CT SMART GROWTH
...fighting sprawl and building communities...
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CT SMART GROWTH
...fighting sprawl and building communities...
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Simsbury 
Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 09:56:58 AM EDT
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1. The Road Always Taken -- It seems Derry, New Hampshire officials want to take the same road as rest of America has taken. The town is actually considering zoning changes that could permit strip malls, fast food outlets, or big-box stores to rise a short distance from the home of Robert Frost. Geniuses!
2. The Route 11 Boondoggle -- Great op/ed by Ryan Lynch, Senior Planner with the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, on gubernatorial candidate Dan Malloy's support for Route 11 expansion.
3. One of the Ten Great Public Spaces -- The New Haven Green has been designated one of 10 "Great Public Spaces" nationwide by the American Planning Association. "This is one of America's most historic and storied public spaces. The elected officials, business community and residents in New Haven are to be congratulated for their efforts ensuring the square and its historic buildings continue to benefit all who live in New Haven," APA Chief Executive Officer Paul Farmer said in a statement. The other nine APA 2009 Great Public Spaces are East Park, Charlevoix, Mich.; Virginia Beach Boardwalk, Virginia Beach, Va.; the Squares of Savannah, Savannah, Ga.; the Grand Rounds, Minneapolis, Minn.; Central Square, Keene, N.H.; Queens Botanical Garden, Flushing, N.Y.; Lincoln Park, Chicago, Ill.; The Green, Dover, Del.; and Central Market, Lancaster, Penn.
4. Metro Green Apartments Open-- The Metro Green Apartments, a 50-unit affordable LEED Gold designed housing development on Henry Street between Atlantic Street and Washington Blvd. in Stamford, CT, officially opened on September 21. The apartments are the first phase of Metro Green - a mixed-use Transit Oriented Development (TOD) consisting of 238 mixed-income residential units and a 350,000 sq. ft. Class-A office tower. Malkin Properties is the Master Developer of Metro Green. Jonathan Rose Companies and Malkin Properties are co-developers for Metro Green Residential. The project is being lauded as a model for Smart Growth in Connecticut and an example of how Smart Growth projects are economically feasible even in today's economic climate. "We created a new model for real estate investment, proving that in times of financial distress, the strongest real estate investment returns are realized by focusing on smart growth locations and intelligent green practices," said Jonathan F.P. Rose, president of Jonathan Rose Companies.
5. Take Advantage of a Crisis -- Loretta Waldman examines how Simsbury and Farmington have taken advantage of the economic downturn and the slowdown in development to plan for the future. Meanwhile, Canton officials still don't get it.
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Thu Jul 30, 2009 at 09:15:09 AM EDT
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1. Boston Bike Sharing -- The city of Boston intends to roll out what would be the nation's first citywide bike-sharing system next spring, making hundreds of bicycles at dozens of stations across Boston available to anyone who can swipe a credit card.
2. Residents of Chatham fight back against chain stores -- If you have ever visited Chatham on Cape Cod, you may have visited the town's only grocery store, the much-beloved Chatham Village Market which has been in business for over 50 years. Recently, it was announced that the market would not be allowed to renew its lease. Instead, it would be forced to vacate the building next year to make way for a CVS pharmacy.
The threat to the market has become the last straw for many Chatham resident. An angry backlash to the plan has erupted, led by residents who pride themselves on the wealth of small, independent businesses in their town at Cape Cod's elbow.
3. Simsbury to have Charrette -- After years of conflict over development on Route 10, especially the River Oaks project, the town of Simsbury is taking the positive step of having a charrette. The charrette will take place from Sept. 11-16 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day in the program room at Simsbury Public Library. The purpose of the workshops is to help residents and officials create a vision for development of the town center. A consultant hired for the charrette will coordinate the meetings at the library and get residents' thoughts about the town center. The results of the charrette are not binding on the town, but the consultant will recommend changes to the zoning regulations based on what they hear from residents.
