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Great Island advisory committee endorses Reed Hilderbrand Vision Plan, launches Master Plan process
Summary
The Great Island Advisory Committee unanimously voted to recommend Reed Hilderbrand’s Vision Plan to the Board of Selectmen and launched a Master Plan process that will include further public engagement, scenario planning and technical consultants.
The Town of Darien’s Great Island Advisory Committee voted unanimously Jan. 22 to accept Reed Hilderbrand’s Vision Plan and recommend its adoption to the Board of Selectmen, and the firm launched a Master Plan process intended to guide future work on the island.
Beka Sturges of Reed Hilderbrand presented the Vision Plan, which she said reflected extensive public input and a shared desire “to balance access and engagement with preservation, and to protect the coastal edges and the environment.” After discussion, committee member Mike Burke moved to accept and recommend the January 15, 2025 Vision Plan; the motion was seconded by Lori Bora and passed unanimously.
Why it matters: The Vision Plan and the Master Plan that follows will set priorities for circulation, coastal conservation, architecture, governance and funding for Great Island, and provide a common set of base files staff and consultants can use for future work. Sturges said the base files have been finalized and uploaded to the project website to ensure consistency in future references.
The firm previewed three scenarios the committee will use to test trade-offs among circulation, coastal protection and access; Sturges also said tree experts and lighting consultants will join the project team. The Master Plan will continue public outreach; the project team plans to present three scenarios at the third community engagement meeting on March 1 and will launch a questionnaire for public feedback.
The committee discussed parking and circulation alternatives, noting ecological concerns that rule out vehicular access to the island’s northern portion under the presented scenarios. The committee did not take any vote on parking specifics during the meeting; instead, members agreed to refine scenarios and survey questions ahead of the March engagement.
The committee’s recommendation now goes to the Board of Selectmen for consideration. No vote by the Board of Selectmen was recorded at this meeting.
