nothin New Haven Independent | New London Planner Comes Aboard

New London Planner Comes Aboard

UPDATE — Harry A. Smith, the city planner in New London for 11 years, will take over the helm as Branford’s new town planner in June.

I am certainly looking forward to working with everyone,” Smith told the Eagle Thursday. It seems like there’s a lot of interesting projects.”

Smith said in addition to development projects, he is also interested in coastal resiliency issues. And he noted that it will soon be time to begin updating the town’s 10-year Plan of Conservation and Development.

All these things are very exciting,” Smith said.

The announcement was made yesterday in New London’s The Day newspaper. According to The Day, Smith will step down from his New London post on June 4 and begin work in Branford in mid-June. 

Smith will arrive at a pivotal time for Branford as several new development proposals are on the horizon, including Costco and the Atlantic Wharf projects. 

Smith will replace Jose Giner, who left the town planner’s seat in late December to take a position as the Director of Planning and Economic Development in the town of Bloomfield. Click here to read that story. Assistant Planner Rich Stoecker has served as interim planner since Giner left in December. The town did not post the job for several weeks. 

Giner told the Eagle last evening that he was a member of the interview panel as Branford searched for a new planner, but that he hadn’t been notified of the town’s decision. Giner said he has known Smith for a long time, and that he is a very experienced planner.

“He’s a very smart and capable man. He’ll do a great job for Branford,” Giner told the Eagle.

Smith told the Day that taking the Branford job was “a chance for a new opportunity.”

Smith, 57, previously served as town planner in Colchester, and in Andover, Mass.; and also as the community development director in Essex, Vt. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island and also received his master’s degree there.

Smith comes to Branford at a busy time. The Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission is currently deliberating on a request for a Planned Development District (PDD) on 44 acres of property at Exit 56. The plans call for a Costco store and seven other commercial buildings. Passions ran high as opponents and supporters addressed the commission during four sessions of public hearings. Click here to read the most recent story. If the PDD is approved, the next step is to submit site plans to both the P&Z and to the Inland Wetlands Commission.

Also on tap is the Atlantic Wharf residential and commercial PDD, which was unanimously approved by P&Z in February. The plans call for 205 upscale apartments, plus a mix of retail and restaurants on 7 acres of property at the site of the former Atlantic Wire factory near the Town Center. The developer is expected to submit site plans to P&Z soon. Click here to read about that.

Giner told the Eagle that leaving Branford was not an easy choice, but the Bloomfield job was an upward career move and also much closer to his home. “Bloomfield is great,” Giner said last evening. “I miss Branford, but I don’t miss the commute.”

Giner took the helm after former Town Planner Shirley Rasmussen retired in July 2013 after serving since 1986. Click here to read that story.

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