Widening The Doorway To Prospective Business

The Planning and Zoning Commission wants to change and enhance town zoning regulations, which would impact new commercial development in the town’s two main shopping areas, Northford Center and Central Plaza, according to town planner Carol Zebb.

“We want to make improvements to standards in these areas to address more open space, pedestrian right-of-way issues and make the design standards more clear-cut,” she said.

Zebb said the town’s design standards, which relate to a ten-year plan for commercial development that the town approved in Nov. 2009, are not as explicit as other Connecticut towns, such as Guilford, Fairfield and Coventry.     

At the commission’s meeting Thursday night, Zebb passed out design examples from the three previously mentioned towns. She advised members to look at them for possible adaptations to North Branford’s current zoning regulations.

Zebb said one of the challenges when mending zoning regulations is mustering professional help. It will be difficult for the town to find qualified architects, engineers and other professionals who are willing to volunteer their time to serve on a design committee, she said.  

Amendment talks are in the preliminary stages, and the public is encouraged to voice their opinion concerning commercial development at future commission meetings, Zebb said. The Planning and Zoning Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for March 17, St. Patrick’s Day.

If you decide to partake, wearing green is optional, commissioners said.