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New Canaan subcommittee sets timeline, plans May public hearing for commercial zoning changes
Summary
The Planning & Zoning Commission subcommittee agreed Dec. 15 to prioritize commercial zoning changes to meet a July 1 state deadline, aim for a May public hearing and June adoption, and circulate a public survey and draft to staff before broader release.
The New Canaan Planning & Zoning Commission’s zoning regulation update subcommittee set a near-term timetable Dec. 15 to meet state requirements and accelerate changes to commercial zoning.
Consultants from BFJ told the group they are preparing a short, map-based public survey and said they will send an internal draft to staff (Sarah) and subcommittee members for review before releasing it publicly. The subcommittee agreed the survey should be concise (about 10–15 minutes to complete), use maps to give context to questions and avoid leading prompts.
Commissioners and the consultant discussed a phased approach to adoption. Because a recently referenced state housing bill imposes mandates affecting commercial-zone regulations by July 1, the subcommittee endorsed prioritizing business/commercial-zone revisions. The working timeline discussed was a May public hearing on the commercial changes followed by Planning & Zoning Commission deliberation and a possible June adoption, allowing adoption before the July 1 deadline. Residential zone work would follow later, with commissioners proposing a September or October schedule for those topics.
The meeting also fixed the subcommittee’s next check-in for Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. Commissioners asked that BFJ circulate updated maps and use tables before that meeting so members can provide more directed comments.
Why it matters: The staged schedule is meant to balance the legal urgency created by state action with continued public input on tougher, longer-running residential zoning issues. A short, well-targeted survey and advance circulation of drafts aim to improve public understanding and produce clearer feedback ahead of public hearings.
What’s next: BFJ will send an internal draft survey and revised maps to staff and the subcommittee before the Feb. 4 meeting. The subcommittee will present the proposed commercial hearing timeline to the full Planning & Zoning Commission at the next regular meeting.
