PRESS RELEASE: New Haven County Releases Draft Priority Climate Action Plan for Public Comment

For Immediate Release: January 18, 2024 

Contact:
Christine O’Neill
Environmental Planner II
203-489-0351
coneill@nvcogct.gov

A draft Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) has been released for New Haven County as part of the national Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program (CPRG). The draft PCAP is accessible at https://www.cprgct.org/ and public comment will be accepted until February 8th at 11:59 p.m. 

The goal of the CPRG program is to help states, regions, and tribes plan for and implement actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is funded through the Inflation Reduction Act and administered by the U.S. EPA. 

Earlier this year, the South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG), with support from the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), received one million dollars in a noncompetitive planning grant through the CPRG. Their planning area encompasses the entirely of New Haven County, which covers 27 municipalities from New Haven in the south to Waterbury in the north.  

In order to execute the first deliverable of the PCAP, SCRCOG hired UMass Amherst’s Regional Planning Studio and NARSLAB. Throughout the summer and fall, SCRCOG, NVCOG, and UMass developed the PCAP with considerable input from the community. Engagement efforts included tabling at farmers markets and a housing expo, holding hybrid meetings with interactive polling, and maintaining a dynamic website with information and resources.  

The group also released and promoted a survey to capture specific feedback from residents, which is still live and can be taken at https://umassamherst.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4TmgsqGfnjVQEke

The draft PCAP strives to cover the foundational elements of a climate plan while incorporating perspectives from the community and centering environmental justice.  The plan includes: 

  • An inventory of greenhouse gas emissions in New Haven County by sector (transportation, buildings, electricity, industry, and waste).  
  • An examination of the low-income and disadvantaged communities within the region, including benefits to these areas as a result of climate action. 
  • A list of potential mitigation strategies, ranked for both emissions reduction potential and co-benefits such as workforce development and air pollution reduction. 
  • A communications and outreach toolkit to be implemented during the next grant deliverable: the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan. 

“The Priority Climate Action Plan is the first of three regional Climate Action Plans that will establish clear goals and recommendations on how to improve air quality across the planning region,” says Project Manager Ben Lovejoy. “The funding from this grant program has created an unprecedented opportunity to develop real solutions for how the region can address the impacts of climate change.”  

Public comment on the PCAP can either be submitted through a questionnaire accessible at https://forms.office.com/r/h0BW88ar8v, or by sending an email to smcamp@scrcog.org. The three week comment period closes February 8th at 11:59 p.m. More information on New Haven County’s CPRG project is available at https://www.cprgct.org/.  

PRESS RELEASE: Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments Designated “SolSmart Silver” for Solar Energy Leadership

For Immediate Release: January 17, 2024

Contact:
Desira Blanchard
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments   
203-489-0353
dblanchard@nvcogct.org

(Waterbury, CT) – The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) received a Silver designation from the national SolSmart program for encouraging the growth of clean, affordable solar energy in their region. 

As a SolSmart Silver designee, NVCOG has adopted nationally recognized best practices to advance solar market growth. The region worked with SolSmart’s no-cost technical assistance team to increase local knowledge of and access to resources on solar energy for the benefit of the 19 communities they serve. 

SolSmart is led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. Over 500 cities, towns, counties, and regional organizations have achieved SolSmart designation since the program launched in 2016. 

NVCOG first achieved SolSmart Bronze designation last year and has now advanced to Silver designation by achieving additional SolSmart criteria. 

“Paving the way for clean energy in our region is one of the many ways we’re working to build sustainable communities throughout the Valley,” says Environmental Planning Director Aaron Budris. “By providing training and resources for our municipalities, we increase their capacity to handle the influx of solar development without putting unnecessary burdens on developers and residents.” 

