Conservation and Development Policies: The Plan for Connecticut 2013-2018

In Connecticut, state agency actions for the acquisition and development of land and public infrastructure equipment and facilities in excess of $200,000 must be consistent with the state’s Conservation and Development (C&D) Plan (Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 297, Section 16a-31). The plan includes six Growth Management Principles that promote smart growth through: higher density, mixed income housing; transit oriented development; conserving natural, cultural, and historical resources; protecting public health and safety assets; and integrated planning across the state, regional, and local levels. The state’s C&D Plan must be revised every five years through a statutory process involving oversight from the state’s legislature and Office of Policy and Management (OPM). The 2013-2018 version was shaped by public feedback in response to requests for a more bottom-up approach to planning.

The plan’s six Growth Management Principles inform state as well as regional and local actions through their own conservation and development plans. The report emphasizes the importance of planning, especially in order to protect drinking water, and lays out the following Principles to ensure long-term goals are met:

#1: Redevelop and Revitalize Regional Centers and Areas with Existing or Current Planned Physical Infrastructure

#2: Expand Housing Opportunities and Design Choices to Accommodate a Variety of Household Types and Needs

#3: Concentrate Development Around Transportation Nodes and Along Major Transportation Corridors to Support the Viability of Transportation Options

#4: Conserve and Restore the Natural Environment, Cultural and Historical Resources, and Traditional Rural Lands

#5: Protect and Ensure the Integrity of Environmental Assets Critical to Public Health and Safety

#6: Promote Integrated Planning across all Levels of Government to Address Issues on a Statewide, Regional, and Local Basis

These Growth Management Principles, based on informational hearings and public feedback, serve to advance the state’s goals of protecting its natural systems, recognizing that the well-being of its citizens depends on them. The plan also notes how each principle aligns with the state’s Principles for Smart Growth (Public Act 09-230).

State agencies must track and submit annual reports to OPM on whether their acquisition and development actions were carried out in accordance with the plan. Although the state encourages local, regional, and other state plans and decisions to be consistent with the C&D Plan, it is not a formal statutory or regulatory requirement.

 

Publication Date: June 5, 2013

Related Organizations:

  • Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

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  • Plans (other)

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