The Columbia Planning & Zoning Commission is pleased to announce that it has completed its DRAFT Plan of Conservation & Development 2026-2036 and has scheduled a public hearing for discussion and review on Tuesday, May 26th at 7:00 p.m.
Connecticut State Statutes require each town to prepare and adopt a Plan of Conservation and Development (PoCD) every ten years. The purpose of each Plan is to provide a vision for that town’s future, along with specific strategies and an Implementation Plan, for achieving that vision. Columbia’s PoCD tries to address and direct long-term changes that will occur within the Town over the coming years. It also offers guidance for shorter-term decision making. Every Town Commission and employee will be guided to some extent by the goals and objectives included in the Plan as they make day-to-day decisions.
Because of the importance of this Plan, the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) has taken its time in developing the content. Over the past year-plus, the PZC has held monthly listening and discussion sessions on a variety of topics, including housing, transportation, open space preservation, natural resources, community facilities, infrastructure, and recreation. At each meeting, key stakeholders (and the public) has been invited to weigh in on what they believe are major priorities for the next decade, or concerns to be addressed. All relevant Boards, Commissions, and government departments have been consulted, and the PZC conducted a community opinion survey that sought to guide the policy direction for the Town. Over 420 Columbia residents participated in this survey.
The input that the PZC has received, in addition to important factors like State policies, demographic changes, economic market trends, and the goals of the current PoCD, form the basis for the draft PoCD that will be discussed and presented on May 26th. This will be the last formal opportunity for members of the public to weigh in before the PZC votes on adoption. Comments received prior to or at the public hearing can still be incorporated into the final Plan. Hard copies of the Plan are available for review in the Land Use Office and Town Clerk’s Office.
If you have questions about the PoCD or the Commission’s process in developing the draft, please contact Town Planner John Guszkowski at jguszkowski [at] columbiact.gov (jguszkowski[at]columbiact[dot]gov) or PZC Chairman Justin Riendeau at justin.riendeau [at] outlook.com (justin[dot]riendeau[at]outlook[dot]com).