Development plan done

WINSTED — The Town of Winchester’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) has been completed and awaits approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission, which is expected later this month.

Selectman and POCD subcommittee Chairman George Closson presented the document to the Planning and Zoning Commission Monday night and explained in an interview Tuesday that the 93-page document needs to be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and sent to the Board of Selectmen for approval. After that, a public hearing must be held by the Planning and Zoning Commission to make the document official.

A copy of the document is on file in the town manager’s office.

“It’s a well-written document, and it’s easy to read,� Closson said, noting that the company Planometrics organized and edited the final draft. “They took all of our work and made it sound like it was one writer, and they eliminated a lot of duplication. They did a hell of a job.�

Closson said the POCD subcommittee spent a total of $46,281 to assemble the plan and that $20,000 of that money came from the state. Similar plans can cost as much as $100,000 to create, he acknowledged, noting that countless volunteer hours were poured into the effort. “For a volunteer group, these were dedicated people,â€� he said of the subcommittee. “We had 96  percent attendance over a two-year period. I think we really accomplished something.

Closson said the POCD is an important tool for economic development in town, as it literally keeps different parties on the same page. “It’s a guiding document,� he said. “It’s designed to help all of the town’s commissioners and the town manager to have some kind of a guide.�

Closson added that the plan can be modified as needed. “It’s not just going to go into the record books. We’re going to be constantly working with it.�

With the help of the town’s Conservation Commission, the POCD subcommittee was able to create geological maps of the town and incorporate them into the plan. Closson said he hopes to see increased use of GIS mapping throughout town, particularly in the downtown area.

Closson said the POCD also revealed opportunities for successful community revitalization projects.

“The thing that stands out the most is the valuation of where we are with regard to the grand list. You can see where the town has grown for the past 10 years and where it hasn’t. Our downtown is just way undervalued, as are the adjoining neighborhoods. We need to protect our outside areas, but the downtown really requires heavy-duty participation and great thinking. We need to come up with some imaginative ways to deal with the zoning regulations to make them more user-friendly, with a specific direction to fill open spaces.�

Closson said he has met with proposed developers of properties in town, including the new owners of the 10 Bridge St. building and that the POCD can serve as a guide for them.

“The emphasis needs to be here in our downtown area,� Closson said. “We can strengthen our neighborhoods. We have some great homes in these local neighborhoods, and if we can get these strengthened, that will help to strengthen downtown services and restaurants and so forth. It’s an exciting time.