Windsor, Connecticut 2015 Plan of Conservation & Development DRAFT PLAN SUMMARY
Plan Overview
What is a Plan? Visionary Advisory Implementable Maintainable
What it is not! Regulatory Binding Static Passive
Why Plan? Fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning. The Plan is intended to: assess where we are determine where we want to go recommend strategies to get us there Thomas Edison
Context Windsor is a special place... People History Character
Context The baby boom is aging By the year 2020, over one-third of the population will be over the age of 55
Context Windsor s housing mix is weighted towards single-family units. Housing Mix, Central City & Inner Ring Suburbs, 2012 % of All Housing Units 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Windsor Wethersfield Bloomfield Newington East Hartford Hartford Source: 2008-2012 ACS 1-Unit Detached 1-Unit Attached Located in Building with 2 Units Located in Building with 3-4 Units Located in Building with 5+ Units Other
Context Windsor has a diverse economy and a surplus of jobs Comparison of Windsor Jobs to Working Residents, 2010 4.00 # of Jobs in Windsor per Resident Employed in that Sector 3.50 3.00 2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 - Manufacturing Co mparable data no t available fo r all indus tries. Sources : CT Dept. of Labor, 2008-2012 ACS. Wholesale Trade Retail Trade Transportation, Warehousing, Utilities Information Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing Professional, Scientific, Tech., Management, Waste Educational, Health Care, Social Services Arts, Entertainment, Rec., Accomodations, Food Service Other Services Government
Context About 90 percent of the land in Windsor is developed or committed Windsor has a healthy mix of residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial uses. Windsor has the potential to become a community of about 42,000 people
Existing Land Use 4% 10% 6% 17% Agriculture Residential Business 10% Industrial 7% 12% 32% Gov. / Inst. Dedicated OS Managed OS Vacant 2% Water
Existing Land Use 4% 10% 6% 17% Agriculture Residential Business 10% Industrial 7% 12% 32% Gov. / Inst. Dedicated OS Managed OS Vacant 2% Water
Zoning In the later half of the 20 th Century, residential development has occurred predominantly in the A and AA residential zones With over 2,700 acres of industrial land, the Day Hill Corporate Area is the economic engine that drives Windsor
What should we do?
Community Input
Community Input A series of public workshops were held over the years since the last Plan was adopted to gather public input on important planning topics. Agriculture Natural Resources Open Space Historic Resources
Community Input A series of public workshops were held over the years since the last Plan was adopted to gather public input on important planning topics. Villages Residential Development Day Hill Corporate Area Economic Development
As a result... Windsor will implement strategies to: balance conservation and development; reduce conflicts between residential and economic development; protect and enhance community character; and improve quality of life.
Plan Themes... This will be accomplished by: protecting important resources; guiding appropriate development; and maintaining excellent facilities and services.
Protect Important Resources
Protect Natural Resources Wetlands & Watercourses Wildlife & Habitat Native Species Steep Slopes
Protect Water Quality Reduce Impervious Surfaces Manage Stormwater Protect Groundwater Eliminate Flood Hazards
Protect sensitive resources Wetlands Watercourses Preserve natural diversity Wildlife habitat / corridors Invasive species Enhance Conservation Programs Promote energy conservation Educational programs Watercourses Wetlands
Protect sensitive resources Wetlands Watercourses Preserve natural diversity Wildlife habitat / corridors Invasive species Enhance Conservation Programs Promote energy conservation Educational programs ^ Important Habitat Rainbow Dam Fish Ladder
Protect sensitive resources Wetlands Watercourses Preserve natural diversity Wildlife habitat / corridors Invasive species Enhance Conservation Programs Promote energy conservation Educational programs Slope in Excess of 15% 100 - Year Floodplain 500 - Year Floodplain
Create Meaningful Open Space Expand Transfer Programs Create Greenways with Trails Acquire Contiguous Open Space Prioritize Open Space Acquisitions
Open Space Preserve more open space when developed fee in lieu of land off-site dedication purchase / donation transfer rights Interconnect open spaces create an overall system create a trail network
Preserve Agricultural Uses Preserve Agricultural Heritage Maintain the Agricultural Zone Preserve Prime Farmland Continue Incentive Programs
Agriculture Preserve Agricultural Resources Existing farms Prime soils Agricultural heritage Support Agricultural Uses Incentive programs Purchase development rights Reduce development potential in AG zone Enhance Conservation Programs Conservation Commission take a more proactive role