To achieve SolSmart Silver designation, NVCOG has trained permitting and inspection staff on best practices for permitting solar energy and solar-plus storage systems. Their most recent training on solar inspections welcomed over 100 attendees from throughout the state, including stakeholders from private firms, academia, and tribal nations. NVCOG has also created a robust online solar hub with resources for municipalities, developers, and residents. It can be reached at nvcogct.gov/solar. These and other actions taken will make it faster, easier, and more affordable for local residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to install solar in this community.  

Regional and local governments achieve Solsmart designation by meeting established criteria that are based on national best practices for building solar-friendly communities. The SolSmart team of experts offers no-cost technical assistance and resources to help communities put these practices into action. Those that meet the criteria are designated SolSmart Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze. Any city, town, county, and regional organization is eligible to join the program. Interested communities can learn more at SolSmart.org. 

Left to right: Rick Dunne (Executive Director), Christine O'Neill (Environmental Planner II), and Aaron Budris (Environmental Planning Director) stand with SolSmart Silver Plaque.

NEWS RELEASE: Governor Lamont Announces $7.2 Million in State Grants To Support the Remediation and Assessment of Blighted Properties in Nine Municipalities

Seal for the Office of the Connecticut Governor

Click here to access the press release from the office of Governor Ned Lamont

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that he has approved the release of $7.2 million in state grants that will be used to support the remediation and assessment of blighted properties in nine municipalities across Connecticut, consisting of 713 acres of land. The funds will support these communities with investigating and cleaning up these properties so they can be redeveloped and put back into productive use to support economic growth.

The grants, which are being released through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Brownfield Remediation and Development Program, will leverage $228,981,747 in private investments and are expected to create approximately 853 jobs. The overwhelming majority of the funds – 94% – are being directed to distressed municipalities, where developable land is often scarce and economic revitalization efforts take on added importance.

“Nobody wants to live in a community that has old, polluted, blighted properties that sit vacant for decades when this land could be used for productive purposes, such as business growth and new housing,” Governor Lamont said. “By partnering with municipalities and developers, we can clean up these lifeless properties and bring them back from the dead.”

“DECD’s brownfields program is critical to building vibrancy in our communities,” DECD Interim Commissioner Dan O’Keefe said. “We continue to invest in remediation and assessment activities because they are the linchpin to opening up new opportunities for private investment and economic growth at the local level.”

The grants announced today under this round include:

Remediation

  • Ansonia: $3,800,000 grant to dispose of existing demolition debris pile and remediate the 8.56-acre property located at 31-165 Olsen Drive to prepare the property for redevelopment. Remediation will consist of the excavation and off-site disposal of approximately 9,000 tons of contaminated fill and implementation of an engineered control. Following remediation, a new multi-sport indoor/outdoor complex will be constructed that will include a 49,000-square foot all-sports training building, a 39,000-square foot indoor soccer facility and a FIFA league size soccer field with bleachers, lighting, and parking facilities. The multi-facility complex will have a total private investment of $16,400,000.
  • New Haven: $990,000 grant to perform soil remediation, excavation, and disposal of impacted soils on the 0.8-acre parcel located at 265 South Orange Street (formerly home to the New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum). This will enable the construction of a 277,435 sq. ft. Class A life sciences and tech office building.
  • New Haven: $995,600 grant to abate and demolish the four vacant and dilapidated buildings on the 1.73-acre site located at 10 Liberty Street. The cleanup work will enable the construction of a five-story, 150-unit affordable housing complex.

