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Weston 2020 Plan of Conservation Development Adopted June 15 2020 Effective July 1 2020 Prepared by The Town of Weston Planning Zoning Commission with assistance from

Contents Introduction 1 Who we are now 2 What do we want 17 How do we get there 18 Future Land Use Plan 30 Water and Sewer 32 Consistency with Regional and State Plans 33 Appendices 35 Cover Photo Memorial Day Parade 2019 Weston Today

Introduction Section 8 23 of the Connecticut General Statutes requires municipal planning commissions to prepare and adopt a plan of conservation and development once every 10 years The plan must address key aspects of a municipality s conditions policies and goals The 2020 Plan of Conservation and Development for the Town of Weston the Plan describes and assesses current conditions in Weston captures the values expressed by the community through an open and transparent planning process documents the vision goals and objectives for Weston over the coming decade and provides direction on how the Town can advance its objectives Above and beyond meeting the State s regulatory requirements development of the Plan has provided a valuable opportunity for the community to express its views regarding the Town s needs and priorities for the next decade and beyond The Plan emphasizes appropriate development that supports Weston s residents existing and potential new businesses and small town character while acknowledging the importance of protecting the natural and cultural resources as the Town progresses into the next decade One of the focus areas of the Plan is housing options and affordability for the Town s shifting demographics In 2017 the State amended the CT General Statutes by adding Section 8 30j which requires all municipalities to adopt and revise an Affordable Housing Plan every five years To that end the Plan particularly Goal 5 serves to meet the housing plan mandate The Planning and Zoning Commission the Commission has conducted a comprehensive process to develop a sense of the community s opinions and objectives and we wish to thank the public for its engagement in this process A full description of our process in preparing the Plan is set forth in Appendix A Town of Weston Planning and Zoning Commission Jane Connolly Ken Edgar Chairman Harry Falber Sally Korsh Britta Lerner Don Saltzman Vice Chairman Richard Wolf Weston Plan of Conservation Development 1

Who we are now The Town of Weston combines a beautiful exurban environment emphasizing open space and parks with single family housing on predominately large lots and relatively little commercial activity It has a strong commitment to the excellence of its schools a sense of community and stewardship of its natural resources Its population tends to be highly educated and affluent This section discusses where Weston stands today including its perceived challenges going forward M Wirtenberg Our People A significant resource for Weston is its residents Our Town population of just over 10 000 is relatively stable with some increases forecast over the next 10 years see chart D 2018 the Town Survey 2 Weston residents tend to be very satisfied with living in Town and feel well connected to the community at large Like many communities in Connecticut Weston is experiencing demographic shifts within its population notably a growing senior population and a smaller young adult and school aged population see chart C Weston s median age increased from 43 4 in 2010 to 44 6 in 2016 as baby boomers opted to age in place in Weston 1 Community involvement manifests itself in the vibrant volunteer activities of Westonites Our governing boards and commissions consist almost entirely of unpaid volunteers as do our emergency medical technician EMT and fire departments which are sustained by the generous contributions of the Townspeople In addition Weston supports a robust non profit community including Kiwanis one of the largest chapters in the northeast the Lachat Farm the Historical Society and Weston Arts These nonprofits greatly enhance the Town s quality of life and sense of community Weston also offers extensive opportunities for our young people including scouting and youth sports and a variety of after school programs Weston is considered one of the wealthiest towns in Connecticut and one of the wealthiest in Fairfield County According to the American Community Survey ACS the median household income in Weston in 2016 was 218 152 which is 200 higher than the State s median income see chart B Weston residents tend to be highly educated with 85 of residents between age 25 and 64 holding at least a bachelor s degree ACS According to the survey conducted by the Town in late 1 2 Westonites strongly support sustainability efforts in Town They have voted to ban plastic bags now a Statewide ban and fracking waste from Town In addition our Town s For more detail on Weston s population see Appendix D pp D 3 to D 11 The full Town Survey can be found in Appendix B Chart A Weston Town Survey 2018 2 Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Chart B Median Income for All Households 2016 Select Committee on Sustainability advocates for measures that will help ensure Weston s long term future as a leader in environmental issues These measures include an emphasis on LED lighting charging stations for electric vehicles and conducting a Town energy audit As a result of the Town s efforts Weston has been awarded a Bronze certification by Sustainable CT for its accomplishments Finally in response to past severe weather events Weston has created a unique Emergency Response Committee in which neighborhood captains throughout Town monitor their neighborhoods in the event of such an occurrence and report on local conditions to assist the Town Administration and its police fire and rescue services in responding to areas in need American Community Survey 2016 Chart C Age Composition 2016 The Town Survey also reveals an emerging trend in our working population that could affect Weston going forward Among respondents who are employed or selfemployed over 20 reported that they work exclusively in and from their homes Combined with an increasing senior population and homemakers this means that there is a growing local population that does not leave Weston every weekday for employment The net effect of this trend should be a positive one for local businesses in Weston Chart D Historic Projected Population in Weston 1960 2040 American Community Survey 2016 US Census American Community Survey 2016 CT DOT Projections Weston Plan of Conservation Development 3

