OPM presents 2025–30 State plan of conservation and development; regional planners urge adoption

Rebecca Auger, responsible growth coordinator at the Office of Policy and Management (OPM), presented the draft 2025–30 State Plan of Conservation and Development to the continuing committee on Connecticut’s Development and Future during a public hearing, describing a restructured, five-year planning framework and two proposed statutory changes embedded in the draft.

The plan, which Auger said will be referred to in the presentation as the “C and D plan draft,” lays out five vision areas — a thriving economy; housing for current and future residents; stewardship of resources; healthy people in places; and connected and inclusive communities — supported by seven broad policies and specific implementation measures. Auger told the committee the plan is intended as a “transitional plan” to guide agency decisions as federal pandemic-era funding eases and state resources take on greater importance.

The draft includes two legislative proposals: raising the statutory monetary threshold that requires agency projects to be consistent with the state plan from $200,000 to $1,000,000, and repealing the statutory mapping requirements for Priority Funding Areas. Auger said the threshold change would keep the same categories of actions covered — acquisition or…