Connecticut General Statutes Section 8-23 requires that Connecticut municipalities “prepare or amend and … adopt” a Plan of Conservation and Development.  Woodbury last adopted a comprehensive Plan in 1999 and this 2009 Plan will update relevant information about the Town, identify and develop an understanding of current Town needs and conditions, and adopt new or revised strategies and action tasks as necessary.

The Woodbury Planning Commission has undertaken the preparation of the 2009 Woodbury Plan of Conservation and Development not only to comply with statutory guidelines, but also to continue the Town’s forward thinking to address development and land use pressures and sustain the small town values that define Woodbury.

A Plan of Conservation and Development is an advisory document, intended to guide the Town’s responses to statutory mandates, land use controls, municipal investments, and other Town functions.  At the same time, a Plan provides a community with an understanding of the assets and resources that establish its character and the quality of life that its residents embrace.

A current Plan is also required for evaluation of certain municipal actions, particularly the purchase or disposal of property.  The planning Commission must evaluate such proposals in the context of the Plan of Conservation and Development and issue a report endorsing or rejecting such action.  In Woodbury, the Planning Commission is responsible for a similar review and report for development proposals within the Main Street Design District and the Middle Quarter District, where developments require a Special permit from the Zoning Commission.

A recent statutory change increases the importance of having a current Plan.  Beginning in 2010, towns without a current Plan may not be eligible for discretionary State funding, such as Small Town Economic Assistance Program grants and Open Space Acquisition grants.  This creates a powerful incentive for Towns to maintain a current Plan.

And finally, preparation of a Plan of Conservation and Development provides an opportunity for a community to reassess its overall goals, engage and inform the current residents, and reaffirm the community’s commitment to preserving and sustaining the Town’s defining qualities.

Statutory Guidelines

Statutory Issues for Municipal Plans

• Affordable Housing; Surface and Ground Drinking Water Supplies; Development Patterns; Physical, Social, Economic and Governmental Conditions and Trends; Energy-efficiency; Agriculture.
• Physical and Economic Development; Public Accessways;  Compact, Transit Accessible, Pedestrian-oriented Mixed Use Development Patterns;  Proposed Land Uses;  Desirable Density of Population;  Housing Choice
• Ridgelines; Airports, Parks, Playgrounds and Other Public Grounds; Schools and Other Public Buildings; Public Utilities and Terminals; Public Housing Projects
• Implementation of the Plan: Schedule; Capital Budget; Enactment and Enforcement of Controls, Codes, and Safety Regulations; Implementation of Affordable Housing; Open Space and Greenways Protection and Development; Plans for Corridor Management Areas; Proposed Priority Funding Areas; and Any Other Recommendations

Statutory Growth Management Principles

• Redevelopment and Revitalization of Commercial Centers and Areas of Mixed Land Uses with Existing or Planned Physical Infrastructure
• Expansion of Housing Opportunities and Design Choices to Accommodate a Variety of Household Types and Needs
• Concentration of Development Around Transportation Nodes and Along Major Transportation Corridors to Support the Viability of Transportation Options and Land Reuse
• Conservation and Restoration of the Natural Environment, Cultural and Historical Resources and Existing Farmlands
• Protection of Environmental Assets Critical to Public Health and Safety
• Integration of Planning Across All Levels of Government to Address Issues on a Local, Regional and State-wide Basis