PRESERVE HISTORIC RESOURCES Maintain Recognition Programs Enhance Regulatory Programs Encourage Preservation Efforts Establish Incentive Programs
History Maintain Recognition Programs Districts Sites Inventory Enhance Regulatory Programs Village Districts Historic Overlay Zones Tax Incentives Encourage Historic Preservation Primary organization Sensitive ownership
Guide Appropriate Development
GUIDE HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT Enhance Housing Values Preserve Neighborhoods Address Housing Needs Eliminate Zoning Conflicts
SUPPORT BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Encourage Appropriate Businesses at Highway Exits Pursue Bradley Airport Loop Road Support Other Corporate Areas Promote Windsor as an Amenity Rich Community
ENHANCE THE VILLAGES Protect and Enhance Windsor Center Stabilize and Enhance Wilson Carefully Enhance Poquonock Protect the Villages From Outside Forces
Windsor Center Vision Walkable and Connected Vibrant and Diverse Uses Accessible and Safe Attractive and Distinctive
Keys to Windsor Center New housing Streetscapes and traffic calming Collaborative reinvestment in Central Street block Topping off Broad Street
Keys to Windsor Center Bring life back to Plaza Bldg. New and expanded uses around the green Mixed-use design guidelines Parking management
The Broad Street Road Diet
Station Area Redevelopment
Wilson Stabilize and Enhance Wilson Consider adopting a village district Discourage high-intensity uses in center of Wilson Continue to target key redevelopment parcels Rezone inappropriate commercial and industrial land Continue housing rehabilitation and facade improvement Discourage inter-town through traffic Consider reinforcing neighborhood gateways Make Wilson more attractive to pedestrians.
Poquonock Carefully Enhance Poquonock Consider adopting a village district Discourage high-intensity uses in the village center Encourage businesses that meet local needs / enhance the village. Rezone inappropriate commercial land Discourage inter-town through traffic Improve the overall village environment Make Poquonock more attractive to pedestrians Monitor need for future community facilities and services
Day Hill Corporate Area Ensure traffic capacity Maintain quality corporate image Maximize revenue potential Enhance the attractiveness
Economic Development Maintain preeminence of Day Hill Corporate Area Maintain Traffic Capacity Maximize Development Maintain Corporate Image Enhance the villages Protect/Enhance Windsor Center Stabilize and Enhance Wilson Carefully Enhance Poquonock Guide appropriate development to other opportunity areas Highway Exits New England Tradeport
MAINTAIN EXCELLENT COMMUNITY FACILITIES Address Outdoor Recreation Needs Address Public Safety Needs Make Needed Improvements
IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION Address Road Network Issues Enhance Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Modify Design Standards Support Mass Transit Initiatives
Roadways Address Road Network Maintain roadway function Maintain traffic circulation Maintain roadways Modify Design Standards Match road design to use Reduce parking requirements
Transit Support Mass Transit Commuter rail Bus/Jitney Service Dial-a-ride
Bicycles and Pedestrians Enhance Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Enhance sidewalk/trail network Consider bikes and pedestrians in road projects
Utilities Ensure adequacy of piped utilities Water Sewer Storm Sewers Natural Gas Ensure adequacy of other utilities Electricity Telephone Wireless Services Television
Future Land Use Plan Most desirable use of land residential business industrial governmental institutional open space Balances all elements of the Plan
What is the FLUP? Most desirable use of land residential business industrial governmental institutional open space Balances all elements of the Plan
The FLUP
Maintenance Plans should be dynamic and should not sit on a shelf Regular reviews and updates are recommended Weeding the garden Changing oil Changing smoke detector batteries Backing up your hard drive
Where do we go from here?
The Commission The Town Planning and Zoning Commission Anita M. Mips, Chair David Kelsey, Secretary Lawrence Jaggon Elaine (Jill) Levine Michael O Brien Karl Profe Nathan Scharoff Kenneth Smith
Community Input The Town Planning and Zoning Commission would like to hear what YOU think about the proposed strategies Your thoughts and ideas will be considered by the Commission before they adopt the Plan
Community Input Do you agree with these strategies for Windsor? Are there any strategies that we can add?
Community Input DO YOU AGREE WITH THE STRATEGIES FOR WINDSOR?
Community Input
Thank You... for coming tonight for caring about Windsor for sharing your thoughts with us for helping create a better future.