December 23, 2025
Members present: Brennan Sheahan, Bill Ross, Ken Kuhl, James Szipszky, Christine Chinni, Margaret Chapple, Mark Kennedy, Jean Donihee-Perron, Mark Lockwood, Ken Rohde. Also present: Director of Community Development Abby Kenyon and Land Use Coordinator Renee Deltenre.
Review and Discuss Current POCD and Proposed Revisions
Kenyon provided revised sections as a starting point. Each section begins with an introduction that will be combined with the fundamental values from the existing POCD, followed by goals and policy/strategy, then concludes with action items.
Environment: The committee discussed the limited reference to wetlands and watercourses, pesticide use within a floodplain, forestry management, cold tar applications, animal-human interaction, sustainability efforts, and more. Changes were deliberated and some of the items discussed/proposed were reorganized to fall under Public Education or Agriculture.
Open Space and Recreation: The committee discussed proposed changes and additions, the management of town-owned open space, auditing for PA490 compliance, the potential for a Flexible Residential Development across all zones, additional funding sources for preservation, and the relationship between open space landowners, i.e., Town, Land Trust, McLean Game Refuge, State, etc.
Agriculture: Due to time constraints, the committee was only able to review the Introduction and Goals 3.1 and 3.2. Adoption of a Right-to-Farm Ordinance was removed and will be referenced as part of the fundamental values within the introduction. Also discussed outside resources, such as UConn Extension, IPM, State Department of Agriculture.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be Jan. 27, focused on the following sections: transportation, commercial/industrial, housing, and Granby center. The committee also deliberated on hosting a second public workshop, likely to be held in March.