Land Use

Communities make decisions about the ways in which they interact with, develop, and care for land. This requires local land use decision–makers to consider and balance the ecological, social, and economic systems that shape how land is used.

Common land use considerations include, but are not limited to, water protection, transportation, housing, land conservation, and the economy. 

Municipalities use both planning and zoning as tools to steward the use of their land.  

• Planning creates an opportunity for communities to establish future land use policies that set medium- and long-range goals for how land is used.  
• Zoning is a key tool that can be used to transform plans and policies from goals into implemented realities.  

A community’s land use decisions ultimately shape the quality of life of its residents. Decisions made by a community can affect how we interact with our environment and the quality of our ecosystems.

A regional planning perspective allows for inter-municipal analysis of interconnected environmental and transportation systems and housing and economic markets.

Regional land use approaches encourage regional cooperation. NVCOG does this by hosting a Regional Planning Commission (RPC), an advisory subcommittee of the Council, which addresses regional development and conservation issues.

In addition, 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.

The RPC addresses the referral process by utilizing NVCOG staff who review the proposal for potential intermunicipal impacts and regional significance.

Learn more about Statutory Land Use Referrals. Referrals should be addressed to Savannah-Nicole Villalba, AICP, AZT, Community Planning Director, and submitted to NVCOG at referrals@nvcogct.gov.

Regional land use plans provide guidance to local decision-makers to help them make well-informed decisions that will benefit their community and the broader region.

Current regional planning efforts are guided by local, state, and regional plans, including: Local Land Use Plans, Plans of Conservation and Development and Affordable Housing Plans; Regional Plans created by other divisions of the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, including the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and Hazard Mitigation Plan.

• The State of Connecticut’s Conservation and Development Plan and the three Regional Plans of Conservation and Development created for the region’s municipalities prior to the 2015 consolidation into NVCOG. These include: 

• • The Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency’s Plan of Conservation and Development covers Bristol and Plymouth.
  • The Central Naugatuck Valley Regional Plan of Conservation and Development covers Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Cheshire, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Prospect, Southbury, Thomaston, Watertown, Wolcott, Waterbury and Woodbury.
  • The Valley Council of Governments Plan of Conservation and Development covers Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, and Shelton. 

The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments is currently working on its first Regional Plan of Conservation and Development.  

The Education and Training page offers municipal land use professionals with tailored education and training opportunities and materials. The Resource Library page provides essential tools to support effective land use planning.