperature drops as you pass Godfrey Road heading north, that being the southern boundary of this area.
This part of town features the approximately 1600 acres of the Lucius
Pond Ordway/Devil’s Den Nature Preserve that are in Weston. The
percentage of land with impervious surface is much lower here than
anywhere else in town. It is usually a bit colder here.
Take your pick. Weston has neighborhoods. It is not a
uniform one-size fits all kind of place. Of course, you have to
live here to appreciate this in the first place!
---------
UPDATE: IDEAS FOR IMPLEMENTING VIA ZONING
"Simplification" of zoning statutes coming in 2020? Weston is in the cross-hairs (see map immediately above).
We note that the map above left was presented at the Legislature's P&D Committee 2018 Public Hearing .
Zoning laws are intended to protect property value. Be aware 2020 may well be the year that the hammer drops on zoning statutes as we have known them. Or maybe next year?
After 2019 November elections - towns v. cities? Versus regional governance?
This does not mean anything by itself, as the previous Commissioner stated. As she said then, towns, especially in red above, (as we heard it live on CT-N) should do the following:
- Analyze the Town by neighborhood. We have done so using the old system of 30 tax maps that existed as long ago as 1980 (above right).
- Adopt one district for "3 or more units" per lot. Weston presently has an apartment permit for all properties zoned residential (2 units) and permits roomers and boarders (up to 3 roomer and boarders) on every property.
- Create one district for mixed use. The "Center Plan" could specify rental units permitted "downtown" if environmentally safe to do.
- Accessory dwelling unit by right. We've had that since the 1960's.
So what Weston has to do in the new Town Plan is revise its existing regulation in the following way:
- Since we already permit an apartment on any lot if environmentally suitable, emphasize this in NEWLY re-written regs. after The Town Plan is approved by Selectmen and P&Z
- Second, develop an "Energy Improvement District" related to our virtual net metering plans that allows for shared infrastructure which permits higher density;
- With assistance of the Assessor, determine where existing apartments are located.
- And in implementing the new Town Plan, with the Board of Selectmen in the lead, encourage open space linkages (not exactly a new idea) and technology permitting, interactivity enhancements through the Town website should be developed.
NEW
Greenwich new Town Plan, approved by P&Z but yet requiring approval by RTM, includes requirement for 2-year review of progress: https://www.ctinsider.com/local/greenwichtime/article/Final-details-falling-into-place-for-14832750.php
BELOW ABOUT TOWN'S TOWN PLAN 2020 IDEAS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE GOT STARTED (i.e. P&Z, Selectmen).
Everything on this page is unofficial and the work of its ABOUT TOWN author. Graphics, photos, original art work. and design
#1-#4 graphics above our take on the subject; #5 is example of aerial from SWRPA flight in 2015 from LWV of Weston. #6 from WestCOG 2019.
Saugatuck River Valley - country living. Resident of the NORTH. The RING - flowing to the CENTER OF TOWN.
DID WE MENTION THE BENEFIT TO THE PLAN OF G.I.S.?
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Skip all of the explanations in the hot links below and go direct to our Plan!
How is the actual process progressing?
First we note our interest in MALLS or how to nurture centrality.
And let us not forget MS4 impact - which is all about control over STORM WATER in an environmentally friendly way
FIRST STEP: Establish goals after review of 2010 Plan
After goals you aim for objectives - and if your Plan become a community development action plan, you specify policies and programs for each objective.
Do we need a new LEGEND - here's one - a bit different? I mean, if you don't have public water supply lines and sewers, you are limited in what you can achieve in a 10-year Plan such as this.
Begin work by developing a process
DON'T FORGET LAND USE AND ITS IMPACTS ON ENVIRONMENT
(See Existing Land Use):
"Fact gathering made simple" - review "legend" for the land use map...