Our Development As mentioned Weston is primarily an exurban residential community Nearly the entire Town is zoned for singlefamily residential and farming with minimum lot size of two acres As a result 98 5 of housing units are singlefamily homes ACS However in some older areas of the community houses on smaller lots predate the adoption of the first zoning regulations We have a small commercial center with 6 6 acres zoned for commercial use While not the geographic center of Town this area and the adjacent municipal campus serve as the community s civic and cultural center providing our residents with Town services and basic shopping options such as groceries dry cleaning banking wine and spirits as well as a small restaurant a gas station and a post office An additional 7 9 acres of land are used for commercial 3 purposes that either predate our regulations or are operated via special permit This includes the Cobbs Mill Inn and Weston Gardens properties In 2015 Weston conducted a build out analysis of five large parcels of land under the current zoning regulations Those parcels were deemed suitable for 85 new home lots However 58 of those potential lots were on parcels of land that have since been purchased by the Nature Conservancy and the Aspetuck Land Trust for open space protection From 2016 through 2019 21 new homes had been permitted leaving little additional room for growth There are only seven affordable housing units as defined by 830g of State law and very few multi family residences 3 One commercial property the Cobbs Mill Inn has been For more detail on Weston s housing see Appendix D pp D 13 to D 26 New England GeoSystems 4 Weston Plan of Conservation Development

of particular interest to Westonites due to its historical importance and the fact that it is currently unoccupied and for sale While there has been interest from prospective buyers at this writing the future of Cobb s Mill is unclear From 2010 to 2019 particularly the latter part of that decade two entities the Lachat Farm and the Weston Historical Society have witnessed significant revivals Once a crumbling structure and fallow land area the Lachat farmhouse and its outbuildings which are Town owned have been wholly renovated and now serve as an operating Town Farm where residents can grow their own vegetables It also functions as a gathering place for concerts a farmers market and other social events This has been a wonderful success story in the Town Similarly the Weston Historical Society has been revitalized The Coley House which is at the heart of the Society s grounds is in the process of a total renovation The Society s Museum space now provides a platform for exhibits concerts and social events as well as a climatecontrolled environment for preserving Weston s archives Chris Burke Select the Top 3 Reasons You Chose to Live in Weston Weston Town Survey 2018 Weston Plan of Conservation Development 5

6 Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Our Natural Resources Open Spaces Weston s 3 847 acres approximately 29 of Weston s land of parks open space and conservation lands significantly contribute to the rural character of the Town quality of life and the protection of the Town s water resources Of this open space a significant portion is devoted to parks trails and playing fields giving residents full access to outdoor recreational activities The community s culture of environmental stewardship and predominant twoacre residential zoning help to ensure the preservation of natural resources Since the 2010 Plan the Aspetuck Land Trust has acquired 42 contiguous acres of land and the Nature Conservancy has also purchased of over 75 acres of land on the western side of the Devil s Den Preserve near the border with Redding thus increasing the community s protected open space With few exceptions Weston households schools government buildings and commercial establishments rely on wells for their water The Town s extensive open space resources not only provide abundant recreational opportunities but also protect and preserve the Town s water resources and natural environment both of which are critical for a community that is heavily reliant on well water and served by private septic systems Weston Water Supply serves approximately 100 people and Aquarion Water Company serves some portions of south Weston Weston has no sewer system other than a closed Advanced Treatment Sewer System for on site disposal that services the school system Devil s Den Ridgefield Daily Voice Dog Jamboree 2018 Weston Today Weston Plan of Conservation Development 7

8 Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Weston Plan of Conservation Development 9

