NVision50: The Metropolitan Transportation Plan for the NVCOG and the Central Naugatuck Valley MPO lays out a comprehensive vision for transportation in our region leading up to 2050.
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HydroLand Kinneytown Dam Fish Passage
An ineffective fish ladder at Kinneytown Dam in Seymour, owned by HydroLand, is currently preventing migratory fish from accessing miles of restored habitat upstream. NVCOG has joined the Naugatuck River Restoration Coalition with the goal of returning migratory fish to the Naugatuck River by ensuring that safe, timely and effective fish passage is established at Kinneytown Dam. The Coalition has developed an Interactive Story Map to explain the issue.
As a hydroelectric generating facility, Kinneytown Dam is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). As part of the facility’s license exemption, Hydroland must provide for safe, timely and effective fish passage at the dam. FERC opened a docket in Fall of 2020 in response to a letter from the US Fish and Wildlife Service documenting inadequate fish passage at the facility. NVCOG is participating in the docket to ensure that regional and municipal voices are heard by regulators.
**Update** On December 14, 2022, the US Department of Commerce announced that NVCOG has been recommended for funding for a project intended to lead to the removal of Kinneytown Dam. The funding is being made available through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal grant program. The Naugatuck River Restoration Coalition issued a press release in response.
Hydroland, HydroLand, HydroLand Omega, Hydroland Inc, Hydroland Corp, Hydroland Corporation,
Explore the Issue:
This interactive storymap details the effort to restore migratory fish to the Naugatuck River, and the current issues at Kinneytown Dam keeping fish from miles of restored habitat upstream.
9/30/2021 Legal Action
More Information:
Let the Naugatuck River Run Silver Again Op-Ed by John Waldman published in Hearst Media publications 12/4/2020
Our Opportunity to Restore Fish Passage at Kinneytown Dam Save the Sound Blog Post 12/10/2020
Staff Contact:
Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
The final Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan and Municipal Annexes have been posted to the NVCOG Hazard Mitigation Plan webpage. The Plan has been adopted by all 19 NVCOG Communities, and the NVCOG Board endorsed the plan on December 10, 2021. FEMA approved the plan in January, 2022.
In 2019, NVCOG received funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct a multi-jurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (NHMP) for all 19 NVCOG municipalities.
An approved NHMP is required by FEMA to qualify a municipality for certain federal mitigation funding. NHMPs must be updated every 5 years. The purpose of this project is to update municipal NHMPs and develop a consolidated multijurisdictional plan for the entire Naugatuck Valley planning region in compliance with FEMA standards and requirements that will serve as the approved NHMP for each NVCOG municipality.
The NHMP will identify natural hazards and risks, existing capabilities, and activities that can be undertaken by a community to prevent loss of life and reduce property damages associated with the identified hazards. Public safety and property loss reduction are the driving forces behind this plan. Careful consideration will also be given to the preservation of history, culture and the natural environment of the region.
Milone & MacBroom Inc. (MMI) was selected to serve as the project consultant. MMI has extensive experience developing NHMPs in the region and across the state. NVCOG is administering the project and has prepared a detailed scope of work in collaboration with MMI. The project is expected to take 18 months and will include extensive public and stakeholder outreach and coordination with various municipal officials and departments.
Interactive Storymap:
Click on the tabs at the top of the Project Storymap and scroll through the narrative to learn about hazards impacting the region and view topical maps.
Staff Contact:
Aaron Budris
Senior Regional Planner
abudris@nvcogct.gov
COVID-19 Information
As our towns, the state, and country return to normal, NVCOG seeks to provide the best information available for the residents of our nineteen communities.
On this page, you can find links with information related to the COVID-19 pandemic for:
- Bus Transit, Commuter Rail, and Highway Updates
- Resources for Businesses
- Latest Press Releases and Executive Orders from Governor Lamont
- Local Health Districts
- Your Municipality’s COVID-19 Response web page
- Federal Departments and Agencies
NVCOG Current Status
Employees are back in the office and our office is open to the public. Public information meetings encourage in-person participation and will continue to have a virtual option for participation.
Information Sources
Below are links to trusted agencies with status updates, resources for municipalities and businesses, and the best data on how to prevent coming into contact with the virus and what to do if you do come into contact with the virus.
Click on a heading below for the resources NVCOG has compiled.