THE TOWN OF WESTON HAS A CENTER THANKS TO ITS ORIGINAL PLAN;
Where terrific ideas (or not) floated, returned to earth...we are getting the feeling that circulation planning (including pedestrians in the center of town) will play a really big part in this new Plan.
Are there neighborhoods in Weston? Where and how many?
Implementation of neighborhood action plans
SHOW REMAINING LARGE PARCELS - HAVE WE REACHED "MANIFEST DESTINY" YET?
MAPS AND CHARTS WE CAN SHARE ON THE INTERNET - ORIGINAL GRAPHICS not necessary if NEW Town Website continues the GIS mapping via Assessor's link;
#1 - CENTRAL PART OF TOWN. THE HUB - no one can agree exactly where to draw its boundaries. DETAIL, CENTRAL PART OF TOWN. What's there? A unified Schools Campus, the tertiary treatment plant servicing the schools, Town Hall/Library/Fire House #1, two churches, town swimming pond and oh yes, Weston Center.
#2 - SUBDIVIDED LANDS: NORTHERN PART OF TOWN. It is distinctly cooler north of Godfrey.
#3 - THE EAST SIDE OF WESTON: SAUGATUCK RIVER VALLEY
Seven (7) sub-areas or "neighborhoods" maps. Design "walkability" patterns within sub-areas.
#4 - THE RING
COMING: This will required work with traffic data to be obtained from Police Commission.
- Three (3) sub-areas or "neighborhoods" maps, (and just the thought that there is a 4th "ring" but it is in...Wilton).
- Accident data and traffic count data plus if available,
- Intersection turning movement studies.
- More study of recent traffic patterns, etc.
CONCEPTUALIZATION: Weston has neighborhoods - they're not all alike, even though the artificial standard of uniform 2-acre zoning might make one think that...
"...Weston is a unique community with extraordinary resources, but it also faces significant challenges. While the Plan is not a legally binding document, it is the Committee’s (Commission's?) hope that the Plan inspires ideas, provokes discussions and helps guide Weston’s development and conservation efforts in a manner that preserves and protects the things that make Weston a unique and remarkable place to live. It is also our hope that the Plan will assist Weston to meet its challenges, creatively and decisively." From Appendix #1, pp35-36, summary of survey results. (NOTE: These words appear as well on page one.)The 2010 Town Plan asks, as well, on page one:
"How can Weston better protect its water supply, natural resources and rural character?
"How can economic development help Weston control property taxes?
"How can Weston better utilize its facilities to the benefit of all Weston residents?"
Can you locate these? Hint: "Clubs" are in a speckled yellow-brown, Town in blue on this map (l).
NEW: https://westcog.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=52e7d0895ce94129854cabc1dc63ee22#Unofficial Existing Land Use Map 2018 above - Town Parks in this shade of green
- AVCC?
- Field Club?
- Gun Club?
- Weston Racquet?
- Moore Property?
- Fromson-Strassler?
- We did not color two Town "open" properties bright light green for "Town open space" because they were purchased either for no particular Town use (Fromson-Strassler) or as stated at the same Special Town Meeting, for "land banking" (Moore).
We note that "developed" or subdivided property may have changed hands - as the Plan process goes on, property does change ownership.
And we will be attempting to confirm the accuracy of 2018 map update above. NOTE: in the 1987 Plan update, a traffic study supplied a map of Town including all lot lines of subdivided property.
We will now use the new GIS maps linked to WestCOG online.
Protecting privacy is a concept that goes with living in the woods. We will design conceptual neighborhood maps in graphic format and not apply GIS to them.
MAPS ARE ESSENTIAL OR DID WE SAY THAT ALREADY?
21ST CENTURY
In Weston "DOWNTOWN" - Weston High School now doubled in size, parks, fields, Morehouse Farm Park...plus new Intermediate School ("3-4-5"), other matters.
- After obtaining a base map with roads and lot lines on it., from a consultant, perhaps, bring on the Prismacolor pencils - and the yellow tracing paper (21st century incarnation)!!!