Assessment

  • Ansonia: $200,000 grant to further the investigation of the environmental issues at the Former Ansonia Copper and Brass properties located at 75 Liberty Street and 7 Riverside Drive.
  • Danbury: $200,000 grant to perform an assessment on the adjoining properties at 72-80 Maple Avenue and East Franklin Street, former home to warehouse operations for Amphenol, which will help determine possible future use for the property.
  • East Hartford: $178,800 grant to perform various site assessments at a former industrial paper mill site at 87 Church Street. Redevelopment plans include constructing the country’s first hydro-powered liquor distillery accompanied with a tasting room.
  • Griswold: $110,000 grant to conduct investigations of the former repair garage and gas station located at 1554-1560 Voluntown Road to determine the type and extent of subsurface contaminants on the site.
  • Lisbon: $120,000 grant to conduct assessments of the former Lisbon Textile Prints company site located at 99 River Road. This will allow the town to rezone the property and enable future mixed-use and commercial uses. Funds will also be used to develop a remedial action plan.
  • New Milford: $200,000 grant for the assessment of three properties, including the buildings located at 6 Youngs Field Road, 20 Youngs Field Road, and 72 Housatonic Avenue (currently used by the town’s Department of Public Works) to determine a remediation strategy that will allow for future remediation and development of the properties as a whole. The Department of Public Works is preparing to relocate to a new site.
  • Putnam: $200,000 grant to update and complete the environmental assessment of the former Putnam Foundry site located at 2 Furnace Street and the John M. Dean Company located at 20 Mechanics Street to determine a remediation plan that will accommodate future mixed-use housing and commercial space.
  • Sprague: $200,000 grant to conduct additional site investigations of the former Paper Manufacturing site located at 130 Inland Road in Baltic. The assessments will determine the extent of subsurface contaminants on the site to allow for future remediation and current waste treatment expansion and other potential uses.

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

Twitter: @GovNedLamont
Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont

NVCOG Engineers Take on Transportation Resilience International Conference on Extreme Weather and Climate Change in Washington, D.C.

In November, NVCOG Transportation Engineers Karen Svetz and Kevin Ellis attended the Transportation Resilience International Conference on Extreme Weather and Climate Change Challenges held at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, D.C.

Attendees learned about emerging best practices and state-of-the-art research results on how to adapt transportation networks to the potential impacts of climate change and extreme weather events that are becoming increasingly prevalent in our country and around the world.

During the conference, presenters from the Federal Highway Administration, other states, as well as other countries, shared how they conduct research, collect data, analyze the data, quantify the risk, and prepare resilience plans. The objective of the planning is to identify resilience needs, develop specific strategies to anticipate, prepare for and mitigate events that put the transportation network at risk of disruption and damage.

Climate-related events can damage roads, bridges, railways, ports, and other transportation assets. These events include river and stream flooding, changes in sea level, drought, excessive rainfall, wildfires, changes in temperature, and the like.

With the likelihood of these events increasing in frequency, it is important to create plans and strategies with the expectation that the damages, deaths, and disruption to the affected communities can be better anticipated and reduced. 

The sign of the National Academy of Sciences
The sign of the National Academy of Sciences
Speakers take the stage during the Plenary Session on Advancing Resilience in Surface Transportation - Roads, Rail, Port, and Transit
Speakers take the stage during the Plenary Session on Advancing Resilience in Surface Transportation - Roads, Rail, Port, and Transit
Presentation on Transportation Asset Management & Resilience
Presentation on Transportation Asset Management & Resilience
Presentation slide of Natural System Management Practices
Presentation slide of Natural System Management Practices

PRESS RELEASE: Trash Reduction Pilot “Green Storytime” Scheduled for Thursday, December 28th in Middlebury

CONTACT:
Tom Dougherty
Environmental Planner
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
(203) 725-3096
tdougherty@nvcogct.gov

Trash Reduction Pilot “Green Storytime”  Scheduled for Thursday, December 28th in Middlebury 

(Middlebury, CT) – The Middlebury Public Library, with support from the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), will host a Green Storytime for children ages 4 and up. This Storytime aims to bring awareness about recycling and sustainable waste habits to the community. This event will be held at the Middlebury Public Library located at 30 Crest Rd, Middlebury, CT 06762 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 28, 2023. Children will learn about reducing, reusing, and recycling waste, and have the opportunity to play a recycling game and do a craft. Registration is required. To register call 203-758-2634 or sign up in person at the library. 