CTtransit News & Updates includes CTfasttrak, Bristol Local Service and Greater Waterbury Transit District
FTA Mask Travel Guidance Order and FAQ
TRB and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine resources
Bristol-Burlington Health District (Bristol)
Chesprocott Health District (Cheshire, Prospect & Wolcott)
Naugatuck Valley Health District (Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour & Shelton)
Housatonic Valley Health District (Oxford, Southbury & Woodbury)
Torrington Area Health District (Bethlehem, Middlebury, Plymouth, Thomaston & Watertown)
Emergency Orders issued by the Governor and State Agencies
Executive Order No 700 “Protection of Public Health and Safety during COVID-19 Pandemic and Response – Procedures for Local Appointments and Elections Requiring In-Person Vote”
Governor Lamont’s Press Releases
Connecticut COVID-19 Data Tracker
Find a Test Center Near You including No-Cost COVID-19 Test Sites
Department of Public Health (DPH) resources
Department of Housing (DOH) Housing Notices and Orders regarding COVID-19
Connecticut State Department of Education Supporting Student Participation
Department of Social Services for SNAP and Child Support Services
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) resources for social distancing at state parks, beaches and more.
CT State Library for updates on local libraries.
Connecticut COVID-19 Charity Connection (4-CT) was launched as a non-profit that unites donors with state-wide programs that will help make an immediate impact.
Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR) news and resources
Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) resources
Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST) news and updates
Municipal Guidance Document #1 “Suspension of In Person Open Meeting Requirements”
Municipal Guidance Document #4 “Suspension of Tax Deadlines and Collection Efforts”
Municipal Guidance Document #5 “Suspension of In-Person Voting Requirements by the Public in the Municipal Budget Process”
Municipal Guidance Document #8 Index of Executive Orders Pertinent to Municipalities
The Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) includes funds for Connecticut governments to pay costs incurred in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Office of Policy and Management (OPM) has established the Municipal Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) Program to reimburse municipalities for such costs.
Rules on Use, Allowable Costs & Ineligible Costs and Program Overview
CT DECD – Stop the Spread in English and Spanish.
CT CBIA – Reopen Connecticut resources and materials.
CDC – Print Resources web page with information covering a variety of topics.
Watch live updates on global and national counts of COVID-19 by Johns Hopkins University
Also see state-by-state testing trends by Johns Hopkins University.
Regional Plan of Conservation and Development
RPOCD 2023 – Regional Planning Starts with You!
The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) is working on its first Regional Plan of Conservation and Development (RPOCD). The RPOCD is an advisory policy document which will help guide regional development and investment in the NVCOG community over the next ten years to 2033. We anticipate this RPOCD to be completed in 2023. Please click the tabs below to learn more about our RPOCD, participate public outreach and follow the progress of our work.
Overview & What's New
Surveys & Public Input
FAQ - What's an RPOCD?
What We've Done
Overview & What's New
EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT DRAFTED SECTIONS
We have begun to post draft sections of the Existing Conditions Report. Please go to the ‘What We’ve Done’ tab to view the drafts. The public may comment on these drafts by email at contactus@nvcogct.gov or by calling NVCOG’s offices at 203-757-0535. Comments may also be sent in writing to the NVCOG offices c/o Joanna Rogalski, Senior Regional Planner, 49 Leavenworth Street, Third Floor, Waterbruy, CT 06702.
MEETINGS WITH MUNICIPAL PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSIONS
We have met with NVCOG area municipal Planning and Zoning Commissions and Land Use Departments to better understand the planning issues they are addressing now and in the near future. Local official’s input has helped us as we write the plan, and we thank them for their help.
Surveys & Public Input
ASKING FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
Public participation is a key part of updating the RPOCD. From the general public, 136 people contributed their thoughts about the region’s future in an online survey we offered. We thank everyone who participated, and your thoughts helped us identify the land use issues and goals that are most important to the people who live and work here in the region. This will help us shape the final version of the plan, which will suggest strategies for our communities and regional non-profits to meet those goals over the next ten years. NVCOG will share the results of that survey on this page in the near future. And please check this page for further opportunities to comment on the RPOCD.
FAQ - What's an RPOCD?
Though there are legal reasons to write a Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), we think the practical ones are far more important. Learn more about POCD’s through the questions and answers below:
What is your current Regional Plan of Conservation and Development?
Current regional planning work is being guided by the three POCD’s from the three regional planning agencies which consolidated as the NVCOG in 2015: the Valley Council of Governments, the Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley, and the Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency.
What is a Regional Plan of Conservation and Development?
The Regional Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) is the NVCOG’s advisory policy document on the future physical development of the region. The POCD addresses planning issues which transcend municipal boundaries, such as water supply, economy, housing and transportation, presents a metropolitan perspective, and recommends general policies that will guide the NVCOG region’s residents and decision-makers in responding to future change.