- Since we brought up "21st Century" enabling of land use... planners: If you had to, could you interpolate the most recent aerial photos of town figuring out which were vacant?
- And then see if Google has street views of the busy part (s) of town? That would be a "NO" on Google street view. The absence of which isn't exactly critical to our efforts.
- We expect to enlarge upon the "residential" definition if the information is available and reliable regarding location of legal apartments, home-offices with and without Special Permit designation.
- Speaking of Google as information/communication source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/13/technology/google-education-chromebooks-schools.html
BREAKING NEWS: WestCOG info...now available online.
The Tax Assessor GIS maps will be available for this online Plan purpose (we asked on Oct. 29, 2018 if we could use them for this "2020Plan") but only thru West COG.
Above, four types of maps used in support of the About Town effort above. SOURCE: Tax Assessor and then U.S. Census, previous P&Z application and our own sketch plan (c. 2005).
- GIS has it for us right off the Town of Weston website - magnified ten times (shown above left) est. 1" = 100', you can even see stone walls! This will help define neighborhood boundaries.
- DATA SOURCE: Leave it to the U.S. Census "Block Group" map of town to mimic what actually exists here in Weston! Almost precisely
- The "Center" of Weston predates zoning and personally, I could never convince the owner to consider a new plan utilizing her extra 7 acres (not shown above) to reduce "non-conformity."
- THE FOURTH: "Conceptual" view of the whole town - divided into theoretical "neighborhoods" that now clearly emerge as Weston gets ever closer to full development.
N E I G H B O R H O O D S : This is a new concept in 2020 - Weston used to consider itself, for planning purposes, homogeneous. With the advent of a new COMPREHENSIVE PLAN APPROACH in 2018, it is appropriate to reconsider this assumption. However, it begs the question because Weston is one neighborhood when it comes to its schools.
2020PLAN RECOMMENDATION HYPOTHESIS: WITH THE INCREASE IN WEATHER EVENTS, WE NEED OUR NEIGHBORS MORE THAN EVER. Yes or no?
The reason we propose "neighborhoods" for planning purposes is that each one picture above has its own personality and specific problems. Which are described below (maps in progress). In addition, the Central Part of Town is the HUB, the ANVIL or whatever a catchy title you would like to describe "DOWNTOWN" as being.
SPEAKING OF MAPS...WESTON CENTER EXISTING BEFORE ZONING, BEFORE MAPS!
WE OFFER "MAP ONE" ABOVE LEFT (Source: Assessor's Map). A good community activity for P&Z would invite Westonites to the high school cafeteria to "fill in the blanks"
- Is there one at a "planning scale" of all roads in town with lot lines we can use and manipulate?
- Do we want sidewalks in the Central Part of Town? From O.L.R in 2015 - review of sidewalks/maintenance/liability by town: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2015/rpt/pdf/2015-R-0213.pdf
- YES. How to classify roads in 2020 as compared to 2010? Any other infrastructure? Condition of Town Roads ratings?
- Are "neighborhoods" the same as when we last mapped Weston at the turn of the century? How do these hold up against census data/block group boarders?
- The central part of town ("ANVIL") hasn't changed in its importance to the rest of Weston! In fact, the $79 million school-town construction project began after a Special Town Meeting in 2001.
- From Silver/Petrocelli & Milone&MacBroom DRAFT report in full, Facilities Plan updated for schools.
FROM OUR TOWN plan exercise in 1999, updated BY ABOUT TOWN for development since...
WHY IS IT COOLER NORTH OF GODFREY ROAD? Ans.: Percentage of impervious surface very very low, sun's rays absorbed and not reflected back up, JMO. (Source: Assessor's Map). We would have to invite 4-legged Westonites to this Sketch Plan event. Have you ever been to Devil's Den?
- Why is everything (almost) white in Map Two?
