Statutory Land Use Referrals

The State of Connecticut mandates that municipalities refer specific proposals to amend and/or establish zoning maps and regulations, subdivision plans, and Plans of Conservation and Development to the regional council of governments for advisory review.

280 Elm Street, Naugatuck

Project Type: Cleanup Planning

NVCOG’s Revolving Loan Fund Committee has subgranted the Borough of Naugatuck $350,000 to remove an estimated 60,000 cubic yards of contaminated soils at the 76-acre former Uniroyal industrial complex via excavation and capping at 280/0 Elm Street. The Borough acquired the site in 2022 and subsequently received a Stewardship Permit from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, assigned the former owner – chemical manufacturer Lanxess, responsibility for all environmental cleanup. This funding will supplement extensive, secured investment, including $3,000,000 from Connecticut’s Community Investment Fund and $6,000,000 from the Borough. Critically, Lanxess has provided nearly $16,000,000 in private funding toward remedial activities. Roadway construction is expected to begin on portions of the site shortly. Upon completion, the site will house a portion of the Naugatuck Industrial Park, yielding millions in private investment and the cleanup of a site immediately adjacent to the Naugatuck River. 

Regional Open Space Inventory

The U.S. Forest Service awarded NVCOG a grant to research and catalog priority Open Space parcels across the region. The major deliverable of this project will be a GIS map layer of OS with detailed attributes including ownership, acreage, level of legal protection, public access status, and more.

Regional Flood Resilience

CT DEEP’s Climate Resilience Fund awarded NVCOG a grant to develop and advance culvert replacement and drainage system improvement projects in nine municipalities. This regional effort aims to reduce stormwater flooding, repair infrastructure, and incorporate elements of LID. Deliverables will include a preliminary designs and draft grant applications for federal implementation funding.

Tree Canopy Assessment

The U.S. Forest Service awarded NVCOG a grant to assess, map, and characterize tree cover across the region. A robust tree cover mitigates high temperatures, filters air pollution, and can improve property values and quality of life in urban areas.

VMT Reduction Strategy

A common measure of transportation system performance is vehicle miles traveled (VMT), which looks at the total number of miles driven by personal cars across a given area. A reduction in VMT typically yields benefits for congestion, air quality, and can help reduce costs for drivers.

Active Transportation Plan

The Naugatuck Valley Active Transportation Plan (NVATP) will aim to coordinate efforts across our 19 municipal members. By compiling best practices and standards, NVCOG aims to encourage increased access to safe, convenient walking/rolling and biking facilities.

Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG)

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) are a five-billion-dollar federal program to help state and regional governments reduce greenhouse gases. NVCOG towns are split among several planning regions, each of which is conducting its own GHG assessment and planning GHG reduction measures.

226 Rubber Ave, Naugatuck

Project Type: Cleanup Planning 

Activities: The Borough of Naugatuck was sub-granted $45,000 for assessment activities at 226 Rubber Ave. Environmental data collected on site will help the Borough determine redevelopment options for future reuse.  

Project Status: Environmental site assessment activities are complete. Reports are currently under review by the Borough.