Why prepare a regional POCD?
Legal reason: State Statute 8-35a mandates that regional council of governments prepare such a plan at least once every ten years.
Practical reason: We live in a regional community. Each city and town in the NVCOG region relies on each other for employment, housing, retail, healthcare, and other services and needs. The regional POCD provides planning linkages between towns and cities and offers policies to more efficiently coordinate development to improve its residents’ quality of life.
How will the Plan be used?
The Plan will guide NVCOG in setting priorities, reviewing state, regional and local proposals, implementing programs, and assisting member communities.
Relationship between Local, Regional and State Plans?
LOCAL: Each municipality in the region has a local POCD. These plans address local issues and are connected to local zoning codes.
STATE: At the State level, its POCD is much broader in scope. State POCD recommendations guide major state initiatives and local and regional projects involving state funding in excess of $200,000.
REGIONAL: The Regional Plan falls between the two, more specific than the State Plan and more general than the local plans. Furthermore, State statutes require a review of consistency between a municipal plan and regional and state POCD’s. Because the municipal plan is connected to zoning, it is typically the most influential. For this reason, the Regional POCD places a great deal of emphasis on local plans and zoning.
When will you update the POCD?
The NVCOG staff and Regional Planning Commission is currently in the process of reviewing the three regional POCD’s to create one new NVCOG POCD. Please check back to this page for NVCOG POCD progress updates and latest drafts.
I want to tell you what I think about the Regional POCD’s!
And we want to hear from you! Please check the “Surveys and Public Input” tab to participate in our current public online survey in English or encuesta en línea en Español, or contact Joanna Rogalski, Senior Regional Planner, at jrogalski@nvcogct.gov.
What We've Done
Existing Conditions Drafted Sections
DRAFT – Chapter 6 – Transportation
DRAFT – Section 7.5 – Brownfields
DRAFT-Chapter 8 – Infrastructure
DRAFT-Chapter 9 – Natural Environment
DRAFT – Chapter 10 – Natural Hazards
DRAFT – Chapter 11 – Environmental Justice Populations
Public Outreach Events:
Woodbury Planning Commission meeting – October 5, 2022 – Presentation
Middlebury Planning And Zoning Commission special meeting – October 6, 2022 – Presentation
Naugatuck Planning, Zoning & Inland Wetlands Commissions special meeting – October 13, 2022 – Presentation
Waterbury City Plan Commission – November 9, 2022 – Presentation
Derby Planning and Zoning Commission meeting – November 15, 2022 – Presentation
Oxford Planning and Zoning Commission meeting – November 15, 2022 – Presentation
Plymouth Special meeting of the Commissions of Inland Wetlands and Watercourses, Economic Development and Planning & Zoning – November 30, 2022 – Presentation
Southbury Planning Commission meeting – December 13, 2022 – Presentation
Watertown Planning and Zonning Commission meeting – January 4, 2023 – Presentation
Beacon Falls Planning and Zoning Commission meeting – January 19, 2023 – Presentation
Seymour Planning and Zoning Commission meeting – February 9, 2023 – Presentation
NRG Thomaston – Watertown Design & Construction
The Towns of Thomaston and Watertown received a federal Recreational Trails Program grant through the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to design and construct a trailhead parking area and short section of Naugatuck River Greenway (NRG) trail in Thomaston and to design critical features along the future NRG route in Watertown. NVCOG is administering the grant on behalf of the towns, and Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB) is the project engineer. The project is part of the larger 44-mile NRG trail that is planned to follow the Naugatuck River from Torrington to Derby.
The original purpose of the project was to design and construct a trailhead and trail on town property in Thomaston adjacent to the town water pollution control and animal control facilities connecting to an existing historic trolley bridge over Branch Brook, and design critical features including drainage and rail separation for a trail to be constructed in the future in Watertown. Investigation into the reuse of the Trolley Bridge revealed that it would be more cost effective to construct a new crossing. The scope was altered to use the limited construction funds to fully design a new crossing full design of a new crossing of Branch Brook.
The trail segment and trailhead parking in Thomaston will provide access to the NRG, Mattatuck and Branch Brook Trails via a new pedestrian bridge over Branch Brook that was designed as part of this project. Thomaston and Watertown each applied for Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program (LoTCIP) funding to construct sections of the NRG Trail in the respective towns.
Project Documents:
Design Plans:
Reports:
DRAFT Habitat Study
Trolley Bridge Assessment
Public Information Meeting (6/21/2018) Materials:
Staff contact:
Aaron Budris
Senior Regional Planner
abudris@nvcogct.gov