Cornwall reviews broad progress on POCD goals

CORNWALL — Committed to progress toward meeting town goals outlined in the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), revised every ten years, the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) held its third annual review on Monday, Jan. 30.

P&Z chair Anna Timell introduced the town planning forum, praising the work of the volunteers who offer expertise to each of the 20 or so local boards. She noted that the POCD itself remains a volunteer planning effort.

“The citizens shape the town,” Timell said, in recognition the concept of local control that is important to many residents.

Reporting on the work of the P&Z, Timell said that the past year has seen progress on re-writing the town’s zoning regulations to add clarity and to provide update. The next focus will be to change the zoning regulations to allow for more affordable housing opportunities, seen as a critical local need.

Introducing the remainder of the forum, Timell described the four divisions within the POCD, including economic development, housing, natural resources, and finally, community, cultural and youth services.

First Selectman Gordon Ridgway reported on behalf of the Board of Selectmen, describing gains being made on key initiatives. He said that the current year will see fiber optic cable being strung throughout the town to enhance essential broadband service. He cited federal support given to the West Cornwall wastewater management project and the current emphasis on establishing a site for the modestly sized, wastewater treatment building, likely to be built behind the parking lot between the post office and Three Guys.

To make the town more bicycle friendly, Ridgway reported that an infrastructure grant is being applied for.

“We’re not seeing any new housing or any diversity,” Ridgway said, noting that in 2022, the median home price rose 55% with an average home price standing at $1.2 million. The implication, he said, is that there is very little opportunity for people to move into town.

Monthly meetings of the Housing Task Force are addressing the situation, Ridgway said, their efforts assisted by the town’s Housing Coordinator Jessica Brackman.

With one of the primary goals within the POCD being the creation of 25 affordable housing units to be built during the ten-year period of the plan, Ridgway noted that three years in, there is nothing in the pipeline to achieve the goal.

“We have to be nimble in the face of changing demographics,” Ridgway said, adding that the state has recently acquired more than 500 acres of Cornwall land, further reducing site availability.

The work of the Cornwall Housing Corporation, an organization overseeing affordable housing properties, was summarized by Ginni Block who said that local teachers would have trouble qualifying for a mortgage. She favored the creation of a fund to assist first-time homebuyers.

“We are totally supportive of the P&Z efforts toward multi-family housing,” Block said.

The Economic Development Commission’s review was presented comission chair Simon Hewett who reported a stronger “Buy Local/Hire Local” continuing program. Free Wi-Fi service has been extended in recent years, beginning in 2021 when the first zone was created in West Cornwall, followed in 2022 by adding Cornwall Village, and foreseeing that in 2023 a zone may be launched in Cornwall Bridge.

Regional tourism remains an expanding focus throughout the northwest towns.

“We’ve done a lot of what we set out to do in the past year,” Hewett reported.

Janet Carlson, who serves on the commission as a representative from the Board of Selectmen, praised the growth of The Local and The Union in West Cornwall. “All kinds of things are happening,” she added.

A pre-recorded video report on the work of the Cornwall Conservation Trust was submitted by Chair Bart Jones. He reported that progress in the past year had seen continued protection of lands, support of environmental concerns, collaboration with other organizations in town to promote cooperation and working to create an interactive map to identify acreage and properties that might be candidates for housing development.

Reporting for the Conservation Commission, Deb Bennett described the work of protecting forests and continuing efforts to combat invasive plant species, working with the Housatonic Railroad Company  to define herbicide no-spray zones.

Following up on the conservation report, Katherine Freygang discussed local progress within the SustainableCT program that has earned Bronze status for the town’s efforts and that now she is working to attain Silver status.

Freygang reported that areas showing progress have included working with the Economic Development Commission to promote local business and the arts, promoting composting at the transfer station, revitalizing an energy efficiency program at Cornwall Consolidated School and working with Social Services Director Heather Dinneen on the social services component of the SustainableCT program.

Future efforts described by Freygang may include working with the wastewater treatment planning process, developing a food hub, creating an inventory of town vehicles, and working to create a sustainable purchasing policy for the town.