Our Transportation Network With extremely limited public transportation choices in Town it s no surprise that the main mode of transportation in Weston is private car In fact 67 of employed persons living in Weston commuted to work by private car in 2016 and 4 via carpool Two arterials Norfield Road Newtown Turnpike Route 53 and Weston Road Route 57 are the main thoroughfares Despite the lack of transit opportunities in Town Weston is proximate to several stations of the Metro North railroad According to the 2016 American Community Survey 11 of Westonites commute to work via train That Survey also indicated that 17 of Westonites regularly work from home which is much higher than in Fairfield County 5 7 and Connecticut generally 4 6 The Town Survey found that approximately 58 of respondents over 1 200 people work from home at least one day per week including the 20 of respondents who work exclusively from home every day These statistics emphasize the changing nature of commuting and the changing needs i e faster internet speeds and improved cellular service of current and future residents American Community Survey 2016 According to data collected from the U S Census using information from W 2s Weston residents in 2015 were primarily employed by businesses in New York City and Lower Fairfield County Those employed by businesses in Weston primarily resided in nearby towns along the I 95 corridor and the Route 7 corridor US Census OnTheMap 2015 10 Weston Plan of Conservation Development

While not commonly used for commuting biking and walking are popular outdoor activities in Town With many winding narrow roads not all areas of Town are conducive to biking nor are they pedestrian friendly A Bicycle Level of Service BLOS Analysis was conducted through fieldwork data analysis and interviews by Milone MacBroom Inc MMI to classify roadways by accessibility The BLOS Analysis considers the widths of lanes and shoulders average daily traffic pavement conditions and road complexity i e curvature and slope Compared to national standards none of the roadways in Weston that were studied provide a high BLOS However using a local level of service standard which accounts for Weston s character and winding country type roads high levels of service were found on School Road 1 1 mi Valley Forge Road 3 7 mi and Cannondale Road 0 4 mi This totals 5 2 miles of suitable bicycle routes These routes however are fragmented and do not connect to each other In both analyses extremely low levels of services were found on Route 57 Explore Valley Forge 2018 Weston Today The Town has a small disconnected sidewalk network and a lack of safe street crossings In the Town Center transportation issues that discourage or prevent safe walking and biking have been well documented in previous studies and plans most recently in the Connecticut Department of Transportation s CTDOT 2016 Road Safety Audit and the 2012 Western Connecticut Council of Governments WestCOG study of the intersection of Route 57 and School Road Weston Plan of Conservation Development 11

12 Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Our Town Services As is the case with our neighboring towns Weston has its own police fire EMT library and associated Town services It maintains a robust and highly trained volunteer fire department and EMT team Our Town Hall provides services from our First Selectman and Town Administrator to our Town Clerk Tax Assessor and Registrars and our annex provides land use and social services Weston also maintains a very active public library Most community facilities especially those that interface regularly with the public are in and around the Town Center Currently part of the school campus is utilized as the Town s senior center providing valuable resources to the Town s senior citizens As our population has aged the senior center has expanded The Town Survey results indicate that a significant majority of seniors 65 and over either do not or rarely use the senior center Approximately 26 of senior respondents however do use the center Of those that do 77 highly rate the facility and 87 highly rate its programs Senior Center Weston Today New England GeoSystems Weston Plan of Conservation Development 13

In the Town Survey Weston residents gave high marks to most Town services The Fire Department EMS Police Services and Public Schools topped the list Notably Weston is one of the safest communities in the State Social Services Youth Services and Recreation Programs were the least known or used by respondents Local Road Quality was the lowest rated however less than a third of respondents were dissatisfied Our Town administration is also supporting sustainability efforts by in addition to passing ordinances on plastic bags and fracking waste entering into a virtual net metering agreement with Eversource for access to solar power on the Town campus and conducting a lighting audit of Town buildings M Wirtenberg Weston Town Survey 2018 14 Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Our Schools Weston has an excellent public school system which is nationally recognized as one of the top school districts in Connecticut It is currently ranked second in the State by U S News World Report Weston High School was designated a Blue Ribbon School in 2013 by the US Department of Education More recently Weston High School has annually been named an AP Honor Roll District by the College Board and was designated as a Green Ribbon School by the US Department of Education for being one of a select number of schools exemplifying environmental education promoting sustainability and striving to improve the wellness of students and staff The average graduation rate from Weston High School is 98 Of the classes of 2016 2017 and 2018 94 attended a four year college and 98 of graduating seniors from the Class of 2013 and 2014 completed college in five years or less Weston features small class sizes a wealth of curricular and co curricular opportunities including a wide array of athletic artistic and performing arts programs and a unique campus containing all four schools thereby maximizing the connections among and between students and educators across all grade levels The schools are a significant factor in quality of life real estate values and the Town s appeal to new residents The Town Survey responses indicated that our schools were a major factor in attracting over 80 of our newer residents to Town Graduation 2019 Westport News Weston Plan of Conservation Development 15

