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Land Use & Zoning

The ability to manage and coordinate growth will have a dramatic impact on the future quality of life in the region. In order to create thriving communities, we must maintain our existing infrastructure, while planning for future growth. Building development capacity into our existing system will enable future generations to access the resources they need. Thoughtful land use and growth realizes that the expenditure of natural resources and development of land requires careful consideration of future impacts. Further, some areas are best when protected. By identifying the most appropriate areas for development we can preserve land with the highest environmental value.

Zoning Referrals

Connecticut General Statues, Chapter 124 Zoning Sec. 8-3b requires Regional Council of Governments to review all proposed zone or zone use changes, affecting a zone of which is located within 500 feet of the boundary of an adjacent municipality or zone change to municipal zoning regulations. Each Council of Governments is charged with reviewing and determining whether the proposed change imposes a regionally significant impact. An excerpt and link to the state statue has been included below:

“When the zoning commission of any municipality proposes to establish or change a zone or any regulation affecting the use of a zone any portion of which is within five hundred feet of the boundary of another municipality, the zoning commission shall give written notice of its proposal to each regional council of governments for the region or regions in which it and the other municipality are located. …The regional council of governments shall study such proposal and shall report its findings and recommendations thereon to the zoning commission…”
https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_124.htm#sec_8-3b

In order to continue thorough and streamlined review of received referrals and amendments, MetroCOG abides by the thirty (30) day submission of referrals to the COG prior to the municipality’s public hearing. This time frame allows for retrieval of referrals/amendments, COG review period, and the ten (10) day draft review and comment period by municipal planning/land use departments.

MetroCOG Process

Upon delivery (electronic or postal) of zoning referrals/amendments from the municipality, MetroCOG staff is statutorily required to send receipt of its receival. Once a receipt has been sent to the Planning & Zoning/Land Use offices, review by MetroCOG staff commences. Staff will review the referral package with consideration to the town’s current zoning regulations and provide an advisory determination to its regional impact/significance. Distribution of MetroCOG’s draft determinations will be sent to the staff contact person and the CEO of each municipality list on file, at which point the 10-day review period begins. Any comments received by MetroCOG during the municipal review period will be incorporated in the final determination letter and returned to the municipality. Zoning referrals/amendments should be emailed to Dclarke@ctmetro.org or mailed to Attn: Devin Clarke 1000 Lafayette Blvd Suite 925 Bridgeport, CT 06604.

Planning

POCD (Regional/State)

Endorsed by the MetroCOG Board in December of 2015, the Regional POCD is the long-term planning framework for the Greater Bridgeport Region. It provides a broad context in which local and regional decisions can be made that move the region toward a sustainable future – a future with more choices and opportunities for all residents of the region. Development of the POCD must be consistent with provisions of CGS §8-35a

MetroCOG POCD

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State C&D Plan

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Municipal POCDs

Bridgeport:

Webpage: http://planbridgeport.com/intro

Document: http://planbridgeport.com/documents/plan.pdf (2019)

Easton:

Webpage: https://www.eastonct.gov/land-use-department/pages/town-plan-and-maps

Document: https://www.eastonct.gov/sites/eastonct/files/file/file/20100108_town_plan_2.pdf (2006)

Fairfield:

Webpage: https://www.fairfieldct.org/pocd2020

Document: https://www.fairfieldct.org/filestorage/10726/11028/12429/20922/POCD.pdf (2016)

Monroe:

Webpage: http://www.monroect.org/Planning-Zoning

Document: http://www.monroect.org/filestorage/467/469/976/2930/POCD.pdf (2010)**

Stratford:

Webpage: http://www.townofstratford.com/planningandzoning

Document: http://www.townofstratford.com/filestorage/39879/57150/StratfordFinalPOCD_02-26-2014.pdf (2014)

Trumbull:

Webpage: https://www.trumbull-ct.gov/218/Planning-Zoning

Document: https://www.trumbull-ct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/913/Plan-of-Conservation-and-Development-2014-PDF (2014)

**This Plan of Conservation and Development is currently undergoing an update by the town’s Planning and Zoning Department, however, the current version of the Plan has been provided here.