LEGAL NOTICE: FFY 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program & Air Quality Conformity Determination

NOTICE is hereby given that the Central Naugatuck Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (CNVMPO) has developed the draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the Naugatuck Valley planning region. The TIP lists all proposed highway and transit improvement projects programmed to receive federal financial assistance from the US Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration – over the next four federal fiscal years. The MPO’s TIP informs the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) that was developed by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. As the CNVMPO is covered by several air quality non-attainment areas modeling of these projects was completed by CTDOT and conformity determination is also available.

A forty-five (45) day review and comment period has been established, beginning on April 1, 2026, and ending on May 15, 2026. The public is welcomed and encouraged to review and comment on the MPO’s draft TIP and air quality analyses.

The draft TIP and related documents can all be viewed on the NVCOG’s website at https://nvcogct.gov/project/2027-2030-tip-stip/. Similarly, an interactive listing of projects, along with a fiscal summary, is available via the CNVMPO’s EcoInteractive Portal at https://nvcog.ecointeractive.com/. Physical copies of these documents can be viewed at the NVCOG offices or requested by contacting Rich Donovan, Transportation Planning Director, at (203) 757-0535.

The public is invited to attend and offer comments on the draft TIP and air quality conformity documents at the CNVMPO meeting to be held April 17th at 10:00 AM. A hybrid public information meeting will be held on April 30th at 6:00 PM, both online and at the NVCOG’s Offices. Information about this meeting can be found at  https://nvcogct.gov/calendar/. Agency and CTDOT staff will be available to discuss any aspects of the draft TIP/STIP, air quality conformity determinations, and other transportation concerns. These meetings will be recorded and available on the NVCOG’s YouTube Page. Additional comments can be shared at the CNVMPO meeting to be held on May 15, 2026, at 10:00 AM.

Comments may be made orally at the CNVMPO and information meetings, via email or in writing. Written comments must be clearly legible, submitted on 8½” by 11″ paper and include the person’s name and address. Any person wishing to comment on the draft TIP/STIP may submit their comments in writing to Rich Donovan, Transportation Planning Director, NVCOG, rdonovan@nvcogct.gov, 49 Leavenworth Street, 3rd Floor, Waterbury, CT, 06702. Written comments must be received at the offices of the NVCOG before 4:00 PM on May 14th. The MPO will consider endorsement of the draft TIP and adoption of the Ozone and PM2.5 Air Quality Conformity Statements at its regular meeting to be held on May 15, 2026.

For more information, please call the NVCOG at (203) 757-0535. Language assistance is available at no cost to the public.

PRESS RELEASE: NVCOG Invites Public to Capture the Naugatuck Valley Through Photography

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 7, 2026

Contact:  
Desira Blanchard
Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
Dblanchard@nvcogct.gov


NVCOG Invites Public to Capture the Naugatuck Valley Through Photography


(Waterbury, CT) – The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) is inviting residents, students, and visitors to help define the region’s identity through a regional photo contest supporting the development of the Naugatuck Valley Regional Plan of Conservation and Development (NVRPOCD). The plan is a long-range document that guides growth, preservation, and community priorities over the coming years.


The contest seeks photographs that capture the people, places, and experiences that define life in the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. Submissions may reflect Architecture, Arts & Culture, Community and Places of Belonging, Environment, Entertainment & Leisure, Public Events, and/or Transportation across the region. Selected images will be used to visually support the NVCOG’s long-term planning efforts and to illustrate the themes and priorities reflected in the NVRPOCD.


Submissions are open now through 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2026. Participants may submit up to three digital photographs through an online submission form at https://arcg.is/1G5OSr2. The contest is open to adults aged 18 or older, as well as high school students in grades 9 through 12 who have parent or guardian permission.


One winning photo will be selected from each of NVCOG’s 19 municipalities: Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Bristol, Cheshire, Derby, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Plymouth, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Waterton, Wolcott, and Woodbury. Winners will receive a $25 gift card to a local establishment in the town where the photo was taken. Selected images may also be featured on the NVCOG website, social media platforms, and in future official planning publications.


