Regional Plan of Conservation and Development, 2006-2015

Regional Plan of Conservation and Development, 2006-2015The Transportation-Land Use ConnectionIn the past two decades planners have come torecognize and accept the inextricable connectionbetween land use and transportation. Indeed, it waswith this recognition that SWRPA’s CongestionMitigation Systems: Vision 2020 plan (2003) wasdeveloped. The Vision 2020 Plan recommendednumerous land-use practices intended to mitigatetraffic congestion by directing housing and businessdevelopment to those areas that are well served bytransit or that are within walking or biking distance ofemployment centers. Of course, because ofConnecticut’s long history of home rule, thesepractices must be implemented at the local level aspart of a municipality’s plan of conservation anddevelopment, zoning regulations, and/or other plansintended to better manage growth or improve the localtransportation-land use connection.RecommendationsThe Plan’s “Land Use Policies” map appears onthe preceding page; it was derived from the“Conservation and Development Areas” map in theState Plan. It is important to note that the land-usepolicies reflected on the map are not necessarilyconsistent with municipal zoning, but rather, they reflect avision for the Region shared by the state and SWRPA.SWRPA also encourages its membermunicipalities to consider incorporating the followingprinciples into their land-use plans, policies andregulations:❑ Allow Compact Design: Housing, retail, commercialand office uses should be encouraged where publictransit is within walking or cycling distance. Suchmixed uses should be at their highest densityadjacent to or within one-quarter mile from transitstations. Municipalities should consider revisinglocal zoning codes to increase density and floorarea-ratiosand allow a mix of uses within districtsand buildings. Where possible, land uses andbuilding densities should be mixed within a siteplan or subdivision. Sidewalks should beencouraged, if not required, in thoseneighborhoods with appropriate densities, andwithin a reasonable distance of all schools tofacilitate safe walking conditions for schoolchildren.❑ Encourage Mixed Use Development: Allowingfor a variety of uses along transportation corridorsand in commercial centers encourages thedevelopment of vibrant, attractive communitiesby locating jobs, homes and convenienceservices within close proximity to one another. Amixed-use corridor or center encourages driversto combine their car trips, thereby reducing thenumber of trips and thus congestion. The locationof complementary land uses along a corridor orwithin a center also lengthens the average visit tothat location, boosting economic activity. The mixof uses in centers may include cultural,recreational, educational uses as well as housingand commercial establishments. In addition toallowing housing in commercial districts,municipalities should also consider allowinghousing in commercial structures where this canreasonably be done.❑ Increase Residential Density in Targeted Locations:Density is the land-use variable that has thegreatest effect on the feasibility and success ofalternative transportation modes. Municipalitiesshould consider increasing residential density inthose areas that are well served by public transitand have public water and sewer infrastructure inplace. Conversely, residential density should bedecreased in sewer-avoidance areas lying outsidethe center. Density increases should be inconjunction with more stringent design controls;reduced minimum lot sizes for residences; reducedside and front setbacks; more housing types, suchas two- and multi-family structures and accessoryapartments in single family structures; and the useof a residential floor-area-ratio to ensure that newbuildings on small lots fit within the establishedcontext of the center. Furthermore, municipalitiesshould consider offering density bonuses to spurthe development of affordable housing.❑ Reduce Residential Density in Targeted Locations:Municipalities should consider lowering theallowable residential densities in areas withhistoric importance, scenic views, watersheds,open space potential, or other unique value to thecommunity. Municipalities should identify largeparcels with environmentally significant featuresand seek to curtail their development potentialthrough conservation easements or directacquisition.23