Diana Stricker Photo
P&Z and consultant Frank Fish, to right of Town Planner Harry Smith.
The area around the newly expanded Shoreline East Train Station could see the addition of an optional Overlay Zone for areas that are currently zoned industrial. The new designation could include residential or retail if the developer constructs flood-resilient buildings, sidewalks, and public access to the riverfront where possible.
“We see the Overlay as wise from the Branford viewpoint. We’re not for forcing anyone to use it —we’re giving them another option,” said Frank Fish, a founding principal of BFJ Planning of Stamford. The consulting firm is conducting a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) study of approximately a half-mile radius around the train station.
“If the owner wants to opt in, he gets some benefits and the public gets some benefits,” Fish said at a special meeting of the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission last Thursday.
Town Planner Harry Smith said the purpose of the special meeting was to discuss zoning recommendations before the consultants complete the draft. Two public workshops have already been held, and a survey was conducted.
Smith said development will be coming to the areas around the train station and Branford River. He said the TOD study will provide pro-active guidelines when developers come in with plans.
“Instead of reacting, we could say this is the vision of what we want,” Smith said.
A presentation of the proposed TOD draft recommendations will be made at the Sept. 26 P&Z special meeting. A public hearing will be scheduled in October. The study is due for completion in November. Any potential zoning changes would have to be approved by the P&Z.
The town is also in the process of beginning the 10-year update of the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) and some of the issues will be addressed in both studies.
Zoning Possibilities
Fish said the current Industrial zones around the train station could remain unless a property owner requests the proposed Overlay Zone. Some of the possible areas are the West End and Meadow Street.
Some portions of the TOD study area are in a Planned Development District (PDD), such as the Anchor Reef Condominiums, the Stony Creek Brewery and the proposed Atlantic Wharf development. Since those areas were zoned industrial, developers requested a PDD in order to have residential and retail uses. The proposed optional Overlay Zone could give property owners and developers more choices without requesting a PDD.
Fish said regulations in the proposed Overlay Zone could require developers to construct flood-resilient or elevated buildings, and provide sidewalks and public access to the waterfront where applicable. Special regulations regarding height and setback could be addressed as part of the Overlay Zone. The new zone could include residential, small retail, and cultural and recreational uses.
Preliminary Ideas
Diana Stricker Photo
L-R: Harry Smith and consultant Frank Fish.
“We learned a number of things at our public workshops,” Fish said. For example, he said it’s important that any development or redevelopment be in harmony with the neighborhoods. Land uses should be complimentary to the Town Center and not compete with the retail uses there. He said another key principle is improving connectivity between the Town Center, the train station and the riverfront. He also talked about floodplain issues and said “whatever we do needs to be resilient to flooding.”
Some of the preliminary recommendations include bike lanes along Kirkham Street; landscaping on Montowese Street; a walking path along Hammer Field; a sidewalk between Kirkham and Roger streets; connections to the Shoreline Greenway Trail; a trolley route; and directional signage.
The TOD study, which was funded by a $125,000 state grant, is being undertaken by the BFJ Planning firm, along with the town planner and a steering committee.
###
