Inconsistancies with Conservation and Development

Below you can read the East Haven Plan of Conservation and Development that was adopted by the East Haven Zoning Board on September 5, 2007. In this document there are some key points that are contrary to the development of 155 Short Beach Road or otherwise known as Short Beach Commons.

1. This plan called for no additional development in the Farm River Flood Plain
2. 55 and Older are better suited for areas North of RT. 80, east of Mill Street and West of Maple Street.
3. Open space in the should be purchased by the public or preserved.

These three points say volumes of what should be done at this location and that is absolutely nothing. Leave this space open space.

Here is the September 5, 2007 Report provided by Brendan Toller.

SHORT BEACH COMMONS:

MAJOR CONFLICTS WITH EAST HAVEN PLAN OF

CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT

Section 8-23 of the Connecticut State Statues requires that each municipality

prepare and adopt a Plan of Conservation and Development and update it once

every ten years.

The purpose of the Plan of Conservation and Development is to record the best

thinking of the Town as to its future physical growth and to give direction to both

public and private development. While its objectives are long-range, the Plan

should be capable of offering guidance for short-range land use decisions upon

adoption. Although it is often difficult to address immediate issues and problems

with long-range concepts and principles,

to long-term purposes can dilute, even nullify, the ultimate effectiveness

and impact of the immediate solution.

Section 8-3a. From the 2009 Connecticut Zoning Code States:

short-term solutions without respect

Findings of consistency of proposed regulations or boundaries with the plan of

development. Referral of proposed regulations or boundaries to planning

commission. (a) In any municipality which has a combined planning and zoning

commission operating under the general statutes or any special act,

commission shall state on the record its findings on

consistency of a proposed zoning regulation or

boundaries or changes thereof with the plan of

development of the municipality.

the

From the East Haven Plan of Conservation and Development Approved by the

Planning and Zoning Commission September 5

2017:

th, 2007. Next plan adoption-

KEY PAGES/PASSAGES NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE

DEVELOPMENT OF SHORT BEACH COMMONS:

Page 86:

Other Land Use Recommendations

9.No additional development should occur within the Farm River floodplain.

Page 89:

Other Land Use Recommendations

21. Additional housing for senior citizens would be good use for vacant

and underutilized properties on the south side of Route 80, east of Mill

Street and west of Maple Street.

**(155 SHORT BEACH RD NOT WITHIN THIS SECTION)**

22. The open lands along the Farm River should be publicly acquired or

otherwise preserved.

Page 5:

II. Goals, Policies, and Strategies

Section A: Primary Goals of the Plan, Open Space

1. East Haven is a developed community and its remaining natural resources are

extremely important to the quality of life of the Town’s residents.

The preservation of the remaining environmentally significant natural areas

and other environmental resources should be of the highest priority.

space acquisition and preservation should be a major policy initiative of the

Town.

Page 9:

Section C: Environmental Preservation

The natural resources are primary factors of the character and quality of life in

East Haven.

disregarded in the past, the natural resources and environment of the Town

are major factors of the Town’s character.

community, with almost two miles of coastline along Long Island Sound.

Although largely developed. East Haven still contains large areas within its

natural state.

important natural features that contribute to the quality of life of those

neighborhoods.

OpenAlthough many of these natural resources have beenEast Haven is a coastalEven within long established neighborhoods, there are

The plan recognizes the importance of the protection of these features, in

conjunction with beneficial development.

the land that contains these unique and valuable resources, steering

development onto more suitable land.

The emphasis is on preservation of

Page 10:

Overall Goals

1. The preservation of East Haven’s natural resources and open spaces

for the benefit of current and future residents should be of the

highest priority given the dwindling supply of developed land within

the Town.

2. Recognize the uniqueness of East Haven as a shoreline community and

take advantage of the coastal resources for the benefits of the residents of

the community.

Overall Policies

1.

characteristics of the land, and the Town should direct future

development to those areas most capable of supporting it. The

natural characteristics of much of East Haven’s vacant land place

limitations on future development.

Future development needs to be more harmonious with the natural

2.

Town’s growth and development, and take action to preserve and

enhance these resources.

3. Protect remaining significant natural areas, by utilizing a full range of

tools available to the Town.