Our Challenges Providing a superior school system and high quality Town services does not come without cost This is amplified by the fact that Weston has virtually no commercial tax base For comparison 93 of Weston s tax base is residential properties compared to a State average of 79 As a result Weston taxes are high The per capita tax levy is 6 520 for 2017 which is well above the State average of 2 872 and the 2nd highest in the State As of 2017 it also has the 3rd highest mill rate of surrounding towns In the Town Survey Westonites were asked to name Weston s three greatest challenges going forward Finances particularly taxes housing prices and housing values and attracting new and retaining current residents topped the list Notably however the Town itself is in excellent financial condition and maintains a AAA bond rating giving it the flexibility if necessary to address unforeseen developments The homogeneous nature of our housing stock presents challenges to attracting new residents and retaining aging residents Not everyone may wish to maintain a home and two acres of land during different life phases As previously discussed Weston lacks a cohesive Town Center with poor connectivity between the commercial center the schools Town Hall and the library The Town also lacks safe bicycle connectivity to promote active transportation and recreation Finally Weston faces infrastructure challenges as elements of the school campus age In particular the Town Weston Public School annex has reached its useful life and the current Middle School will need significant refurbishing in the near future In addition our senior citizens have expressed a desire for an expanded senior center as evidenced by a Space Planning Analysis dated October 26 2018 That analysis recommended expansion of the Senior Center a different setting for the Center and an increase in available parking American Community Survey 2016 Weston Town Survey 2018 16 Weston Plan of Conservation Development

What do we want While its residents are generally quite satisfied with the quality of their lives in Weston they have expressed a clear desire for improvements Weston residents want more amenities to be offered in Town Center as evidenced by a significant majority 71 of Town Survey respondents Respondents favor improved pedestrian access and enhanced biking opportunities Weston residents want to be responsible stewards of the Town s natural resources and to preserve its history Town Survey responses indicated that some of the most important components of Weston residents quality of life are its schools and services which should be maintained at high levels into the future This Plan maintains and enhances those aspects of Weston s character that contribute to its high quality of life while being responsive to evolving needs of the community and environment by Envisioning managed and incremental growth in the Town Center to increase amenities for its residents civic pride and community interaction Advocating for the protection of open space natural resources and water quality Encouraging Town infrastructure that improves safety and opportunity for pedestrians and bicyclists Exploring avenues to improve housing choices Supporting a more sustainable future Continuing to provide a high quality of life through Town services This Plan will guide the conservation and development of the Town for the next 10 years It balances the preservation of the existing community while embracing managed growth Weston is a unique community with extraordinary resources While the Plan is not a legally binding document it is the Commission s hope that the Plan guides Weston s development and conservation efforts in a manner that preserves and protects the things that make Weston a remarkable place to live It is also our hope that the Plan will assist Weston in meeting many of its challenges creatively and decisively 5k Race Weston Today Weston Plan of Conservation Development 17

How do we get there This Plan is intended for the next decade and beyond and includes clear attainable and actionable items recognizing that 1 the Commission can only recommend and facilitate change 2 some of our goals will be aspirational some will be achieved and some will change as circumstances vary from our present day reality Set forth below are our recommendations regarding the physical and economic development of Weston Goal 1 Create a Town Center that fosters community interaction and promotes a high quality of life Our residents clearly favor a more vibrant Town Center offering more amenities better pedestrian access and improved safety crossing Weston Road without changing the fundamental character of the Town Amenities favored by the public include food services small medical offices and a community center Objectives Complete Funded Projects Weston has received grant funding from the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program LOTCIP and the Connecticut Community Connectivity Grant Program CCCGP The projects funded by these grants will begin constructing the much needed sidewalk network in the Town Center It will also provide traffic relief on Weston Road at the entrance to School Road by improving that intersection This includes creating a 150 foot right turn lane on the northbound side of Weston Road s approach to School Road and a dedicated left turn for southbound traffic onto School Road building a bump out on the southbound side to relieve congestion and replacing the traffic light and improving its timing Implement the Sidewalk Master Plan The funded projects mentioned above are the initial phase of the Town s recently created Sidewalk Master Onion Barn Noroton 18 Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Pedestrian Connection Plan Weston Plan of Conservation Development 19