This event continues NVCOG’s efforts to promote Middlebury’s Trash Reduction Pilot, which began on July 1st for Transfer Station users and aims to reduce trash and divert organics.  The pilot is funded by the Sustainable Materials Management Grants Program from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. To learn more about NVCOG’s role in this program, visit https://nvcogct.gov/project/current-projects/smm-trash-reduction-pilot-program/.  

Middlebury’s pilot involves the distribution of free trash bags (orange) and food scrap bags (green) to Transfer Station users. Residents are asked to dispose of green food scrap bags in a “food waste” container located at the Transfer Station and dispose of their orange trash bags in the usual dumpster.  

The initial year’s supply of bags will be available at the Middlebury Transfer Station if you have not already received yours. A broad base of support for these programs among community organizations across the state shows promise for solving CT’s waste crisis.   

Community Conversations: Cheshire, CT is a Beacon of Proactive Development and Community Engagement

Crafted by NVCOG staff, each installment of the the “Community Conversations” spotlight serves as a community-driven article. In these sessions, staff engage with a specific community to explore various topics of their choosing. 

Written by Heidy Coronel, Communications Associate
Informational poster on Bartlem Park South fence: “What’s up with this? Improvements in the works!”

Cheshire’s Remarkable Journey

Cheshire, Connecticut, nestled in the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, stands as an extraordinary exemplar of proactive development and community engagement. Our recent exploration alongside Mike Glidden, Cheshire’s Town Planner, offered a firsthand glimpse into the remarkable developments transforming this community.

Cheshire’s success hinges on two pivotal themes: placemaking and relationship building. The Town’s emphasis on creating a vibrant, attractive community, bolstered by excellent amenities and an exceptional school system, lures families and professionals alike. Proactive planning, community-wide investment, and a culture of relationship building has spurred development, bringing positive dividends to the Town.

Growth Story

Cheshire’s evolution over the past few years has been nothing short of remarkable. This includes the addition of 700 apartments, several of which carry deed restrictions, alongside the construction of 500 new single-family homes. Furthermore, a modernization project led to the establishment of two new schools. A standout feature of this growth story is the Bartlem Park South Project, anticipated to be completed in fall 2024, which includes an amphitheater, walking areas, passive recreation spaces, and high-quality fields for both residents and visitors. Innovative signages, equipped with QR codes, reflect Cheshire’s commitment to keeping citizens informed about their community.

What becomes abundantly clear in Cheshire’s development landscape is the high demand across various land use types, spanning industrial, commercial, residential, and municipal sectors. This demand is a testament to the town’s growing allure and potential for prosperous development.

Excavator’s arm scoops soil at construction site for new housing development
Excavator’s arm scoops soil at construction site for new housing development
Entrance view of the new Lakeside of Cheshire apartment complex located at 50 Hazel Drive, Cheshire, CT
Entrance view of the new Lakeside of Cheshire apartment complex located at 50 Hazel Drive, Cheshire, CT
Lakeside of Cheshire apartment complex located at 50 Hazel Drive, Cheshire, CT
Lakeside of Cheshire apartment complex located at 50 Hazel Drive, Cheshire, CT
Napoli Foods, Inc. trailer in Cheshire, CT
Napoli Foods, Inc. trailer in Cheshire, CT
Ball and Socket Arts center located in Cheshire, CT
Ball and Socket Arts center located in Cheshire, CT

Placemaking and Relationship Building

Cheshire demonstrates a commitment to placemaking, understanding that communities that invest in their image attract interest from various sectors. This commitment entails meticulous consideration of a project’s appearance from the pedestrian perspective and strategies to enhance public interaction with developments.