- Because north of Godfrey Road is The Nature Conservancy's Devil's Den.
- And Aquarion's Saugatuck Reservoir. Among other "undeveloped" lands.
- Aspetuck Land Trust had significant open space parcels here. As does the Town of Weston itself.
- What role does Eversource play?
- INFRASTRUCTURE: In Weston, with no sewer lines or public water supply lines (with minor exception at two spots abutting Westport), this means:
- Drainage structures on Town roads;
- Bridges (responsibility shared with CT),
- The tertiary treatment plant on School Road - as well as
- Cellular Communication towers,
- Fire ponds,
- Town wells for schools, Town Hall/Library/Fire House #1, as well as @28 homes near Transfer Station.
- Sidewalks: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2015/rpt/pdf/2015-R-0213.pdf
DONE: Maps of the seven (7) sub-areas on the East Side of Town including including Katherine Ordway Preserve...we have just received permission to use GIS maps here BUT NOT FOR REPRODUCTION.
We will use them only for checking on the accuracy of our recommendations...
Source: Tax Assessor's Maps
THE SAUGATUCK RIVER VALLEY WAS UNIQUE A LONG TIME AGO. It has its own church, firehouse, golf cOURSE and pre-zoning enclave
And it still is - even more so! Why? There might as well be a draw bridge or two or three across the main branch of the Saugatuck River just to get there. For our Plan purposes, there are six (6) sub-neighborhoods in the Saugatuck River Valley. Each of which will be shown in its own map soon...we note that the Lyons Plains Valley sits below the Samuel Senior Dam, holding back the waters of Aquarion's deep storage reservoir. And the story of the construction of that reservoir appears here (although we believe that the Saugatuck Reservoir is part of the BRIDGEPORT service area as opposed to Norwalk): http://www.westonhistoricalsociety.org/saugatuck-reservoir/
Tall Pines neighborhood
- MAP;
- Some might say that the large subdivision by that name, with a border on Westport, was an opportunity lost for cluster development. In any event, it is served by Westport public water supply (as is at least one other dead end street in the neighborhood).
- Notable for its Aspetuck Land Trust open space plus a special arrangement to save the original historic rock walls there.
Pheasant Hill neighborhood
- MAP;
- This was the first subdivision approved after the new subdivision regulations were approved. These new regulations incorporated many of the recommendations of the 1976 Dominski-Oakrock Study ("W.E.R.M." - Weston Environmental Resources Manual). Among these: zero incremental run off (FYI - run off determined by detention capability of the land to avoid down stream flooding), 10% open space set aside. Also, for safety, limit to the length of dead end roads in subdivision to 1500 feet and required turnaround for fire trucks.
- Aspetuck Land Trust open space parcel assisted in "detaining" run off on a major hillside...
VALLEY FORGE MAP
Although this was not closed to traffic, it is the link to "ring" sub-neighborhoods including the upper part of Valley Forge Road that was closed to traffic by Parks & Rec for a "pop-up" bike-walk event.
Country Club
Stonybrook
- MAP;
- Is this still in 2018 the center of the Saugatuck Vallley neighborhood? Location of Fire House, church and golf club (A.V.C.C.).
- Just across the "Troll Bridge" - Valley Forge Road, the upper part the site of most recent attempt to create a new type of "CLUB WESTON" and perhaps the rebirth and renewal of original ABOUT TOWN concept!
- ...ALTHOUGH THIS EVENT TAKES PLACE IN OUR "NORTHERN PART OF TOWN" Saugatuck Valley residents have easiest access - which goes to reinforce my opinion that in planning, everything happens in Weston at the break point on assessor's maps - to protect everyone's privacy from casual information-seekers.
- MAP;
- Home of the pre-zoning colony "Stonybrook" this sub-area shows what a cluster subdivision might look like in Weston!
- Close to Westport. In the sense that roads filter out onto CT 136 ("Easton Turnpike").