Plan Additional phases include sidewalk improvements on Norfield Road and Old Hyde Road in between Norfield Road and Lords Highway and a path around Bisceglie Park The Town is actively pursuing grants to fund these phases In addition the Town should consider extending sidewalks north on Route 53 to Godfrey Road and on Godfrey Road to the Lachat Farm and south from Town Center to the Historical Society on Route 57 Implement Elements of the Master Plan for Town Center A key component of the Plan is our Town Center Master Plan It is our opinion that we should expand our definition of Town Center beyond the current commercially zoned shopping center area Consider relocating the Onion Barn to Norfield Road In order to facilitate development in the Town Center the Commission intends to adopt after appropriate public input obtained in public hearings changes to its zoning regulations that will permit commercial development to occur on both sides of Weston Road extending from the current commercial area on one side and the bus depot on the other to and across the intersection of Weston Road and Norfield Road to include the properties on all four corners of that intersection The Commission will also consider expanding housing choices within the Town Center area and further west on the north side of Norfield Road In the latter case our primary goal would be to MMI was engaged to conduct a study of that expanded area and its potential for development and to present us with a Town Center Master Plan containing specific recommendations for the future of that area After considering the results of the Town Survey conducting two Future Village District public workshops and conferring with the Commission and Town in Weston Town Center leadership MMI made a series of recommendations regarding Town Center4 that are summarized below Reconfigure the existing Town Center commercial area create sidewalk connectivity within the Center as well as across Weston Road Move the function of the school bus depot from its current location and repurpose the existing bus depot building Rezone the Town Center to allow for commercial uses and expanded housing choices Encourage the development of commercial areas on the four corners of the intersection of Weston Road and Norfield Road Construct new sidewalks throughout the enlarged commercial area Increase available parking areas to be consistent with future uses Create a greenspace between the existing bus depot and the Onion Barn on that side of Weston Road to provide a community gathering space 4 The complete Town Center Master Plan is contained in Appendix C 20 Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Weston Town Center Recommended Master Plan Weston Plan of Conservation Development 21

facilitate senior friendly housing Finally the Commission intends to rezone the approximately 7 acre undeveloped parcel contiguous to the commercial zone as an additional commercial area We intend to achieve this zoning change by creating a Village District encompassing the Town Center area as depicted on page 20 Using this approach the Commission can control the nature of the development by imposing enforceable guidelines on any development in that area including architectural design features Concerns were raised that additional commercial development in the Town Center would increase traffic along Norfield Road Weston Road and at the intersection of School Road This led the Commission to request that MMI conduct a traffic impact study of that area This study considered the planned improvements to be funded through the LOTCIP grant at Weston Road and School Road as well as a full build out of the Town Center Master Plan within the next 30 years The traffic study analyzed the existing level of service at the intersections of Norfield Road and Weston Road and that of School Road and Weston Road Using a 30 year time horizon the study found that conditions would be improved at the intersection 22 Weston Plan of Conservation Development with School Road with the LOTCIP enhancements At the intersection with Norfield Road an already poor level of service may worsen However based on projected annual increases in traffic volumes alone these conditions are projected to worsen over the next 30 years regardless of development Fortunately the remedies for this projection are likely to be rather non invasive such as additional striping or minor widening The complete MMI traffic study can be found on the Town s website While the Commission cannot compel the following changes we strongly urge the Town and the Board of Education to move the school bus depot and the Town to repurpose the existing bus depot as well as create the greenspace recommended by MMI In addition we will recommend to the Town that it consider moving the Onion Barn and enhancing parking as provided in the MMI report Increased signage both at major entry points to Weston and at the boundaries of our Town Center is necessary to help differentiate Weston as a unique community It will also alert passers by when they are entering Weston s commercial and municipal zone Such signage should identify the location of our principal municipal services and facilities to make them more readily available to the public