4. CDC recommends Complete Streets to combat obesity -- The CDC has issued a comprehensive report that recommends communities adopt Complete Street policies to combat obesity.
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Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 09:14:20 AM EDT
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1. Light Rail fot Stamford? By a vote of 19-11, the Stamford's board of representatives allocated $141,000 for a downtown light rail feasibility study. As board member Eileen Heaphy stated, "We have to look to the future. We can't just stay where we are with all the changes going on around us and not consider the transportation challenges we will be facing in the future." Well said!
2. Simsbury Charrette The town of Simsbury took another step toward a much needed charrette when their board of selectmen voted Monday to send eight firms a request for their proposals and costs.
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Tue Jun 17, 2008 at 11:22:56 AM EDT
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( - promoted by commonweal)
I know, I know, I have been writing a lot about transportation lately, but it seems that both from my own anecdotal perspective and from the countless news stories on the issue, that there is a fundamental shift occuring within American society when it comes to how we move around. Everyone I know is buying more fuel efficient cars, driving less, looking for carpools and planning their daily trips to conserve fuel. Rail and other mass transportation ridership is increasing across the country, and bicycle production and use continues to climb.
What is even more interesting, and sad, though is that this shift is occuring despite the fact that our elected and appointed officials continue to operate under the old transportation paradigm. Some examples below the fold:
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Mon May 05, 2008 at 11:09:32 AM EDT
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1. GOOD NEWS FROM SHARE --
It's official! Konover Development no longer has the option to build River Oaks on the 60 acre CL&P property! This week the owner of the property told the SHARE Steering Committee that as of this past week he no longer has a contract with Konover Development and that he will now be taking direct responsibility for whatever gets built on his property and that he will only build something that both he and the town "can be proud of" (his words). He will not build a Big Box store on his property! Furthermore, he wants to work collaboratively with the town and the residents and he said that he supports the charrette initiative for his property stating that he will be an active participant in the planning process.
2. NEW DOT LEADER --
Connecticut is the third densest state in the country and 80 percent of its travel is by automobile, said Joseph Marie, the newly appointed Department of Transportation Commissioner. He said as commissioner, he will work to provide more attractive alternatives to the automobile. He will help commuters better predict transit travel times and provide more parking near transit. Marie will be the first transit expert to head the beleaguered agency. Marie was appointed by the Governor in April. His confirmation by the General Assembly is pending.
Marie has extensive public and private sector experience. He worked on the Central Phoenix/ East Valley Rail System, METRO TRANSIT in Minneapolis and for Bombardier and Siemens.
3. SMART GROWTH AND GLOBAL WARMING --
A new report by Environment Connecticut Clean Water Action of global warming trends in Connecticut and New England from 1990 to 2005 found that global warming emissions throughout New England increased by 10.9 percent. The study is the first of its kind to produce a thorough estimate of green house gas emissions.
In Connecticut, emissions from industrial and commercial sources declined 8.5 percent, but transportation emissions increased 20 percent between 1990 and 2005. Roads, parking lots and other impervious surfaces increased 22 percent in Connecticut between 1985 and 2002. On other words, there is a direct correlation between how and where we're developing and the amount of global warming gases we produce.
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Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 08:32:21 AM EDT
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It's been a while since I last posted. I am currently involved in fighting a proposed Lowes in Canton. At the same time I am cobbling together a coalition to host a charrette for my hometown so I don't have to fight anymore boneheaded big box proposals. Needless to say, I have been busy.
Anyways, good news out of Simsbury: last night the town's zoning commission denied Konover's PDD proposal. Hopefully, town leaders will now embrace a charrette for the town so citizens can show Konover what a mixed use development really looks like.
Is Simsbury's decision another sign that towns are learning to play it Smart?
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Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 09:32:09 AM EDT
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Simsbury's Zoning Commission meeting was postponed last night because of an overflow crowd at Eno Hall. The meeting was to discuss the proposed Planned Development District (PDD) submitted by Konover so they can build their River Oaks project.
The meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 10, and will be held at the Simsbury High School auditorium which can hold 900 people. Stay tuned!
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Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 15:53:01 PM EDT
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In an effort to get their River Oaks project approved, Konover has submitted an application to the Zoning Commission for a Planned Development District (PDD) text amendment. If the Konover PDD zoning text amendment is approved by the six members of the Zoning Commission, then River Oaks will be built to Konover's specifications which will include a 130,000 sq ft big box store, another 60,000 sq ft grocery store plus additional retail, residential and commercial that will result in almost 1,000,000 total sq ft of building, 2,600 parking spaces, and at least 60% lot coverage.
I find it the height of arrogance and autocratic behavior that some elected officials in Simsbury are totally opposed to a collaborative, democratic process that provides a framework for creating a shared vision, otherwise known as a charrette, but are in favor of a corporation coming into town and proposing a zoning regulation that will benefit the bottom line of the same corporation. How much thought do you think Konover gave to the impact this PDD will have on the town as a whole? The answer is exactly none. The only thought was about the almighty dollar. Democracy has indeed been made a mockery by this entire River Oaks process!!
If this PDD passes, the people of Simsbury will have, for all intents and purposes, lost any remaining shred of control they had over land use decisions in their town. Corporations, with their legal teams and money, will now rule the town. Have a project that our zoning regulations -- regulations supposedly written by the people through their representatives -- don't allow? Just submit some alternative language that will make it acceptable and you will be bulldozing the land in no time.
Passage of this PDD will ensure that citizens will continue to lose faith in the process and in government in general at a time when we need more public participation and citizen involvement. Rather than stand up for the democratic process and the decisions of the people, far too many Simsbury officials have simply abdicated their responsibility. Is it any wonder people have no faith in government anymore?
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Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 17:52:57 PM EDT
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Recently, Simsbury's braintrust gathered at an emergency meeting to discuss the town's sluggish economic growth and the town's anti-development image and how best to shake it. The emergency meeting comes on the heels of the GOP members of the Board of Selectmen blocking the propsal by First Selectman Mary Glassman to have a charrette that would create regulations that promote development consistent with the vision of the town that participants agree on. Can the irony get any thicker?
Message to Simsbury braintrust: if you want economic growth and a positive development image, have the charrette! By establishing a master plan of development for the Route 10 corridor, you will ensure the development of a fair, predictable and cost effective approval process (developers dig that sort of stuff) and spark business growth.
I have already highlighted the charrette success stories in Unionville and also Davidson, North Carolina, but recent studies have also highlighted the positive connection between Smart Growth and economic development.
First, a 2004 report by a report Karl Seidman, Senior Lecturer in Economic Development, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, MIT, entitled Smart Growth and Economic Development: Evidence and Lessons for the Future of Massachusetts found a connection between Smart Growth and economic competitiveness and a positive impact on business location and quality of life issues. Second, the International Economic Development Council released a study in 2006 of eight different communities communities that incorporated smart growth principles in their development projects. All have experienced economic development improvements in the form of increased tax revenue, more jobs, higher income levels, downtown revitalization, business growth, and other indicators of economic success.
So, Simsbury braintrust, what are you waiting for? HAVE THE CHARRETTE!!!
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Sun Mar 09, 2008 at 19:13:38 PM EDT
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Astroturf organizations, otherwise known as front groups, are apparently grassroots-based citizen groups or coalitions that are primarily conceived, created and/or funded by corporations and industry trade associations. One of the characteristics of a front group is the misleading names they use that disguise their real agenda. One of the words they like to use in their names is "balance." A simple word that connotes fairness and harmony, it's used to mask their goal of keeping things unbalanced.
Case in point is the Connecticut Partnership for Balanced Growth. If you click on the link, you are immediately bombarded by the word balance -- everyone will be happy if their agenda is followed. One look at their board of directors, however, and you quickly see whose interest they are looking out for: developers. Formed around the same time as the Center Edge Project began its efforts to bring to light the disparities created by our long-term pattern of development, CPBG's main goal is to undermine efforts to rein in sprawl.