The remarkable achievements in Cheshire’s development efforts are undeniably a result of a collaborative effort. Mike Glidden, Town Planner, identified key stakeholders, such as a supportive Town Council, dedicated commissioners, engaged community members, Sean Kimball, the Town Manager, Andrew Martelli, the Coordinator of Economic Development & Grant Writing, and committed volunteers. Their synchronized collaboration is a testament to the significance of unity in community-driven development. Effective inter-departmental coordination has been pivotal to Cheshire’s successful initiatives.

Cheshire’s exceptional growth and community-driven development are emblematic of the power of synergy, forward-thinking planning, and active community participation. The experiences and insights derived from Cheshire’s journey are valuable for communities aspiring to mold their future. By the end of the tour, we were reminded that the phrase “It takes a village” holds true, especially in the context of progress-driven planning.

Mike Glidden, Cheshire Town Planner stands in front of the Cheshire Town Hall

Mike Glidden – The Town Planner

Mike Glidden, Cheshire’s Town Planner, is instrumental in the town’s development journey. His commitment to community involvement and relationship building has fostered effective planning and has cultivated an environment where developers want to invest. Mike’s approachability, open-door policy, and resilience are assets in this intricate role.

Mike also expressed deep respect and admiration for the town’s former Town Planner, Bill Voelker, AICP, who laid the groundwork for many of the master plans currently coming to fruition. Bill’s philosophy, “It’s their town; I’m just visiting,” reflects the fundamental principle of community-driven development and engagement.

Approachability and Community Knowledge

Mike emphasizes the essential qualities of approachability and judicious decision-making. Mike actively engages in comprehending individuals’ property goals, expertly navigating the delicate balance between personal desires and community regulations. While the best solutions create developments that meet the community’s and developer’s needs, Mike acknowledges that a planner’s role includes knowing when to say “no”, a practice that saves valuable time for all stakeholders involved. Deep familiarity with the community and a commitment to treating all individuals equally are at the core of effective planning.

Cheshire is distinguished by its proactive approach to planning, evident in their initiative to update the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) prior to their 2026 requirement.  Mike recognized the present development interests across sectors and the dynamic needs of the Town as the driving force behind the early plan update. He emphasized that this approach was made achievable through the collaborative support of the Town Council, and the Planning and Zoning Commission, illustrating how the Town’s joint efforts contribute to enhanced planning.  

A notable success story in Cheshire is the West Main Street project, marked by extensive community engagement. Over 100 individuals attended a community meeting, underscoring the community’s active participation in the development process. The town utilized a range of communication channels, including mailers, a dedicated website, and strategic use of social media.

Mike Glidden engages in conversation with Savannah-Nicole Villalba, AICP, AZT, Community Planning Director at NVCOG.

Cheshire’s Unique Essence

Cheshire, CT offers an insightful example of what can be achieved through proactive development, community engagement, and effective planning. This picturesque town is living proof that, through collaboration and unity, communities can reach new heights while preserving their unique charm. Cheshire’s remarkable journey serves as an inspiration for municipalities far and wide.

Stay Connected

Contact the Cheshire Planning and Development Department located at 84 South Main Street Cheshire, CT 06410. Telephone: 203 271-6670 Fax: 203 271-6688

Sean Kimball, Town Manager townmanager@cheshirect.org

Mike Glidden, Town Planner mglidden@cheshirect.org

Andrew Martelli, Coordinator of Economic Development & Grant Writing andrew.martelli@cheshirect.org

Learn more about Cheshire’s municipal initiatives on the town’s official website.

Explore a range of valuable resources and NVCOG projects on the Cheshire NVCOG web page.

Municipal Land Use Best Practice: Woodbury’s Variance Guide

The quarterly “Municipal Land Use Best Practice” spotlight, curated by the NVCOG Community Planning staff, is dedicated to showcasing municipal best practices. Designed to serve as a valuable resource for Town Planners, Commissioners, and land use staff, each edition features an exemplary initiative from a municipality in the Naugatuck Valley region.

