How will Forestville's future be shaped by State of Connecticut's policies and the city's Plan of Conservation and Development? Let's take a look into the relevant documents.
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| TOD in Forestville is outside the Forestville Project's scope, (but significant enough to recognize with this map in the document.) |
Forestville is mentioned twenty-eight times in the 2015-2025 Plan of Conservation and Development. Among those there are a few instances that will refine or reform the direction of the future of Forestville over the next decade. Among them:
According to this Forestville Village Association Report, " A Regional Planning Team from Uconn, in association with Kristen Thomas, Associate Planner from the CCRPA, has done a study on Transportation and will be suggesting a few programs that could then be set to implement soon."
Although, the City of Bristol's 2015-2025 Plan of Conservation and Development refers to the Forestville Project document, I could not locate it on the city's website. Instead it is only found on the now defunct Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency's website. Bristol's RPA has now been replaced by the Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley and the Forestville Project plans are most obviously still relevant as they are referred to by the 2015-2025 POCD.
The Forestville Project document was presented to the City of Bristol in March of 2014. It is described as "a collaborative effort by the Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency, the Uconn Community Research and Design Collaborative, the City of Bristol, and the Forestville Community to Reimagine Forestville Center.
Among the Project Goals listed in the document is to create a specific land use and transportation plan that will help guide future development and to work with the Bristol Planning Commission to adopt the plan as an amendment to the Plan of Conservation and Development. The mission statement is "To create a pedestrian friendly, mixed-use and historically based Forestville Village Center.." The Project Area of the Plan is identified on the following map and encompasses an area much larger than the Village Center.
Two photographs of the members of the public involved with the planning are posted in the document. Public involvement is chronicled as follows:
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| According to the Forestville Project document, about ten members of the public participated in the plan. |
The Forestville Plan collaborative's goals (often referred to as a traffic study) are more definitively described in the document as "a reshaping of the village center for all modes of transportation."
The housing stock is identified as predominantly single-family and it is noted that additional housing types may be necessary. It is additionally noted that new development should fit in with surrounding aesthetics, HOWEVER, Transit-Oriented Development is indeed identified as a development strategy. Transit-Oriented Development strategies traditionally consist of high-density, inclusionary housing, mixed-income, Housing Incentive Zones, etc.
The plan is also described as a land-use plan that will guide future development.
One of the guides is a policy of national influence called "Complete Streets" The State of Connecticut's Department of Transportation adopted the use of "Complete Streets Policies in 2014.
A new CTFastrak stop in Forestville is also mentioned as well as the extension of the Village Center to the new "Pine Street Terminus" area of Broad Street. 
The governor's original Transit Corridor Authority Bill shows to what lengths that the governor is willing to go to make his vision a reality across Connecticut. According to Eric Gendron of the New Canaan Advertiser,
"In it's latest form, the proposed 11-member authority, which is part of Gov. Malloy’s Let’s Go CT initiative, would now need to cooperate with local zoning, but retains its control over state owned land."
The Plan of Conservation and Development can be found on the city's website. State guidelines, which also greatly influence future development are as follows. :
In accordance with the State of Connecticut's General Statutes 8-23, the Municipal Plan of Conservation and Development MUST :
"Show concentration of development around transportation nodes and along major transportation corridors to support the viability of transportation options and land reuse
Show the commission's recommendation for the most desirable use of land within the municipality for residential, recreational, commercial, industrial and other purposes and for the most desirable density of population in the SEVERAL parts of the municipality.
be designed to promote with the greatest efficiency and economy the coordinated development of the municipality and the general welfare and prosperity of its people.
integration of planning across all levels of government to address issues on a local, regional and state-wide basis,
make provision for the development of housing opportunities, including opportunities for multifamily dwellings, consistent with soil types, terrain and infrastructure capacity, for all residents of the municipality and the planning region in which the municipality is located, as designated by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management under section 16a-4a,
promote housing choice and economic diversity in housing, including housing for both low and moderate income households, and encourage the development of housing which will meet the housing needs identified in the housing plan prepared pursuant to section 8-37t and in the housing component and the other components of the state plan of conservation and development prepared pursuant to chapter 297.
In preparing such plan the commission shall consider focusing development and revitalization in areas with existing or planned physical infrastructure."
THESE STATE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FOUND IN OUR PLAN FOR THE NEXT 10 YRS OF BRISTOL'S DEVELOPMENT
In section 10.2.2. of the POCD, "Housing Design" it is stated,Do you think there was sufficient public input into the plan that may possibly change the character of Forestville within the next decade? You still have an opportunity to let provide your input as a taxpaying resident. The proposed 2015-2025 Plan of Development Public Hearing is scheduled For June 3, 2015 at 7pm at City Council Chambers.
"Encourage the appropriate design of housing in order to meet community needs in the future.
In section 10.2.3., "Housing Diversity", it is stated, "Encourage the provision of a diverse array of attractive, decent, safe and sanitary housing to meet the social and economic needs of Bristol’s current and future population."
and in Section 10.3.3., "Housing Diversity", it states.:
1. Encourage the diversification of the local housing stock in appropriate locations (such as near services and/or transit) to meet the changing housing needs of current and future residents.
2. To help address current and future housing needs, consider permitting multi‐family development of appropriate density and design to be located in downtown Bristol in mixed use buildings, along major commercial highway corridors, and in other business districts or other suitable locations.
3. Strive to encourage the provision of: affordable housing for the elderly who need it, and affordable housing for families and individuals who need it.
You can view the draft of the Plan of Conservation and Development at the following link:
:http://www.ci.bristol.ct.us/DocumentCenter/View/5747
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