Thank you!
Your support is sustaining the future of local news in our communities.

‘Community character’ tops town’s planning priorities

‘Community character’ tops town’s planning priorities
Amy Wynn (left) and Jandi Hanna considered their priorities during an exercise at the start of the Plan of Conservation and Development meeting March 25. 
Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan

FALLS VILLAGE — About 70 people turned out for a Planning and Zoning discussion involving the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) at the Lee H. Kellogg School Saturday morning, March 25.

Upon entering, residents were given a sheet with the results from an online survey from January and five slips of paper that resembled coupons in denominations of points: one 20 point, two 10 point and two five point “coupons” for a total of 50 “planning points.”

These were to be deposited in the resident’s choice of 12 boxes, labeled with different areas of concern, such as economic development, natural resources and housing.

Planning consultant Glenn Chalder of Planimetrics, who ran the meeting, said the fact that the boxes outnumbered the coupons was deliberate.

“I apologize for putting you in a conundrum,” he said. “You expressed your choices — what’s important to you.”

The top four areas of interest identified in the exercise were: “Community Character,” “Housing Affordability and Needs,”  “Economic Development,” and “Village Center.”

This generally reflected the priorities identified by some 231 residents who responded to the January online survey.

Andrea Downs said that the small size of the town’s population is an asset and promotes a tightly-knit community that is also welcoming to newcomers.

Pat Mechare, former first selectman and current chair of both the town and Region One school boards, commented on the “commitment of the few to the benefit of all,” in particular the volunteer fire and ambulance squads.

Judy Jacobs, speaking for the Falls Village-Canaan Historical Society, said visitors to her business, Jacobs Garage, often comment on the beauty of the historic buildings in the village center. She added a plug for establishing a historic district commission.

One individual got a laugh when he observed that the community’s characters were as important as the character of the community.

On affordable housing, Amy Wynn said housing supports all the other elements of the successful town.

Dan Silverman, chair of the Board of Finance, said the town needs to expand its tax base and one way to do that is to create affordable housing that attracts more people to town.

Denise Cohn said that affordable housing efforts should not neglect the “dozens of programs” aimed at first-time home buyers.

Chalders, mindful of the stated two-hour limit,  kept the meeting moving.

On economic development, Mechare said the trick is figuring out how to “keep what we have,” and to encourage economic development while retaining the town’s traditional look.

Daly Reville said the town needs a septic system in the downtown area to attract businesses, and Jandi Hanna of the Falls Village Housing Trust said while there are jobs in the area, they are not particularly well-paid jobs, and more affordable housing rentals would allow those workers to live in town instead of commuting much longer distances.

Greg Marlowe said it is not realistic to expect a large number of new businesses in Falls Village. “Let’s focus on quality.”

On the village center, Jacobs said that well over half of the garage’s customers are from out of town and they book appointments based on when the Falls Village Cafe is open. She also noted that not being directly on a state road (Route 7) is a positive, as it allows the town to accommodate major events like the summertime car and motorcycle show without getting tangled up in state regulations.

Chalders started the meeting off by reminding everyone that POCDs are advisory documents and are required from all of Connecticut’s towns and must be updated every 10 years.

Latest News

Let's Hear It - September 17, 2026

Let's Hear It - September 17, 2026

This Week

As summer comes to an end and the days begin to get a little cooler, signs of fall are starting to appear all around us. The leaves are beginning to change, the evenings are getting shorter, and a new season of activities and traditions is just around the corner.

Keep ReadingShow less

$5,000

$5,000

Letters to the Editor - September 17, 2026

Letters to the Editor - September 17, 2026

Put $1M to work for housing affordability

If I had $1 million to improve housing affordability in Litchfield County, I would create a revolving Housing Opportunity Fund. Instead of spending the entire amount on one or two homes, I would use it to help local housing trusts acquire land or properties, provide down-payment assistance for qualified buyers, convert appropriate existing buildings into housing, and help cover some of the upfront costs that can prevent good housing projects from ever getting started.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Turning Back the Pages - September 17, 2026

125 years ago — September 1901

LIME ROCK — Matthew Patterson recently received a silver medal from the Canadian government as a token of his services during the Fenian raid in ‘71. The medal is suitably inscribed and is considerably heavier than a silver dollar. It depends from a silk tri-color and pin, and altogether makes a very neat souvenir.

Keep ReadingShow less
Voices from our community about the housing we need for a healthy, vibrant future

Jordan Seibert and Riley Bossi

Shelly Dinelle

There’s a reason people say, “It takes a village to raise a child.” To thrive, a child needs a safe, stable place to call home. That’s the bedrock for health, dignity, and the chance to build a bright future. What kind of “village” does it take to create these homes?

Motivated by compassion and a drive to make housing more accessible, it took the Foundation for Norfolk Living years of hard work to create ten affordable homes at Haystack Woods. The “village” turned out to be a patchwork of support that included financial help from the DOH, a construction mortgage through Northwest Community Bank, and a Community Development Block Grant to purchase the property and pay for the road and infrastructure. The result? Two- and three-bedroom homes reserved for first-time homebuyers earning 60-80% of Litchfield County’s median income, and selling for $159,000 to $261,000. The condominium homes are deed-restricted and net-zero thanks to energy-efficient construction, solar panels, and battery storage, meaning the homebuyers will have no energy costs! Curious? Just Google “Haystack Woods” to learn more. It’s a remarkable accomplishment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Selectmen back $113,000 request for new ambulance

FALLS VILLAGE — The Board of Selectmen approved a request from the Fire Commission for $113,000 toward a new ambulance scheduled for delivery in November.

The selectmen acted during their regular monthly meeting Monday, Sept. 14.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.