West Haven council refers downtown plan to Planning & Zoning, approves fee increases
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Summary
Council referred the Downtown Municipal Development Plan to the Planning & Zoning Commission and designated the Redevelopment Agency to hold the hearing; it also approved a fee schedule update for planning and zoning, increasing many application fees that had not been changed in over 13 years.
The West Haven City Council voted on March 9 to refer the Downtown Municipal Development Plan (MDP) to the Planning & Zoning Commission for an advisory opinion under Conn. Gen. Stat. §8-191 and to designate the West Haven Redevelopment Agency as the city's redevelopment agency to hold public hearings on the plan.
Infrastructure & Technology Committee Chair Peter Rivera explained the plan was produced with state-funded consultant work under a SIF Community Investment Fund grant; the state paid for the professional plan and the referral enables the city to request state funding for downtown upgrades. Rivera told the committee consultants engaged with a range of stakeholders and that the plan focuses on public space, sidewalks, parking and infrastructure to incentivize private improvement.
Separately, in legislative matters the council completed a second reading and approved amendments to City Code Section 101-1 (schedule of fees for planning and zoning), increasing many fees by roughly $25–$50 after more than 13 years without revision. Committee and council members said the increases were necessary to account for higher costs to provide review services.
Both the referral and the fee schedule changes passed in committee and were approved by the full council on voice votes. The designation of the redevelopment agency allows that body to hold the required public hearing on the downtown plan.
Council members urged continued outreach during the MDP process and noted the city will still need property-owner cooperation for many downtown changes.