Goal 2 Preserve small town character natural resources and open spaces Open space is generally defined as natural and humaninfluenced landscapes that remain relatively undisturbed Open space may consist of several land categories ranging from pristine preserves of high ecological significance to active recreational trails and playgrounds With approximately 29 of Weston s land as open space these areas provide recreational opportunities ensure water resource protection and serve conservation purposes The importance of open space to a town like Weston cannot be overstated It is integral to our character and limits density in a manner that is critical to the sustainability of our aquifers Weston s open space provides many benefits to our community direct and indirect short and long term Varied recreation areas including ball fields scenic trails and protected open space contribute to Weston s character and quality of life Weston s open spaces range from large preserves such as Devil s Den 1 746 acres most of which are in Weston and Trout Brook 730 acres to small playgrounds and parks such as Keene Park on River Road These provide a place for recreation exercise personal revitalization and socialization They also protect underground water resources and allow natural habitats to remain intact and ecologically healthy The Commission supports the current policy of preserving our open space and properly husbanding our natural resources as well as policies that enhance our ability to sustain and improve our environment We generally support the sustainability principles advocated by our Town s Select Committee on Sustainability see Our People Those sustainability principles include efforts that encompass public and private property to affect siting and landscape water protection and efficiency energy and atmosphere materials and resources indoor environmental quality and innovation and sustainable initiatives We must practice conservation of resources if we wish to preserve the character of Weston and protect our environment including our trees from natural and manmade hazards This would involve the avoidance of clear cutting of trees in connection with new construction and enforcement by the Conservation Commission the Board of Selectmen and the Commission of their regulations protecting our environment including those that control development in special flood hazard areas These efforts could also include measures such as sustainable stormwater management practices to meet environmental challenges Weston residents indicated in the Town Survey that they favor retaining open space in Town where it currently exists but do not generally support expansion of that space through purchases by the Town They wish to preserve the rural character of Town and its natural resources parks and other recreational areas Please see Appendix E for implementation guidelines relating to sustainability initiatives in Town that are mentioned in this Plan Objectives Maintain the Quality and Utility of Existing Open Spaces Approximately 29 of land in Weston is devoted to open space and recreation These lands not only contribute to the clean air and water in Weston but also to the rural perception of the community Looking toward the future the Town should continue to maintain these spaces and the recreational facilities in them Foster Open Space Connectivity and Wildlife Corridors Linking open space increases ecological benefits and enhances habitats for wildlife Weston should continue to be involved in regional open space programs like the Aspetuck Land Trust s Green Corridor and the Pollinator Pathway Collaborate with Public and Non Profit Partners to Protect Environmentally Sensitive Areas Non profit entities own most of the protected open space in Weston The Town should continue to communicate and collaborate with these parties to protect lands with high ecological value and to foster appropriate conservation Reduce Stormwater Runoff and Non point Source Pollution to Preserve and Improve Water Quality Weston must comply with State and Federal standards to reduce pollutant discharge from its stormwater system including the Municipal Separate Stormwater System MS4 The Town should continue to implement and maintain its current Stormwater Management Plan The Stormwater Management Plan identifies control measures to prevent and or treat polluted runoff discharged into Connecticut s water bodies Groundwater Quality Nearly all of Weston s population uses wells and relies on the high quality of the groundwater As of 2019 there is one Level A Aquifer Protection Area as defined by CTDEEP in the southwest corner of Weston The Commission recommends that the Westport Weston Health District consider suggestions that would further encourage the public to maintain the high quality of Weston s well water Weston should encourage its citizens to minimize the use of toxic pesticides herbicides and fertilizers that leach into ground water The Sustainability Committee should in cooperation with the Westport Weston Health District articulate for the public best practices to preserve clean water in accordance with CT DEEP guidelines Protect Our Native Trees Native trees provide critical habitat for our local wildlife and are well suited to thrive in our area with minimal intervention needed Weston should consider requiring Weston Plan of Conservation Development 23

that all new trees planted on Town property be native Commit to Native Plants The Sustainability Committee should educate the public to create community guidance for landscape design that minimizes the use of pesticides and herbicides and promotes native naturalized landscapes This would include guidelines limiting use of pesticides and herbicides The Town should attempt to ensure that all new plantings on Town owned properties are at least 70 native species and prohibit planting of any non native invasive species The Sustainability Committee should educate the public regarding managing and removing existing non native invasive species mowing a return to meadow where turf is not needed no mow grass where turf is needed and letting leaves lie where they are in the fall and iii follow organic and IPM standards and practices Engage in Environmentally Friendly Land Management Town maintained landscapes and parks should where feasible be maintained with minimal fossil fuel powered equipment Where feasible the Town should i as equipment needs to be replaced move to electric powered mowers and blowers ii adopt low maintenance processes that are better for the environment such as less frequent Green Up Day 2018 Weston Today 24 Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Goal 3 Increase pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to enhance quality of life Weston has little in the way of public transportation As a result our residents are reliant on automobiles for their local transportation Therefore road maintenance and safety must be ongoing priorities for the Town Fortunately the Town with State funding has been able to spend significant resources to support those efforts The majority of respondents to the Town Survey believe that Weston had too few sidewalks and bike trails This is especially acute in the Town Center where few feel safe crossing the street and biking there Objectives Complete Funded Projects Implement Sidewalk Master Plan As previously mentioned the Town is pursuing grants to fund successive phases of the Sidewalk Master Plan Improving the sidewalk network is an essential component of increasing connectivity and quality of life Enhance Bicycle Pedestrian Connectivity Beyond the Sidewalk Master Plan other areas in Town should be examined to increase connectivity Areas to be explored for sidewalks include connections to Bisceglie Park Lachat Farm and the Historical Society The desire for biking on Routes 53 and 57 and Valley Forge Road was expressed at the Plan workshops This may warrant the committee of biking stakeholders further exploring options and recommendations for these ideas The LOTCIP and CCCGP funding mentioned previously will improve traffic flow and safety in the Town Center for pedestrians and motorists The implementation of these projects will catalyze momentum for extending the improvements to appropriate areas throughout Town Explore Valley Forge 2018 Weston Today Weston Plan of Conservation Development 25