Lyons Plains Valley - "both sides now"
- MAP:
- Of course, although the Saugatuck River cuts off the two sides of town, this "neighborhood-within a sub-neighborhood" is special because of the Katherine Ordway Preserve (article about Katherine Ordway here).
- As we may have noted already, the East Side of Town has two bridges across the Saugatuck as gateways. Cartbridge Road and the old town swimming hole is here. Speaking of swimming...
- From the Weston FORUM: "...The Cartbridge bridge has been closed to traffic since it was damaged during a storm in April 2007. Cartbridge Road, when the bridge is operational, connects Goodhill Road with Lyons Plain Road."
Lower Lyons Plains
- MAP;
- Two Historic Districts connect Lower Lines Plains to Lyons Plain Valley.
- Close by Westport and entities of social engagement.
MAP FOUR (note that there are three [3] sub-areas - or a "'three ring circus"). This is a conceptual map because the main review here will be related to traffic counts and intersection studies...to come.
The RING about the Central Part of Town follows topography. TRAFFIC funnels to schools, Center & town hall/library. And we note that part of Wilton filters up hill to Weston Center for shopping and Lunch Box!!!
LOCAL TRAFFIC AUTHORITIES ARE IN CHARGE OF TRAFFIC CONTROLS ON LOCAL STREETS
Sometimes the traffic pattern stalls when school bus traffic, or more likely, drop-off by parents, gets intense twice a day, especially in the mornings with commuting volume of thru traffic.
The major roads in the RING will show in the final version of this "neighborhood" map, and are:
- Route 57 (Georgetown Road) - put your car in neutral and enjoy the S-Curve into the H-Intersection and the blinker...be careful - commuter route.
- Route 57 (Weston Road) - traffic lights always indicate there is volume of traffic to be controlled - commuter route.
- Kettle Creek becomes Old Hyde Road as it heads north. It had intersected at an angle with Weston Road.
- Good Hill (Good Hill Extension is a dead end). Similar to Kettle Creek.(but intersects with Weston Road further to the south- with a traffic light)
- Treadwell Lane and...
- Birch Hill Road are north-south connections between east-west roads - but not designed to carry thru traffic - rather, are connectors for local traffic.
- Steep Hill Road - major east-west route.
- Godfrey Road - major road east-west is northern boundary of RING.
- Valley Forge Road - perhaps the easternmost boundary of RING.
- Davis Hill Road - similar to above.
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
At the forefront of controlling what goes on in the RING, we think, is the Police Commission, whose job is to protect and preserve lives and property.
--------------
METHODOLOGY: Our study from some years ago identified "neighborhoods." Current maps from the Tax Assessor have better and more useful land/building information that can be included in definition of neighborhoods.
"What is our Plan response to external forces/threats?" At the time we wrote this, it was just a good planning concept...
Imagination at work, tempered by reason: 3 concepts require local changes/modification in zoning/circulation planning - not fully spelled out here.
High Growth (more than 50% increase in population):
- Can only take place by provision of public water supply and sewer lines.
- Tertiary treatment /private wells not adequate.
- Population growth supports second shopping center on East Side of town.
Medium (maintain present density):
Low-build (small reduction in population as per C.E.R.C. projection):SCHOOL ENROLLMENT:
- Schools regionalized (State of Connecticut mandate)
- Tertiary treatment abandoned, replaced by common septic for schools;
- All residences served by private wells, septic systems
To begin with, we wanted to call it "About Town" the same as our weekly column in the Weston-Today. But it should be no surprise to anyone that that original idea was not original. "About Town" URL was taken back in 1998 when we began this online activity.
Who is watching you online? We know that lately we seem to be a source for activity on "Town Plan 2008-2018" (our observations of P&Z and related matters).
Previousy we had noted visits to our Strategic Planning page as well as the Selectmen 2017-2019 page.
