The New London Planning Commission directed staff to draft landscaping and exterior building‑design standards focused on the city's commercial corridors after a detailed presentation by consultant Ben Wall.

Wall, representing Banywell Associates, described a point‑based landscaping system that would apply to new construction and additions (not retroactively) and that typically exempts single‑family and two‑family homes. "The alternative approach would be that a landscaping code could apply to all land uses," Wall said, then clarified the typical practice of exempting single‑ and two‑family residences. Commissioners broadly supported exploring the system for commercial corridors but said it should not apply to existing buildings unless they are redeveloped.

Under the proposed landscaping approach, plants receive point values (trees carry higher points than shrubs or ornamental grasses) and a site must meet a total point threshold. Wall used a commercial example to show how 50 points could be met by three trees or by a mix of shrubs. He also noted that retained existing plants often receive credit and that stormwater features can contribute points: "They integrated plants within that stormwater pond that counted towards their point total," Wall said.

On exterior design, Wall described classifying materials by quality and requiring that a minimum percentage of a building facade use higher‑quality materials (brick, stone, glass) while allowing flexibility for the remainder. He said the standard would be applied to new construction and additions, not retroactively: "All we would be doing moving forward is if another Dollar General, for example, came into the community, we'd be looking for enhanced, higher quality use of material than what they proposed," Wall said. Commissioners and staff discussed balancing aesthetic goals against development costs and storefront visibility for businesses.

Commissioners raised implementation and enforcement questions, including staff workload and how project applicants would submit point calculations. Wall said applicants typically provide a plant inventory and a spreadsheet that staffs reviews; staff checks but does not recount each plant. City staff confirmed covenants in private industrial parks would remain separate from zoning requirements.

At the end of the discussion commissioners generally agreed on directing staff and the consultant to draft standards targeted to the north and south commercial corridors and to bring a proposed ordinance back for further review. Commissioners also agreed not to pursue single‑family and two‑family design standards at this time.