Goal 4 Support and promote sustainability and resiliency In order to continue to preserve Weston s natural resources and to plan for the future sustainability and resiliency should be a key focus for the next 10 years With its willing and engaged citizenry Weston has the opportunity to become a leader in this arena Weston recently received a Bronze Certification from Sustainable CT The objectives below could bolster sustainability efforts and may push the Town into a higher certification tier Objectives Encourage Sustainable Waste Management Practices Weston operates its own Transfer Station which allows the Town a level of influence regarding waste management In addition to providing sustainable waste management education to the public the Town should explore expanding the scope of Transfer Station operations to accommodate composting and a Swap Shop where residents can leave reusable household items for use by others There are many successful models of Swap Shops such as the one in Wellfleet Massachusetts The Town may also wish to explore raising the per bag cost of disposal at the Transfer Station to encourage residents to reduce waste and compost at home The Town may wish to consider publicizing the availability of the transfer Station and the alternatives offered for disposal and recycling of household waste on the Town website The Town should plan to join HRRA a regional waste management group The Sustainability Committee should educate the public regarding best organic waste practices Strengthen Resiliency to Climate Change and Improve Disaster Preparedness Storms and other weather events are becoming increasingly more extreme To combat the damage these events can inflict on Town functions and facilities the Town should evaluate our existing infrastructure and where feasible modify them to improve our performance This may take the form among other projects of burying powerlines widening culverts or trimming and removing trees The Commission should continue to enforce its floodplain management regulations We also support the continuation of the Emergency Response Committee to assist in the protection of our citizens in the event of severe weather episodes and the continued implementation of the mitigation strategies identified in the regional Hazard Mitigation Plan Encourage Energy Efficiency and Green Energy Generation The Town should continue to support community efforts to increase public and private use of renewable energies The Town should analyze the best way forward As Town buildings are renovated and constructed energy conservation techniques for design and construction should be considered throughout the process To assure that the 26 Weston Plan of Conservation Development Town stays informed of best management practices active participation from the Select Committee for Sustainability should be encouraged and welcomed Continue Virtual Net Metering Program Weston currently participates in a Virtual Net Metering VNM program VNM gives participants energy billing credits for renewable solar electricity generated at a location not physically connected to the account Weston has recently partnered with the Town of Wilton in a twomegawatt program This program combines renewable energy cost savings and regional partnerships into one successful program This program should not only be continued but should also be expanded where feasible Incorporate Low Impact Development Best Practices into Zoning Low Impact Development LID involves designing and undertaking land development in a way that minimizes the effect of rainwater runoff and contaminants that pollute our water This may include where appropriate limiting the amount of impervious surfaces on a site encouraging the use of native plants in rain gardens and rainwater retention As the Commission reviews zoning for Town Center incorporating best practices for LID should be an emphasis Support Electric Vehicle Technology As Town vehicles reach the end of their natural lives and need to be replaced serious consideration should be given to a transition to electric vehicles This can include police cars school buses town maintenance vehicles shuttle buses and any other vehicles needed Additional consideration should be given to building infrastructure to support EV charging at the town Administration complex School Road and other strategic locations Support Toxin Free Building and Maintenance Materials Where feasible the Town should use i LEED certification guidelines when planning all Town construction projects to promote cost effective efficient and non toxic structures and ii eco friendly non toxic cleaners in municipal buildings The Sustainability Committee should encourage residents and business owners to use such non toxic cleaners as well

