The City of New Haven Community Development Committee voted to forward the draft Vision 2034 comprehensive plan to the Board of Alders for public review after a presentation and several public comments on Aug. 6.

City planning staff presented the 200-page Vision 2034 draft — described in the meeting as the municipal plan of conservation and development required decennially by the state of Connecticut — and outlined the two-year engagement process behind it. Laura Brown, executive director of the city plan department, said, “We have plenty of time for questions and answers at the end.” Committee members then asked about outreach, zoning implications and steps for implementation.

Nut graf: The draft lays out goals and strategies across housing, economic development, transportation, environment and civic services, proposes a future land use map (distinct from zoning) and calls for a zoning overhaul; the committee approved sending the draft to the Board of Alders so it can proceed to the formal public-review and adoption steps required by state law.

During the presentation staff emphasized the public-engagement methods used to compile the plan: a steering committee, topic-area working groups, community navigators, youth leadership teams, in-person workshops, tabling at events and an online survey. Presenters said the draft and a response-to-comments document were posted in June and reviewed by the city planning commission and other departments, and that the plan will return to the city planning commission after alder review for a final adoption determination.

Speakers and members pressed staff on implementation details. Presenters said the plan will include an implementation guide with department leads, measurable metrics and a public tracking format on the Vision 2034 website. Staff noted the city’s zoning code has not been revised since 1962 and that several strategies in the plan are tied to zoning changes; they said zoning reforms will be a separate, concurrent process.

Public commenters praised the engagement effort and urged continued outreach, more accessible meeting notices and ongoing accountability. A resident who identified as a refugee described participating in outreach events and urged that the plan reflect newcomers’ needs. An advisory-team member, Tegan Angle, called the process “human centered” and said she was satisfied with the integrity of engagement.

After brief final remarks the committee chair put the motion to send the draft to the full board. The chair asked, “All in favor of moving this public to the board?” and the committee voice-voted in the affirmative. The chair then said, “The ayes have it,” and adjourned the meeting.

The committee did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; the action was approved by voice vote and will be considered by the Board of Alders and returned to the city planning commission for final action and adoption.