Plans of Conservation and Development are required by Connecticut law and are updated every 10 years. They serve as a shared framework for communities, helping local and regional leaders make coordinated decisions that balance development with conservation while reflecting community priorities. By contributing photos, residents and students have an opportunity to directly shape how the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region is represented.


Full contest rules, submission guidelines, and required photo release forms, including forms for high school student participants and any identifiable individuals appearing in submitted photos, are available at https://nvcogct.gov/project/photo-contest/.

PRESS RELEASE: NVCOG Will Host a Composter and Rain Barrel Sale in Seymour and Thomaston

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2026

Contact:
Christine O’Neill, AICP
Senior Environmental Planner
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
coneill@nvcogct.gov

NVCOG Will Host a Composter and Rain Barrel Sale in Seymour and Thomaston

The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) offers backyard composters, rain barrels, and related accessories at wholesale prices to residents of the Naugatuck Valley Region. Residents can pre-order at the NVCOG online store (bit.ly/NVCOGcompostersale) through Thursday, June 11, 2026, by 4:30 PM. Please note that placing an order requires in-person pickup; items cannot be shipped and items will not be sold at the event. Items will be available for pick-up at two locations on Saturday, June 13, 2026, between 9 AM – 11 AM at the Seymour Community Center, 20 Pine Street, Seymour, CT and from 1 PM – 3 PM at Thomaston High School, 185 Branch Road, Thomaston, CT.
Backyard composters are an effective way for residents to turn food and yard waste into valuable compost that can be used to amend soil for vegetables, flowers, and lawns. Composting complements NVCOG’s other sustainable waste management initiatives, such as the formation of a new Naugatuck Valley Regional Waste Authority. Rain barrels can provide a reliable source of chemical free rainwater for outdoor uses such as watering lawns and gardens.

Over the last four sales, Naugatuck Valley residents have purchased 268 composters, representing the maximum possible capacity to remove an estimated 134,000 lbs. of organics from the regional waste stream annually, as well as 220 rain barrels.

In providing these products at affordable prices to residents, NVCOG strives to help communities reduce the volume and cost of municipal solid waste disposal and conserve public water supplies by providing an alternative source for outdoor needs. The public is encouraged to visit the NVCOG webpage for more information and resources on backyard composting, including a video of an informational workshop with a Master Composter.

PRESS RELEASE: Household Hazardous Waste and Paint Collection Scheduled for Saturday, April 18 in Waterbury

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 18, 2026 

Contact:
NVCOG
203-757-0535
https://nvcogct.gov/HHW

Household Hazardous Waste and Paint Collection 

Scheduled for Saturday, April 18 in Waterbury 

 Do you have paints, cleaners, and other chemicals in your home that you need to dispose of? The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) and participating municipalities will sponsor a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Paint Collection event on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The collection will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Crosby High School, 300 Pierpont Road, Waterbury, CT.

The collection is open to residents of the following communities: Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Derby, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Prospect, Seymour, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott, and Woodbury. There is no charge to residents. Proof of residency, such as a driver’s license, tax bill, or other identification, is required for entry. There is no need to line up before the 9 a.m. start time.

Hazardous waste consists of poisonous, flammable, and corrosive materials that are harmful to human health if not disposed of properly. The only waste that will be accepted is hazardous waste produced by households. Materials generated by a commercial enterprise or non-profit entity will not be accepted. A full list of acceptable and unacceptable materials can be viewed at nvcogct.gov/hhw.

Examples of wastes that will be accepted include: oil- and latex-based paints and stains, thermometers and thermostats containing mercury, drain and oven cleaners, upholstery cleaners, wood cleaners, strippers and varnishes, pesticides, poisons, pool and photo chemicals, automotive cleaners and fluids, gasoline and motor oil, grease and rust solvents, aerosols, and metal polishes.