Written by Emely Ricci, Community Planner

William Agresta, AICP, MLA, the Town Planner in Woodbury, CT, shared how Woodbury’s Land Use Department facilitates education and informed decision making for variance applications. Will created a comprehensive document outlining the variance process: what is and what isn’t a hardship, the threshold a variance must meet, and the elements a Zoning Board of Appeals considers when making their decision.  

The purpose for creating the guide centered around two focal reasons. One, for applicants to have a foundational understanding of what a variance is to be able to participate in the process; and two, for commission members to continue making informed decisions in alignment with the community’s regulatory policies. The guide is provided and discussed with all applicants before an application for a variance is submitted. 

Woodbury Town Hall (Source: Town of Woodbury)

Will works to connect with and educate his community members when it comes to variances. In doing so, he helps an applicant to look at alternatives that are in harmony with a municipality’s regulations avoiding a variance, while still meeting the needs of the applicant, saving them both time and cost. 

The guide is attached to each staff report for a variance application.  The intention is to remind Commissioners of their purview when deliberating an application. The guide is also readily available on the Town’s website for residents to access as applicants or informed community members. 

Will’s approach towards the variance process is an example of how municipalities can facilitate consistent and accessible dissemination of information for members of the community.  

Download the guide

Stay Connected

Contact the Woodbury Land Use Department located at 281 Main St South Woodbury, CT. 06798. Telephone: 203-263-3467

William Agresta, AICP, MLA, Town Planner wagresta@woodburyct.org

Learn more about Woodbury on the town’s official website.

Explore a range of valuable resources and NVCOG projects on the Woodbury NVCOG web page.

PRESS RELEASE: NVCOG Implements EcoInteractive to Revolutionize Transportation Planning Workflow

For Immediate Release: November 29, 2023 

Contact:
Richard Donovan   
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments   
203-757-0535   
Rdonovan@nvcogct.gov 

(Waterbury, CT) –  The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) proudly announces the integration of EcoInteractive, a cutting-edge planning software, to streamline the workflow of the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program  (LOTCIP). By integrating this innovative technology, NVCOG aims to ensure effective collaboration and achieve sustainable transportation planning goals. 

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a critical planning tool that guides the allocation of federal funds for transportation projects in our region. Metropolitan Planning Organizations maintain a TIP to manage federal transportation spending, ensuring that projects work to enhance safety, capacity, and reliability of the region’s transportation network. By applying EcoInteractive’s advanced capabilities, NVCOG aims to significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of the TIP process, ultimately leading to more effective project selection and implementation.  

EcoInteractive offers NVCOG a centralized platform that allows for improved coordination and communication between the COG’s staff, municipalities, and CTDOT. As MPOs must approve all federal spending before projects can begin, streamlining this process will reduce delays and errors in the process while also providing additional visibility into projects and plans to the public. Similarly, the LOTCIP program, which uses state funds managed by the COG to support municipal transportation projects, will be centralized within the system to ensure that the public remains informed of project progress while also ensuring a simple and effective means of communication between the COG and municipal project sponsors.

A key feature of the new system, the public facing website, will not only allow the public to see proposed changes before they are adopted but will provide more project information, regular status updates, and the opportunity for the public to ask questions or provide comment on projects and changes.   

“We are thrilled to integrate EcoInteractive into our planning workflow for the Transportation Improvement Program,” said Rick Dunne, Executive Director of NVCOG. “We are taking a significant step towards increasing our efficiency and transparency. This partnership will strengthen our ability to better serve our communities.” 

Sustainability Spotlight: Blight and Native Landscaping

Dive into the ‘Sustainability Spotlight’ by the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, a municipal guide to blending sustainability with land use regulations. Uncover creative ideas and hands-on approaches to foster a greener, more sustainable future. 
 
Written by Christine O’Neill, Environmental Planner II

Many Connecticut municipalities have adopted blight ordinances to regulate unsightly properties that lower surrounding home values or create public health and safety issues. Such ordinances may be enforced by zoning officials, the police department, or a combination of the two. While these regulations serve an important role, they may unwittingly outlaw native landscaping from your community. 