As this recent op/ed by CPBG board member Donald Poland illustrates, they like to complain about "regulatory burdens" and "dysfunctional land-use and development approval process." Burdensome and dysfunctional for who? Developers? Pleeease!!
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Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 23:03:35 PM EST
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GOP members of the Simsbury Board of Selectmen derailed a proposal to have a charrette that would create regulations that promote development consistent with the vision of the town that participants agree on.
A charrette is a collaborative, democratic process that provides a framework for creating a shared vision with community involvement, directed by consultants representing such key disciplines as zoning, traffic, etc. In other words, the community gets together and decides what they want their town to look like, thereby ensuring that the people will dictate the type of development occurs instead of developers and the market.
Sure sounds like a horrible idea to me. How can we trust the democratic process with such an important issue as community development?
One of the reasons given for rejecting the charrette was because Simsbury is already perceived by developers as being difficult to work with because the town can't make a decision. The developer who planted this idea in the heads of the GOP was was William Ethier, Executive Vice President & Chief Executive Officer,
Home Builders Association of Connecticut, Inc.-- a man who does nothing but support the status quo when it comes to development. By the way, Ethier is also a board member of Connecticut Partnership for Balanced Growth, a lobbying group headed by Michael Goman of Konover. Konover, of course, is still trying to get their controversial River Oaks project off the ground in Simsbury -- no conflict of interest there. Anyways, this comment is so non-sensical it makes my head hurt. The fact that Simsbury is having such difficulty with development is precisely why Simsbury should have a charrette. It would ensure the development of a fair, predictable and cost effective approval process. The longer it takes to get approval for a building or large development, the longer the developer's capital remains tied up in the land and not earning income. However,knowing exactly want the town wants expedites the approval process, thereby, saving the developer time and money.
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Sun Feb 24, 2008 at 11:57:28 AM EST
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1. Another excellent post by Ryan Lynch at the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.
2. The battle over the U.S. Army's plans to build a training center in the rural Maromas section of Middletown is heating up as the Wesleyan community gets involved.
3. In the town of Simsbury, members of the town's five land-use boards met to discuss the possibility of having a charrette to plan responsible development along Route 10. The meeting came a day after Konover, the developer of Simsbury River Oaks, submitted a second draft of an amendment to zoning regulations needed to move ahead with its 60-acre mixed-use project, featuring a big box Target store. To learn more about charrettes and how they can benefit your town, check out the National Charrette Institute web site.
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Mon Feb 18, 2008 at 10:08:31 AM EST
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Based on recent stories and op/eds, it appears Smart Growth is indeed starting to take center stage in Connecticut. In recent days, the New York Times, the Courant, and the New London Day have all highlighted the findings of the Responsible Growth Task Force and the various plans for bringing the DOT into the 21st century. And now today, I have learned that on Tuesday at 10:00 there will be a meeting in Speaker James Amann's conference room to convene a Smart Growth Working Group of legislators and stakeholders.
Yet, despite all the talk and discussion, the beat goes on for sprawl. Lowes has filed an application in Canton for the construction of a 148,000 sq.ft. store, Cheshire is getting closer to approving a "lifestyle center" on the outskirts of their town, Vernon is looking at the construction of a Home Depot, and Simsbury is bravely trying to stop the construction of another Konover big box proposal. I am sure there are a myriad of other examples of commercial sprawl in or near your hometown, not to mention the seemingly endless destruction of open space and farmland for residential housing that is going on throughout the state.
Talk is fine, but we need to take action. Contact your elected officials and urge them to support the recommendation of the Reponsible Growth Task Force and to push for overhauling the state's property tax structure. As a recent editorial in the Courant pointed out, "This is a defining moment. We can fake it and use responsible growth as marketing spin, or we can actually do business differently and save Connecticut's cities and countryside. Let's try the latter."
