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| CURRENT PROJECTS |
Bolton Route 44 Planning Project
The Town of Bolton is at a unique crossroads with respect to economic development. A sewer spur will be coming through Bolton along Route 44, a commercially zoned area. The Town sees this as an opportunity for some well-planned, thoughtful economic growth. Town boards and commissions are in agreement that whatever development occurs, it should respect the principles of "smart growth" or "livable communities". Most elected and appointed officials have a good understanding of those concepts; now the Town is ready to take the next step and put systems in place to encourage development in this mode.
The sewer project is required under a consent order by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and includes the Towns of Bolton and Vernon. While it primarily will address significant public health and water quality issues around Lower and Middle Bolton Lakes, it will also generate development interest in the area. The Town of Bolton would like to be ready for that development with a plan that clearly specifies the community's economic development, land use, and transportation system goals for the area.
The Town of Bolton has contracted with the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) to conduct a Route 44 land use/transportation study and assist the Town in implementing a plan of redevelopment consistent with local, regional and state plans of conservation and development. A Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant was obtained to fund this effort. The planning project will analyze current land uses and markets, transportation infrastructure and access points, and environmental constraints as well as engage the public in the planning process. We will also look at how this corridor can connect to the historic rural center of Bolton (south of Route 44) and the potential to amend the State Plan of Conservation and Development to preserve the rural center while allowing development along portions of Route 44. Finally, we expect that after the initial research is concluded, we will determine where it makes sense to concentrate development along Route 44 in nodes and where we want to preserve rural character.
We anticipate that this project will offer a model for how communities can implement smart growth development practices as an alternative to strip commercial development within a major transportation corridor, in an effort to better coordinate transportation and land use concerns.
For additional information, contact Mary Ellen Kowalewski, ext. 22 or mkowalewski@crcog.org |
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