Items that will not be accepted include: auto batteries, propane tanks over 1 lb., compressed gas cylinders, asbestos, smoke detectors, explosives, radioactive or medical waste, grout, joint compound, lead paint chips, and empty containers of any kind.  Aerosol containers will not be accepted unless they contain a paint or chemical. Empty aerosols that contain food products can be recycled. Full or partially full food products and empty chemical and paint aerosol containers can be placed in the trash. The contractor reserves the right to reject additional materials.

Up to 50 lbs. of residential waste will be accepted per vehicle. Residents should leave materials in the original container whenever possible. If you think you might exceed this limit, send an email with your name, address, and type of waste to hhw@nvcogct.gov at least one week in advance of the collection. When arriving at the collection site, residents must remain in their cars at all times. Trained waste handlers will remove materials from the cars. All liquid-based products, including gasoline and motor oil should arrive in a sealed container.

Unacceptable materials will be returned or left in the vehicle and information, if known, will be provided on how to dispose of them. For further information, please contact hhw@nvcogct.gov or call (203) 757-0535.

Governor Lamont Announces State Grants To Assess and Remediate 16 Blighted Properties for Redevelopment

12/17/2025

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration is releasing $28.2 million in state grants that will be used to support the remediation and assessment of 16 blighted properties, helping to bring more than 200 acres of land in 13 towns and cities back into productive use so they can be redeveloped and support the state’s economic growth, including through hundreds of new housing units.

The grants are being released through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Brownfield Remediation and Development Program. In total, this round of grants is projected to leverage more than $354 million in private investments and lead to the creation of approximately 835 housing units, including 157 designated as affordable.

“By cleaning up blighted and vacant properties, we can put this land back into productive use in smart ways that support the growth of businesses and new jobs, and also to build new housing, which is significantly needed,” Governor Lamont said. “Through the remediation of these properties, we are creating new opportunities to revitalize neighborhoods and transform otherwise unusable lots into new spaces where businesses can thrive and residents can live.”

“Our investments in these dormant, polluted sites are critical to helping communities capitalize on opportunities for reinvention,” DECD Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe said. “This round of funding has a significant impact in many areas, especially in supporting the creation of new housing, which is crucial to furthering the economic progress we’ve achieved in recent years.”

The grants announced today under this round include:

  • Ashford and Willington: $200,000 to the towns for environmental assessment, market analysis, and other planning activities at the Cadlerock property, a 338.55-acre, 12-parcel area straddling the town lines. These activities will help identify future reuse options and development path for the property.
  • Bridgeport: $3,000,000 to the Bridgeport Economic Development Corporation to support soil remediation at the 16.86-acre site located at 731 Seaview Avenue. Formerly home to CarTech’s steel mill operations, the privately-owned site is impacted by widespread contamination. Remediation will prepare the site for redevelopment, enabling Bridgeport Boatworks to occupy a newly constructed facility and allowing Hornblower Marine to expand their operations within existing on-site buildings.
  • Chaplin: $50,000 to the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments for the assessment of the 1.2-acre site of the Former Chaplin Post Office, located at 142 Chaplin Street. These assessment activities will enable the town to remediate the site for potential commercial use.
  • Enfield: $4,000,000 to the town for hazardous materials abatement and demolition activities at the former Enfield Square Shopping Center, a 73.26-acre site located at 90 Elm Street. A proposed $250-million mixed-use development project includes approximately 452 housing units, with 20% designated affordable.In addition, the development features up to $350,000 square feet of entertainment, retail, and commercial spaces, as well as restaurants and two possible hotels.
  • Greenwich: $4,000,000 to the Western Connecticut Council of Governments for demolition, soil and groundwater remediation, and site assessment of the 1.22-acre, privately-owned property at 275 Mason Street that spans seven parcels. The site has a history of industrial and commercial use, including blacksmithing, stone cutting, and automotive operations, with its most recent use being a Honda dealership. These remediation efforts will enable development of 55 housing units as part of the Mason Street East TOD project.The project is located near the Greenwich Train Station and bus transit.
  • Greenwich: $4,000,000 to the Western Connecticut Council of Governments for demolition, soil and groundwater remediation, and limited site assessment of the 0.37-acre, privately-owned property at 290 Mason Street that spans three parcels. The site has a history of industrial and commercial use. These remediation efforts will enable the development of 20 housing units as part of the Mason Street West TOD project.
  • Hartford: $1,000,000 to the city for the remediation of the 1.86-acre site located at 1163 Albany Ave and 422 Woodland Street. Historical uses of the site include auto repair, gas station operations, and a moving and storage warehouse. The grant funds will cover cost of removing and properly disposing of contaminated soil from the project site. These remediation activities will enable the construction a 30,516-square-foot public, commercial, and retail building that will house the Hartford Department of Health and Human Services, a bank, and a restaurant/coffee shop.
  • Hartford: $200,000 to the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) for the development of a comprehensive, area-wide plan that will identify actionable strategies to remediate, reuse, and reinvest in the Clay Arsenal neighborhood. These planning activities will enable CRCOG, in partnership with the San Juan Center, to plan for future redevelopment in the area.
  • Killingly: $150,000 to The Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments for the assessment of the 0.92-acre site of the Old Killingly High School, located at 185 Broad Street. The assessment activities will enable the town to remediate the site for potential use for housing, childcare, or vocational services.
  • Newtown: $200,000 to the Connecticut Brownfield Land Bank, Inc. for the assessment of the 33.4-acre site of the former Charles Batchelder Co., an aluminum smelting plant, located at 44 and 46a Swamp Road. Funds will be used to fill data gaps on the two parcels from previous remediation activities to further the town’s plans to use the site for a solar field and/or new industrial/commercial space.
  • Shelton: $4,000,000 to the Shelton Economic Development Corporation for cleanup of the 1.3-acre, privately-owned site located at 235 Canal Street. The site has a history of manufacturing uses, including hardware, cutlery, railway lighting and equipment, and operations as a tool and machine shop. Demolition/abatement and remediation of the site will enable the construction of 100 units of housing on the site.
  • Torrington: $800,000 to the city for the cleanup of the 7.54-acre, privately-owned property located at 59 Field Street. The property is the site of the former Torrington Company/Excelsior Needle Company. Funds will be used to abate and demolish a two-story, 24,000-square-foot building (#24), pave the surface, and create additional parking to support the adjacent commercial space.
  • Torrington: $200,000 to the city to complete assessment activities at the former Torrington Standard Plant located on a combined 4.61 acres of contiguous lots at and around 52 Norwood Street. Assessment activities will identify contaminants and inform future redevelopment efforts.
  • Torrington: $200,000 to the city for comprehensive brownfield planning downtown, focused on the north end of Main Street. These planning activities will enable the city to create a 2030-2040 Brownfield Remediation and Redevelopment Strategy to guide its efforts to promote downtown development.
  • Watertown: $200,000 to the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments for the assessment of the land surrounding the Pin Shop Pond and former Oakville Pin Company located at 20 and 27 Main Street. Funds will be used for assessment activities that will enable future development, such as commercial uses or trail and green space.
  • West Hartford: $6,000,000 to the town to support environmental cleanup at the 33.9-acre privately-owned site located at 1800 Asylum Avenue, formerly occupied by UConn. Once cleaned, the site will be redeveloped to include 28 townhomes for purchase, 93 rental units, 87 assisted living units, and commercial spaces.

For more information on the Brownfield Remediation and Redevelopment program, visit www.ctbrownfields.gov.

PRESS RELEASE: Mad River Watershed-Based Plan Public Meeting Waterbury, Wolcott, and Bristol

For Immediate Release: November 13, 2025

Contact:
Christine O’Neill, AICP
Senior Environmental Planner
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
203-489-0351
coneill@nvcogct.gov

Mad River Watershed-Based Plan Public Meeting Waterbury, Wolcott, and Bristol

WATERBURY, CT – The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), City of Waterbury, Town of Wolcott, and City of Bristol invite the public to learn about the Mad River Watershed at a hybrid meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 6:00 PM.

These local and regional governments are collaborating to develop a Watershed Based Plan (WBP) for the Mad River. The WBP will identify the reasons for water quality challenges in the watershed, suggest solutions to improve water quality in the lakes and the river, and position the communities for accessing grants for projects that help foster a healthy watershed.