"MALL," which is new as well, attempts to discuss major issues confronting our town and external forces involved. And another research page: https://www.aboutweston.com/MILLENNIALS.html
Do we fit the description of a "New Town" or some other urban design approach to making Weston a home for "centrality?" And now this page, "2020," continuing to develop data and reports about our original ideas for the new Town Plan.
If history is any assurance, there will be an overwhelming response.
And 2020 implies that this planning tool might provide...vision?
ABOUT TOWN Town planning experience doing research goes back to the days before computers. Primary data is where you find it.
Working with primary data from official records of licensed junkyards, we developed techniques to analyze it. Our topic was the secondary materials industry in NYC and impact on neighborhoods (a small section of the NYC Plan of C&D).
WESTON CENSUS OF CHILDREN
In the Town of Weston, population 10,000+, not only can you reach every household (@3400) but assessor's records in the public domain and other sources can provide answers to corroborate actual responses. It was About Town's pleasure to work on this project. Three times the Town sent out such a "Census" before putting the $79 million proposition to the voters - the last undertaken by the IT department at Town Hall. The first two were directed by the Board of Selectmen and assisted by the P.T.O.'s.
DOWNTOWN PEDESTRIAN MALLS
Having gone through the rigors of developing an original topic of research and completing a PhD dissertation on it, it is clear that how you frame your questions and limit your topic will provide the best data for analysis. Here is a link to a published article from it: https://books.google.com/books?id=pggsCvRaXJcC&pg=PA229&lpg=PA229&dq=downtown+pedestrian+malls+wirtenberg&source=bl&ots=IwmMNH3HdV&sig=cis53qsJ7cdey11OQbz0J2uJtpQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6EWXVbnGLcP2-AGT54GgCQ&ved=0CDEQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=downtown%20pedestrian%20malls%20wirtenberg&f=false
NON-CONFORMITY IN THE C.G.S.
In Weston, CT
SOURCES: Which are "primary" and which are
"secondary?" We are pretty strict - although some might want to
consider U.S. Census "primary" we are more inclined to take it with a
grain of salt. As Mark Twin
said...according to a source I find handy to use but don't believe all
the time, and from my own statistical research training teachings, statistics don't lie...but misusing them is a favorite sport of those who would care to.
OTHER INFORMATION FOUND ON THE "ABOUT WESTON" WEBSITE (BESIDES JUST TYPING IN A WORD OR TITLE IN THE SEARCH BOX ON THE INDEX PAGE):
Who has a village district (report in The Day that it passed)? https://eltownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Zoning-Commission-January-16-2020-Agenda.pdf
C.E.T.A. program in 1970's, we think, may have done for Weston then, what is being done here: http://www.weston-today.com/articles/190709-road-assessment
O.L.R. report "village" districts v. "historic districts" https://www.cga.ct.gov/2003/rpt/2003-R-0921.htm
RUN OFF definition from the source: https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/runoff-surface-and-overland-water-runoff?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects
NYTimes story on "starter homes" - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/20/business/economy/starter-homes-investors.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage
CT Bike-Ped report - http://www.ctbikepedboard.org/uploads/7/8/7/9/78791402/ctbpab_2016_ar_final_digital__1_.pdf
O.L.R. report on SIDEWALKS: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2015/rpt/pdf/2015-R-0213.pdf
Storch Associates/Lionel Rodgers produced the first map of town (1986 Road Study) with lot lines and roads built as parts of subdivisions, on it. This map was valued highly by Town Engineer until technology and aerial photos of region made it easy to do (thank you SWRPA)!