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Thu Nov 08, 2007 at 19:58:21 PM EST
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1. The Farmington Conservation Commission has come out in support of purchasing the land of one of the last working farms in the town. The 90 acre Krell Farm site will be purchased for $6.75 million if approved by voters at a referendum on January 17. The land was going to be purchased by Erickson Retirement Communities, a Baltimore developer that last summer said it wanted to buy the Krell farm to build a 1,500-unit retirement complex.
I know popular wisdom has it that retirment communities are a tax boon for communities, but based on my experience in the emergency services field, they can be a drain on Emergency Medical Services. Good deal for Farmington in the long run.
2. The Chatham Party of East Hampton, which surged to power two years ago amid development pressures in town, lost three of their five seats on the town council in Tuesday's elections.
3. The Simsbury Citizens First Party won four seats. Winning seats on the zoning commission were SCF candidates John Vaughn and Bruce Elliott, a former steering committee member of the homeowner group leading the opposition to Simsbury River Oaks. SCF candidate Julie Meyer, a banking software developer, was elected to the planning commission, and John McCann won a seat on the zoning board of appeals.
More Smart Growth election news below:
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Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 09:49:05 AM EDT
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Last Friday, Tom Vincent, Simsbury Town Selectman, issued a press release announcing that he had asked Konover Development to withdraw their application for a new PDD (Planned Development District) zoning amendment as it was not in the best interest of the town. Yesterday, Monday, September 17, Konover complied and withdrew their application for the PDD zoning amendment.
However, there is more to the story.
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Mon Sep 10, 2007 at 10:24:49 AM EDT
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The Simsbury Design Review Board and the Simsbury Conservation Commission have both voted to reject Konover's proposed Planned Development District (PDD). On Tuesday, September 11, the Simsbury Planning Commission will hold a public meeting on the PDD, followed by a public hearing by the Zoning Commission on September 24.
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Mon Aug 27, 2007 at 12:50:22 PM EDT
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As I have mentioned in the past, when S/R Weiner first proposed the Shoppes in Canton they enticed people with renditions of a mixed used complex -- you know, the old fashioned Main St. with offices and apartments above the small businesses. Again, that is what they told us, but as soon as construction started the market, according to S/R Weiner, "forced" them to build big box stores and scrap their plans for any mixed use. Many of us, though we are unable to prove it, are convinced this was a classic bait and switch: promise something you have no intention of building to elicit support and then build what you really wanted from the very beginning.
I must say that I was extremely naive as I sat through all the presentations and zoning meetings. I thought our Zoning Commission would protect the town and say no to such drastic changes and obvious misprepresentation, but they quickly rolled over when push came to shove. I thought developers had some modicum of decency and act in good faith, but I soon learned scruples quickly go out the window when it comes to a company's bottom line.
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Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 09:13:48 AM EDT
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Just got back from vacation on Cape Cod -- great weather, but lots of traffic.
While catching up on my e-mails, I was greeted with an update on the River Oaks project in Simsbury. On June 5th, Konover submitted an application for River Oaks to the Town of Simsbury. The application consisted of three parts:
** zoning text amendment to establish a new zoning regulation in Simsbury for mixed-use development called a Planned Development District or PDD
** a request for a zone change for the CL&P property from its current zone of Light Industrial to a PDD zone and
** a site plan for River Oaks
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Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 08:34:54 AM EDT
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1. Congratulations to the people from Keep the Woods! A deal was formally closed Friday for the two-phase purchase of 424 acres of the Ethel Walker School woods for $13.85 million in local, state and private money.
2. And speaking of open space, the Trust For Public Lands just issued a new report on the economic benefits of parks and open space. Simply put, it increases surrounding property values and helps lower property taxes.
What's happening in your town?
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Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 13:52:01 PM EDT
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Many of you may have already read Jack Kaplan's op/ed in the Place section of Sunday's Courant. As a professor of statistics at Quinnipiac University I would expect him to be better at grading. A B+ for Konover's River Oaks project??!!!
Let's look at his reasoning and see if we come up with the same grade.
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