The planning process is quite inclusive. Warner specially invited members of the press who cover Middletown to attend, and both the Courant and the Press sent reporters. Chairman Phipps encouraged members of the public to speak both before the presentation and afterward. Jen Alexander took Phipps up on both offers, expressing her hope that the Commission would "host the most robust community conversation that we're capable of." Alexander also expressed her hope that the state
institutions near the river would be encouraged to site their future facilities away from the proposed development area.
A matter of flow and financial
Riverfront development depends critically on the removal of the Middletown Sewage treatment plant, which is south of Harbor Park, on River Road. As long ago as the 1965 Plan of Conservation and Development, the City has recognized the desirability of joining the regional Mattabesset Sewer Authority, which now operates a treatment in Cromwell.
Russo said he has been working for 16 years on an agreement between Middletown and the Mattabesset regional sewer authority. These negotiations, which have been facilitated by money from the State Department of Environmental Protection, revolved around how much flow the regional facility could accept from Middletown, and at what financial cost to Middletown.
Russo said that he hoped to conclude the negotiations within a matter of weeks, "At this juncture, I think we are at the precipice of an agreement."
History of Planning the Riverfront
Warner told some of the history of riverfront development plans, and he showed many of the plans on the walls of the Council Chamber. Warner highlighted in particular a set of plans which were developed around 2000. He said that after an initial sketch by an internationally renowned architect, Arthur Cotton Moore, there were 8 prominent developers who competed for the rights to develop the area south of Harbor Park. The winning proposal was to develop over one million square feet.
Warner said that the combination of delays in moving the Sewer plant, a downturn in the economy, the replacement of Governor Rowland with Rell conspired to cause an indefinite delay in the proposals.
Warner urged the Commission to use the historical plans for ideas and inspiration, but that tonight's workshop was solely "an initial kick off" meeting to get started. He thought that the Commission would probably want to discuss in general terms what they want to permit or prohibit in the riverfront development area, and then consider crafting zoning regulations which would provide specific guidance to potential developers.
4 comments:
The Riverfront maps provided on the P&Z's office site, show a flood plane. BUT that map does not indicate the 100 year flood zone or the 500 year flood zones that can be found on the cities GIS Property Viewer. IS that not the very first map the P&Z Commission should be studying. When was the last time the Data and flood estimates where updated? Are the estimates in keeping with current climate trends? TO see this yourself go to
http://host.appgeo.com/MiddletownCT/Map.aspx
Pull down menu to Flood zone theme, click on interactive mapping, on right open hydrology, and click on Flood zones. Seems to me any plans should begin at the 100 year flood zone, given the flooding this country has seen in various place in the last 10 years. Just a thought--something I hope will be considered. Thanks.
Please PLEASE lets keep a Middletown specific feel in whatever development we end up with. I would be very disappointed to see a focus on large national retail chain type places that will make it feel like you could be just anywhere.
1. The Mattabassett treatment plant will be going through a major expansion very soon to handle the new environmental laws that start in 2020 so they should have the capacity to take on all of Middletown.
2. Something HAS to be done about the lights on route 9 and improving traffic flow.
In Bill we trust. Can someone tell us whats going on with the Charton property? Is the City gonna just look the other way for ever? Why is Mr. Charton still dumping stuff over the side of the hill P&Z office letting this go on why does Charton get away with this?
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