Planning and Zoning Commission Makes Changes to Community Center Regulations

The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a motion to allow for profit community centers to be located in several districts throughout town.

A community center is defined as "a building, or portion thereof, occupied by a public or private organization or group for recreational, social or civic purposes, and containing no dwelling units, sleeping accommodation, or public merchandising facilities," according to the town regulations.

The regulations in town had previously only allowed community buildings with non-profit organizations to be in office park, business park and commercial zones.

“What we are trying to do is take away the confining nature of our existing regulations,” said Town Planner Kim Ricci.

The changes will allow the town staff to look at bringing in “adult daycare centers” into existing buildings, Ricci said. 

“They are becoming more popular now,” she said about the adult daycare centers. “We thought this [regulation change] would provide our town with better options for occupying some of our vacant spaces and would not be as limiting as they currently are.”

There were no comments from residents during the public hearing and little discussion among commission members.

Public Comment on the Plan of Conservation and Development

The commission also removed public comment on the plan of conservation and development from the agenda until funding is available in the town’s budget and the Connecticut standards and regulations are in place. However, residents can discuss the plan of conservation and development during the public comment portion on the meeting.

Commission member Ronald Angelo, who made the motion, felt the board should focus its efforts on receiving public input on other items besides the plan of conservation and development.

“Our plate is going to be so full this year,” Angelo said. “It is going to be one of our busiest years. I don’t think we should put this out to the public until we know what we have.”

Commission member Peter Arico was opposed to the motion, however the motion passed by a vote of 4-1.

Connecticut is currently drafting policies for town plans of conservation and development. Towns are not expected to adopt a new plan of conservation and development until 2015.