Recognize that East Haven’s coastal resources are important to the

4. Cooperate with Federal, State and Regional agencies to improve the

water quality of Long Island Sound…

6. Recognize the importance of the tidal marshes to the ecology of the

Sound and the quality of life of Town Residents, and protect

marshes.

7. Preserve the quality of the Town’s bodies of fresh water, so that they

may be used for public recreation and environmental conservation.

8. Protect the groundwater resources of the Town…

10. Minimize the potential for the loss of life or property due to flooding

by careful controlling and limiting development in designated flood

prone areas.

Page 11:

11. Protect inland wetland areas from development that impairs their

ability to store floodwater, to control erosion, to recharge and purify

surface and groundwater and to support wildlife.

Overall Strategies

The problem of the periodic flooding of East Haven neighborhoods along

the Farm River and in coastal areas probably cannot be solved to any great

extent solely through structural improvements, although some minor

improvements may be achieved.

issues and problems can best be addressed on the basis of the limits of the

drainage basin, which often cross municipal boundaries. Therefore, the solutions

to drainage problems should be on a basin-wide basis, through cooperation

between the municipalities that share the drainage basin. There should be a

three pronged approach to solving the Town’s flooding problems…

It is important to recognize that all drainage

…Continue to enforce the floodplain regulations through the prevention of

inappropriate new development from within the floodplain. Any new

development in the floodplain should be built to contemporary standards

for withstanding floodwaters and not exacerbate the flooding situation

downstream. However, in areas of severe hazard, new construction should

be prohibited.

Page 12:

4. Continue to enforce the wetland regulations. There should not be

significant development on wetland areas, especially when the

wetlands are significant natural resources. Generally, alteration

should be considered only when there is no feasible and prudent

alternative. Wetland alteration should be permitted only in

conjunction with mitigation procedures, which results in improved

and/or replacement wetlands.

Page 26:

Housing Policies

2. Preserve the integrity of existing neighborhoods, by preventing the

introduction of incompatible land uses….

4. Encourage the clustering of new housing units, in appropriate

locations and quantity, to preserve valuable open space, in a manner to

enhance the neighborhood…

5. The zoning regulations should reflect the pattern of development

within the existing residential neighborhoods.

10. ...new multi-family development should be of a lower density and

higher quality than much of what has occurred in East Haven in the

past.

Page 42:

Open Space Policies

1. Pursue the protection of environmentally significant land through such

methods as acquisition acceptance of donations of open space, purchase

or donation of development rights, and conservation easements.

2. The Town should aggressively pursue the acquisition and preservation of

open space lands that help achieve the following environmental

objectives: A. Protection of watersheds of water supply facilities.

B. Protection of environmentally sensitive areas.

C. Preservation of unique geological and

environmental areas…

F. Creation of open space linkages.

G. Prevention of damage from flooding.

H. Preservation of agricultural lands.

3.

protecting larger areas of open space and open space corridors that can

be created by the protection of adjacent parcels, to create linkages and to

maximize the visual environmental effect of protection.

areas should be targeted for protection:

-Farm River tidal wetlands…

-Farm River corridor.

Open space protection and acquisition should be oriented towardsThe following

Page 43:

Open Space Strategies

7. The tidal wetlands along the East Haven and Farm Rivers should be

preserved as open space. Much of the land is tidal marshes, but there are

some passable areas. Public access to these areas should be obtained

wherever possible, through purchase or land dedication in conjunction

with development…

8. Encourage the formulation of a Farm River Watershed Plan that would

address the important environmental issues that affect the river, such as

water quality management of the flood plain, storm water discharge and

flooding…

SEE OPEN SPACE MAP ATTACHED

Conservation and Development.

Page 53:

General Land Use Considerations

, included in the East Haven Plan of

2. The overall land use pattern of East Haven is generally established.

Although certain development opportunities exist throughout the Town, the

focus of the land use plan in most of the Town should be on either

maintaining or improving the existing patterns of development…

4. The residential neighborhoods are fundamentally sound. The primary

potential threat to many residential areas is adverse impacts from

incompatible land uses.

Page 54:

6. Extensive areas of Town are subject to river or coastal flooding,

including many developed areas.