By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
The Planning and Zoning Commission is holding an interactive public workshop for the proposed village district regulation for the center of West Haven.
The workshop is set for 7 p.m. July 30 in the Harriet C. North Community Room on the second floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.
The workshop is a follow-up to the June 18 public information session that introduced the concept of the village district regulation for downtown West Haven.
Based on the positive reaction at the June meeting, the commission is inviting members of the public to share their input on a draft regulation of the proposed village district.
P&Z Chairwoman Kathleen Hendricks said the commission aims to attract a wide range of participants for the workshop, including area businesses and property owners, neighborhood residents and community leaders.
Hendricks said the commission is considering the regulation initially for the area roughly bounded by the railroad tracks, Washington Avenue, Atwater Street and Savin Avenue.
Elements of the zoning 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; and performing an architectural review by a professional architect of proposed projects as part of the current zoning approval process.
The village district concept for the West Haven Center was first envisioned as one of multiple recommendations for improving the downtown area in the city’s Plan of Conservation and Development, 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.