The watershed contains many prominent water resources such as Scovill Reservoir, Chestnut Hill Reservoir, Cedar Lake, Hitchcock Lake, and Lily Brook. The Mad River flows by key cultural and economic assets such as the Seven Angels Theater and the Brass Mill Center.

This project is funded, in part, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

NVCOG would like to hear from residents and stakeholders who live, work, or use parks and lakes for recreation throughout the Mad River watershed. An in-person public information meeting and listening session is scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, at 6:00 PM in the NVCOG office at 49 Leavenworth Street, 3rd Floor, Waterbury, CT. The office is accessible from all bus routes stopping at the Waterbury Green, as well as the Waterbury Rail Line. People who wish to attend remotely can register for a Zoom link at https://bit.ly/49cVEjk.

For additional information and project updates, visit: https://nvcogct.gov/project/madriver/.

Language assistance is available to the public at no cost. For language assistance requests contact Desira Blanchard, Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator with the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, at dblanchard@nvcogct.gov or at 203-757-0535. Requests should be made at least 5 business days prior to the meeting.

Community Planning Newsletter Fall 2025

Quarterly Updates

The NVCOG Community Planning Division published the fall edition of its quarterly newsletter. The newsletter is a resource for municipal land use staff and decision makers on all things land use policy and planning.

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Sustainability Spotlight: Powering Connecticut with Solar Canopies

With the adoption of renewable energy steadily growing in Connecticut, municipalities and environmentalists have raised concerns over the clear-cutting of forests to accommodate solar farms. While the state already has over 1,000 MW of solar capacity installed, but it must add significantly more to reach its goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2040.

One solution? over developed land, such as parking lots or brownfields. These installations can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels, conserve energy, and make better use of underutilized spaces.

A solar canopy at Brass City Mall in Waterbury provides electricity for EVs.

Legislative Support for Solar Canopies

During the 2025 legislative session, the General Assembly passed Public Act 25-125, part of which called for the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to develop a solar canopy strategic plan. 

The plan is slated to:

  • Promote solar canopy adoption
  • Identify opportunities for installations
  • Prioritize environmental justice communities

Benefits for Public and Private Properties

Solar canopies are versatile and beneficial for both private and public properties.

  • Large retail uses, like shopping centers or supermarkets, often have ideal parking lots for canopies due to their size.
  • Public facilities, like schools and community centers make excellent use of canopy installations.

Canopies not only capture solar energy but protect parked cars from accumulating snow in the winter or heating up in the summer. When combined with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, they can also provide 100% renewable vehicle fuel, whereas charging stations drawing from the electrical grid would be fed by roughly 65% fossil fuel sources.

Solar canopies offer a middle ground between roof-mounted (which generally have limited capacity due to roof sizes) and ground-mounted (which often require clear-cutting or destroying habitat) solar installations. Canopies also generate power near which reduces the need for costly transmission infrastructure and electricity losses. Investing in solar canopies can preserve valuable habitat without sacrificing clean energy.

PACE’s map of solar canopy potential across the state.

Potential in Connecticut

Interested in what solar canopies might look like in your community? The Connecticut-based nonprofit People’s Action for Clean Energy (PACE) undertook an initiative to estimate the solar canopy capacity that could be installed in parking lots across the state. Significant potential exists along the Route 8 and I-84 corridors that run through the Naugatuck Valley region. Dataset: Solar Canopies – 100PercentCT – PACE. 

PA 25-125 suggests the possibility of a solar canopy “program” to advance the outcomes of the strategic plan. Communities should consider which sites could make strong candidates for future grant applications.

Further Reading

The solar canopy strategic plan is just one outcome from the 2025 legislative session. For a full list of all Public Acts related to environmental issues, see this document: 2025AA-0110_2025 Acts Affecting Environment.pdf

Contact Us

The “Sustainability Spotlight” provides readers with ideas on how to incorporate sustainability into your land use regulations. Questions? Contact Christine O’Neill.