The following letter is from Christine Wagner, chairwoman of New Canaan's Long Range Planning Committee.
Tonight, the Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC) will host a public session at Town Hall to explain the planning process and solicit opinion on what needs should be addressed as part of the town's facilities planning process. An Open House will be held from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. during which residents can speak individually with LRPC members and the consultants hired to advise on the planning process, Perkins Eastman/BFJ Planning. During the Open House, information on planning will be available. At 7 p.m., the consultants will make a short presentation followed by public comment. RSVPs are recommended but not required at [email protected].
The LRPC was appointed by the Board of Selectmen in May and chartered to undertake development of a master plan for the major town buildings which are located in the central area of New Canaan. The study will include the library (not a town-owned building), town hall, the fire station, school administration offices (currently in rental space) and parking in the central area. New Canaan is faced with land-use, capital expenditure, and chronic parking decisions whether a plan is undertaken or not. There are improvements needed for these municipal facilities. The library, faced with an undersized, aging facility and increased demand and visits, concluded after years of study that a new facility is the best option to serve its patrons and the community. New Canaan needs to address these issues to ensure that development and expenses provide the best possible value to the town and are not undertaken in a haphazard manner.
Based upon recommendations of the town task forces of 2008, conversations among town leaders, and acknowledgment that the town must work smarter to find value in meeting its long-term needs, the LRPC will use a master plan to address its issues. The master plan will be a policy-based document that will provide a long range plan to guide development of the central business area for municipal projects and the library. Master planning will provide a more comprehensive perspective of capital expenditures and better prioritization of those expenditures.
As the town goes through the planning process, goals and objectives will be determined and a plan will be developed. The questions "What do we have?", "What do we want?", and "How do we get there?" will be asked and answered. Additional benefits of undertaking a plan include:
? A consistent point of reference against which to make decisions,
? The ability to make more informed decisions
? More predictability regarding budgeting and planning,
? Potential to optimize resource use
? Means to preserve community character, and
? Potential to produce positive economic development.
Our consultants, Perkins Eastman/BFJ Planning, have extensive training and experience in the area of municipal planning and facilities and will bring their knowledge of past planning in various communities, such as Westport, Glastonbury, Wilton, Darien, Tarrytown, N.Y., Mamaroneck, N.Y., and Plymouth, Mass.
The public forum is an opportunity for the town to engage the consultants and the LRPC to discuss what the priorities and needs of the town should be. If you cannot attend, please tune to NCTV Channel 79 for a live broadcast and also email us at: [email protected].
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