By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
Planning and zoning officials will hold a public meeting focusing on the center of West Haven and how the city can reach the goals of the recently adopted Plan of Conservation and Development by creating a new village district regulation.
The meeting, sponsored by the Planning and Zoning Commission, is set for 7 p.m. June 18 in the Harriet C. North Community Room on the second floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.
P&Z Chairwoman Kathleen Hendricks said the commission aims to attract a wide range of participants for the workshop in hopes of creating a dialogue among area businesses and property owners, neighborhood residents and community leaders.
According to Assistant City Planner David W. Killeen, the meeting will include a presentation highlighting components of the POCD vision for downtown West Haven, with a focus on elements of the new village district zoning concept under consideration by the commission. The area is roughly bounded by the railroad tracks, Washington Avenue, Atwater Street and Savin Avenue.
Elements of the concept include establishing design standards and an architectural review process for visible changes to buildings in the area; guiding new development in the central business district; protecting and improving the residential and business character of the area; performing an architectural review of proposed projects as part of the current zoning approval process; and discussing other ways to improve the business climate in the West Haven Center.
The workshop will include opportunities for participants to share their reactions and ideas. The commission will use the input in finalizing how the regulation is written, Hendricks said.
The concept for a village district in the downtown area was first envisioned in the POCD, which was adopted by the commission in June 2017.
See the POCD at https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/DocumentCenter/View/827/Plan-of-Conservation-and-Development-Final-PDF.
For more information, call the Department of Planning and Development at 203-937-3580.