U.S. Census of Housing
http://www.aboutweston.com/cenhouses.html
CT Website
https://portal.ct.gov/
CT General Assembly
https://www.cga.ct.gov/
VILLAGE DISTRICTS CT STATUTES
https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_124.htm#sec_8-2j
Strategic Plan part one
http://www.aboutweston.com/CraftingaStrategicPlanForWeston%27sFuturePhaseI050715.pdf
Global Facilities Committee
http://www.aboutweston.com/GFC.html
State of Connecticut Municipal Fiscal Indicators
http://www.ct.gov/opm/cwp/view.asp?A=2984&Q=383170
UCONN MAP CENTER
http://magic.lib.uconn.edu/
TOWN OF WESTON MAP PORTAL
http://weston.mapxpress.net/portal.asp
LINK TO OTHER TOWN PLANS, UPDATES/PROCESSES
AVOID NEED FOR THIS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=70&v=UvXjmke8B7Q
SOURCE RELATED TO IMPLEMENTING STORM WATER PLAN AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL LOT USE: https://bmpstore.com/
Education Facilities Plan 2017:
http://www.westonps.org/uploaded/documents/Central_Office/Facilities/Weston_Schools_Facilities_Feasibility_Study_Draft_11.2.17.pdf
2018 EASTON PLAN OF C&D PROPOSED:
FULL OF DATA ON WESTON. EASTON'S NEW PLAN OF C&D
http://www.eastonct.gov/sites/eastonct/files/u236/land_use_-_draft_easton_pocd_for_ph_072518_bl_rfs.pdf
S O M E T H I N G I N T H E A I R. . .L A N D B A N K I N G ?
CT Senate did not vote on HB6749 before midnight.
Long Session 2019: Majority adopts Venezuela model. New thinking takes the helm! Only 35 years late...
EDUCATION ONE AREA FOR REGIONALIZATION?
We note that the bill HB5045 passed the
House but with an amendment that rendered it pretty harmless. It
was not brought up in the Senate.
HOW THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN LEANING LATELY...ELSEWHERE ON THE TOWN PLAN OF C&D FRONT
THE GOVERNOR'S BILL:
HB5045
- a step along the way to removing
zoning power (CT STATUTES) from towns. No more "sticks" with this amendment...extraction on the floor of the House.
(These comments come from About Town...what impact related to outside
agencies and their potential influence on the next Town Plan update...should not be ignored or minimized).
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DIRECT FROM C.G.A. P&D PUBLIC HEARING MARCH 16, 2018:
UPDATE FOR LONG SESSION IN 2019:
As best we can figure, the version of the bill referred to below that
was presented in 2019 had "teeth" in the sense that conditional language
was strengthened if note mandated. The 2019 bill - HB6747
- was represented as a "simplification" of zoning statutes when
presented in Committee and on the floor of the House, It did not
get a vote in the Senate when it was called on the last Session Day
2019.
We note that the map above was presented at P&D 2018 Public Hearing . NOTE TO OUR P&Z ON PLAN UPDATE: Weston is in the cross-hairs!
What to do? We should hire an environmental lawyer who will draft new zoning regs, rather than a planner, to assist with Plan rewrite.
Please be aware that this is the year that the hammer may very well drop on zoning as we have known it. Or maybe next year, after the November elections - towns v. cities?
This does not mean anything by itself, because as the Commissioner stated, this bill will only require "checking the box" to get out from under, as the Commissioner of Housing said towns, especially in red, (as we heard it live on CT-N) should:
- Adopt one district for "3 or more units" per lot. Weston presently has an apartment permit for all properties zoned residential (2 units) and permits roomers and boarders (up to 3?) on every property.
- Create one district for mixed use. A "Center Plan" could specify rental units permitted "downtown" if environmentally safe to do.
- Accessory dwelling unit by right. We've had that since the 1960's.
So what Weston has to do in the new Town Plan is revise its existing regulation in the following way:
- Since we already permit an apartment on any lot if environmentally suitable, emphasize this in NEW regs.
- Second, develop an "Energy Improvement District" related to our virtual net metering plans that allows for shared infrastructure which permits higher density;
- With assistance of the Assessor during the reassessment process ongoing, determine where existing apartments are located.