Plan of Conservation and Development

Let's talk about....WINDSOR LOCKS MOVING FORWARD!

a POCD discussion about shaping the community over the decade to come

Thank you for your interest in the Windsor Locks Plan of Conservation and Development (aka "the Plan" or the "POCD")!

Below you'll find a description of the POCD, draft chapters of the new plan, information on the multi-year and multi-disciplinary journey to get to adoption and the previous plans for your review.

What is the Plan of Conservation and Development?
  • a picture-in-time of Windsor Locks
  • a description of community character and assets
  • a look at past vs. current demographics
  • an anaylisis of regional and local data
  • a needs and wants assessment
  • an aspirational document
  • a path toward preservation, community livability and sustainability
  • a resource for residents, commission and board members, officials and staff
  • a set of actionable goals and objectives for implementation

The plan documents current sentiment toward preservation and economic development and provides for it's implementation through actionable goals and objectives that meet the overall needs and desires of the community.  The State of Connecticut has it's own Conservation and Development Policies Plan, which is similar but not the same. This page is referring to something different, which is a more local municipal plan. The State's Plan and the Town's Plan are both required by State Statute. These two different documents should be in harmony. The local municipal plan must be compliant with CT State Statutes. The local plan will be much more specific than the State's plan, tailored to the community that create's it.

The POCD is a living document created by residents, with staff, through interactive workshops hosted by the various boards and commissions in the Town. It should not sit on a shelf, but should be referenced frequently by all boards and commissions as well as staff in the town's offices, not just the land use boards. It should also be amended from time to time as community needs and sentiment changes. The Planning and Zoning Commission uses the POCD as a reference in decision making when a developer has applied to their Commission or when the community is considering a zone change or regulation change. CT General Statutes require the Town to approve a new plan every ten years. The Plan is only as good as you make it and your involvement is critical. What would you like to see happening in 5 years, 10 years?

Journey to POCD Adoption, 2016 - 2020

See below for some of the early public workshops which contributed to the community's POCD kick-off.

On Tuesday March 29th 2016 at 7:00 pm at the WL Library there was a discussion about the Canal Park, specifically the new Canal Park Picnic Area to be completed this summer 2016, adjacent to the CT River, just north of the trail parking area and Montgomery Mill building in Windsor Locks. The meeting was hosted by the Friends of the Canal. We discussed the picnic area as well as aspirations for the canal and river area over the next ten years.

On Wednesday March 30th 2016 at 6:30 pm the Planning and Zoning Commission held a workshop to review and reflect on the 2007 Plan of Conservation and Development in room 103 of the Town Hall at 50 Church Street. The purpose of this meeting was to review the goals and objectives that have been implemented from the 2007 Plan and to discuss the format and themes that should be included in the 2017 Plan.

On Tuesday May 24th 2016 at 7:00 pm there was a workshop hosted by the Conservation Commission to discuss preservation of natural resources, open space and agriculture in Windsor Locks. The meeting was held in room 103 in Town Hall 50 Church Street.

On Thursday June 23rd 2016 at 6:30 pm there was an INTERACTIVE POCD KICK-OFF COMMUNITY WORKSHOP in the Ella Grasso Conference Room in Town Hall's east wing, first floor. Refreshments were served. Topics included property zoning, housing, Main Street, economic development, open space and more. Attendees included neighbors, local shop owners, students and more! This is YOUR plan, together you're making it a great one!

On Wednesday October 5th 2016 at 7:30 PM the Inland Wetland and Watercourses Commission adjourned to a POCD review workshop in the Ella Grasso Conference Room in Town Hall's east wing, first floor to discuss aspirations for preservation and regulation of natural resources, specifically wetlands and watercourses in Windsor Locks.

For information on additional meetings please call 860 627 1447. Thank you for your patience while this webpage is being updated.

Ongoing Meetings and Next Steps:  (due to COVID-19, all meetings as of April 2020 are postponed and/or rescheduled to be held online via Zoom teleconference)

Meeting on Main - Business networking, public input, WLPS student and staff participation, community brainstorming and workplan implementation for Transit Oriented Development (TOD) efforts downtown. Meetings were held 2016-2019 every third Wednesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. and occasional evening meetings/events. Meetings rotated in location but were generally held at the Middle School, 7 Center Street, Windsor Locks CT 06096.

Ongoing Planning and Zoning Commission Meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of each month unless otherwise noticed at 7:00 pm in the Ella Grasso Conference Room of Town Hall, 50 Church Street. Draft language is continually discussed by Staff and Commission members at these meetings in order to incorporate professional studies, various board and commission feedback and workshop attendee feedback. Please feel free to provide input during these meetings during the "public input" section of the agenda. Final Draft language will be presented for public hearing by Summer 2020.

On Tuesday October 13th at 7:00 PM the Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing regarding the adoption of the Plan via Zoom Teleconference. For meeting details, agenda and link see the Planning and Zoning Commission's page and the town-wide calendar on the main page, or call 860.627.1447 to request a link if they have not yet been posted.

For more information please call the Building, Planning and Zoning Department at (860) 627-1447