Citizens speak on Town Plan

CORNWALL — About 35 residents attended the Nov. 19 public hearing at Town Hall, the first of two sessions held last week to solicit public input on a draft of an extensive revision to the Town Plan of Conservation and Development.

The hearing included an overview of the process by planning consultant Tom McGowan.

It began in June 2007 with about 70 people attending a town-wide forum. The results of that forum are included in the revised plan. Public input led to four focus areas: housing, economic development, cultural and community resources and natural resources and conservation.

More than two years and thousands of collective hours later, a significant portion of the community has contributed on a volunteer basis to devising a plan that will offer real guidance.

While it is essentially an advisory document, McGowan said it does have certain statutory functions.

“As the Planning and Zoning Commission updates zoning regulations, it must refer back to and find a basis for the change in the town plan. The same goes for proposed zone changes,� he said. “When the town proposes to acquire or sell land, abandon roads or build buildings, state statutes require that the commission give advisory comment relative to the plan. It also has to be generally consistent with the state plan. Statutes were recently amended to allow penalties on state grants if the plan is not updated on a timely basis.�

Updates are required every 10 years.

McGowan explained that once public input is sought, the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has the power to adopt the plan by a vote of the commission — unless major changes come out of the hearings. Major revisions or additions to the draft would send it back to another public hearing.

What may qualify as a major change was an appeal by Cornwall Library Director Amy Worthington-Cady to include the library in the plan as a resource and social hub.

Another change: Ella Clark found goals for social services lacking.

“Lack of access to social service is a huge problem,� she said. “The social service office is only open on the day Town Hall is closed. It is a huge benefit for the social service agent to be there when people are coming and going, and to hear what’s going on in town and what needs there are.�

Clark said she was very disappointed that the food bank is moving from that office to the UCC church.

“It’s nothing against the church, but it means the social service agent doesn’t have a chance to meet the people using the food bank, who usually have other needs as well.�

P&Z members said they discussed including more specific recommendations in that area, but did not receive the necessary information from the social service agent.

Clark, executive director of The Chore Service, said she submitted written recommendations for goals.

First Selectman Gordon Ridgway asked how the new plan relates to the existing plan, if it would replace it or be incorporated into it.

McGowan said not everything in the old plan is included, but that it remains policy and goals not accomplished remain valid.

Resident Charlie Gold noted that when the new plan is adopted, the old will “disappear.� McGowan and P&Z members agreed initiatives that remain viable in the old plan should be added as an addendum to the plan revision.

There was passionate comment about the town’s economic and housing situations. While the new plan pays significant attention to ways to promote commerce and tourism and finding affordable housing solutions, it is clearly an ongoing debate.

Resident Joanne Wojtusiak was critical of the town promoting businesses that offer some of the lowest paying jobs, while there is nothing in the plan to address bringing to Cornwall the high-speed Internet access that could be a big asset for the home-based business community the plan promotes.

Wojtusiak also objected to consideration to fund a housing trust with fees paid for transfer of development rights.

She opposes the way the Cornwall Housing Corporation plans to develop a piece of property acquired in Cornwall Bridge for subsidized senior housing, calling for P&Z to withdraw the setback variance it approved there. The latter comment was determined not to  be germane to the town plan discussion.