Native landscaping uses plants that have historically grown in a given area to achieve ecological benefits. Native plants provide food for pollinators and wildlife, require less watering and maintenance than ornamental counterparts, and launch deeper root systems that prevent erosion and exchange nutrients with the soil. Another component of native landscaping is maintaining or emulating the natural processes of the ecosystem, such as not raking leaves in the fall or cutting back dormant plants. Two movements associated with native landscaping are “No Mow May” (allowing insects to emerge from overwintering while providing food sources for early pollinators) and “Leave the Leaves” (intentionally leaving layers of leaf-litter and duff, which are valuable for soil health, insect and amphibian habitat, and wildlife cover).   

Embracing the beauty of an untamed garden, a West Hartford resident participates in the No Mow May initiative. Source: CT Insider
Embracing the beauty of an untamed garden, a West Hartford resident participates in the No Mow May initiative. Source: CT Insider
A native garden in Wolcott with “overgrown” plants. Source: Christine O'Neill
A native garden in Wolcott with “overgrown” plants. Source: Christine O'Neill
Local ordinances label leaves as "rubbish," potentially marking a property as blighted. Yet, leaves are crucial winter insulation for wildlife. Source: Xerces Society
Local ordinances label leaves as "rubbish," potentially marking a property as blighted. Yet, leaves are crucial winter insulation for wildlife. Source: Xerces Society

Compared to the highly manicured gardening we often see, a native garden may look unruly – even falling into the definition of blight. Several municipalities in our region consider the following to be elements of blight: overgrown vegetation, leaf litter, grasses over a given number of inches, and “weeds.1”  

Consider amending your definition of blight to exclude native landscaping as described above. The Town of Cheshire in our region already excludes “areas maintained in their original naturally wooded state, or a natural field state” from its definition, while the City of Stamford carves out an exemption for “managed natural meadow landscapes.” Confer with your municipal counsel to ensure your proposed language is legally sound and enforceable.  

[1] Note: “Weeds” does not refer to any particular group of plants – it is a descriptive term used to characterize any plants that are undesirable in a given environment. One neighbor’s weed is another neighbor’s wildflower.

Please send any questions or suggestions to Christine O’Neill, Environmental Planner II at coneill@nvcogct.gov. 

PUBLIC NOTICE: Elm Street Reconstruction Project Hybrid Public Meeting 

The Town of Thomaston will conduct a Hybrid Public Information Meeting concerning the Elm Street Reconstruction Project. The meeting will be held on Monday, November 20, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at the Lena Morton Gallery, Thomaston Town Hall, 158 Main Street, Thomaston, CT 06787. A Zoom option is available at https://bit.ly/46IQ1FH . The meeting will be live streamed via YouTube Live on the NVCOG YouTube channel at youtube.com/@nvcogct.  

Formal Presentation will begin at 7:00 p.m. A Question and Answer (Q&A) session will immediately follow the presentation. Residents, commuters, business owners, and other interested individuals are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to learn about and discuss the proposed project.  

The project’s scope will encompass a full-depth reconstruction of the road, upgrading the existing storm drainage system, installing pedestrian and cyclist facilities, which will include closing gaps in the existing sidewalk network. This project will revitalize Elm Street from Maple Street in the south to East Main Street in the north. Elm Street will connect to the Naugatuck River Greenway, a 44-mile multi-use trail that is being developed, which will attract tourism, economic development, and improve the quality of life for residents.  

Individuals with limited internet access can listen to the meeting by calling +1 929 205 6099 and entering the Participant Code when prompted: 836 8159 1950. A recording of the formal presentation will be posted to the NVOG YouTube following the event and closed captioning (including non-English translation options) will be available at that time.  

Language assistance is available to the public at no cost. For language assistance requests contact Desira Blanchard, Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator with 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.