On Tuesday December 2, 2008 the Wethersfield Planning and Zoning Commission approved a request to amend the zoning regulations to establish standards for mixed use developments. These amendments are another step in the Town's effort to revitalize it's primary commercial corridor - the Silas Deane Highway. Specifically, the amendments are designed to implement the recommendations contained within the 2006 Master Plan for the Silas Deane Highway to promote the revitalization and redevelopment of the Town's aging commercial corridor.
The Town has recently implemented several new initiatives in support of the Master Plan through the creation of: a façade improvement program that provides funding to encourage architectural design improvements to properties and streetscape improvements, a design review process designed to oversee the architectural review of new projects and streetscape improvements at the Church Street intersection. The zoning regulation amendments are designed to provide an incentive to encourage reinvestment in the highway corridor, implement the town's mixed use policy and provide guidance to developers and property owners regarding density, context and bulk requirements. The regulations also provide some flexibility in the application of theses standards while giving the Town control over the final product.
In early 2008, the Town formed a subcommittee to explore the concept of mixed use development and to investigate ways to regulate this use. The subcommittee consisted of representatives from the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Design Review Advisory Committee, the Redevelopment Agency and the Economic Development and Improvement Commission. The subcommittee reviewed a wide range of regulatory approaches from a number of communities and presented a draft set of amendments to the Planning and Zoning Commission in September.
A public hearing on the amendments was held on November 19, 2008 at which time Redevelopment Agency member Michael Zaleski stated "The Wethersfield Redevelopment Agency supports these amendments as a positive step forward. These amendments will help send a signal that the Town is serious about development of our underutilized properties." In response to questions raised by the public and comments made by the Commissioners staff made several changes to the regulations which were presented to the Commission and approved at the December 2, 2008 meeting. The regulations go into effect on December 8, 2008. Copies of the approved regulations may be obtained from the Planning and Economic Development Department at Town Hall or by contacting Peter Gillespie, Director of Planning and Economic Development at 860 721-2838.