Goal 5 Improve housing options for all life stages and lifestyles while protecting existing community character The Commission recognizes that results from the Town Survey and Plan Workshops support more variation in Weston s housing stock including the addition of more affordable housing and senior friendly housing The Commission has also heard some concern about the ability to sustain cluster housing and multi family housing from an environmental water usage and waste perspective These concerns need to be evaluated and will be addressed as new housing strategies are considered The State of Connecticut requires that the issue of affordable housing be addressed in each municipality s 10year plan Section 8 23 e 1 H The State legislature has also established an Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals Act commonly referred to as Section 8 30g to aid with development of affordable housing throughout the State While the requirements to qualify as affordable housing can be somewhat complex the simplified illustration below provides an example of how they can be applied The basic idea for a housing development to be affordable is that 30 of dwelling units in the development need to be made available by terms of the underlying deed to the property to persons with income equal to or less than 80 5 of the lesser of i the median income of State residents or ii median income in the Weston area The State median income which in 2017 the most recent available was 74 168 is less than the Weston area median income For a unit to be affordable persons and families should not be required to pay more than 30 of their income to rent or buy the unit 5 Example State median income 74 168 80 of median income 59 334 40 i e 0 8 x 74 168 30 of the above amount 17 800 32 i e 0 3 x 59 334 40 Therefore this person should not spend more than 17 800 32 per year which is less than 1 500 per month to live in an affordable unit Under Connecticut law when a municipality has fewer than 10 of its total housing units qualify as affordable developers who are denied requests to build affordable housing developments can appeal that decision In such cases regardless of the standards of the applicable local zoning regulations the municipality must demonstrate that the public health safety or welfare interests justify their denial of that proposed development The State has determined that Weston has seven units that qualify as affordable under Section 8 30g The State however in defining affordability for this provision does not include affordably priced dwelling units that are not deed restricted to require sale or rental at affordable levels in its count of affordable units There are a variety of unrestricted units in Weston that may otherwise serve as affordable homes for the Town s population One way to increase the number of affordable units in Town under Section 8 30g could be to encourage homeowners whose homes would be deemed affordable except for the lack of deed restriction to voluntarily add deed restrictions This This 80 number is reduced to 60 for half i e 15 of the units American Community Survey 2016 Weston Plan of Conservation Development 27

could be incentivized by a corresponding tax abatement In addition there are housing units in Weston that could be considered affordable utilizing the area median household income for Fairfield County In another part of its laws the State defines affordable housing as housing for which persons and families pay 30 or less of their annual income where such income is less than or equal to the area median income for the municipality in which such housing is located as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 8 39a The area median income for a family of four in Weston would be 114 300 Under this definition a Weston family of four with 80 of the median household income i e 91 440 should not spend more than 27 432 per year or approximately 2 286 per month to live in an affordable housing unit Our zoning regulations have permitted small accessory apartments and roomers and boarders within the principal or main dwelling since the 1960s A number of these units may serve as affordable dwelling units for the Town s residents Weston can in a planned manner preserve its existing affordable housing and increase the percentage of affordable housing and thus work toward meeting the State goal Recommendations from the State include requiring a minimum of 10 affordable units in multifamily housing providing for a greater variety of housing options as part of mixed use development areas expanding access to affordable housing suitable for retirees and the elderly and increasing access to Connecticut Housing Finance Authority CHFA mortgages to expand access to homeownership Weston residents are generally in favor of our current two acre residential and agricultural zoning regulations A majority of Town Survey respondents however were concerned about the lack of diversity in housing options in Town noting that there is little in the way of affordable or senior housing options Allowing a diversity of housing options would create housing attainable for Weston s workforce and seniors The Commission can continue to permit the creation of accessory apartments within existing homes Within Town Center there is the opportunity to allow for the development of more housing options such as mixeduse development or single family homes including senior friendly housing whether standalone or attached 28 Weston Plan of Conservation Development Another option is to explore open space also known as cluster subdivisions in Town Approximately 63 of participants in the Plan Workshops indicated that they would welcome such exploration Development outside of Town Center beyond the current two acre single family housing approach would however require a significant analysis of the effect of such development on the Town s resources Objectives Improve availability of quality attainable housing for Weston s workforce and senior population The Town Survey and Plan Workshops showed a clear appetite for exploring how to allow for more housing choices in Weston especially in the Town Center Over the next decade the Commission should work to improve housing diversity that is in harmony with Weston s character and protects its natural resources To that end the Commission will review the impact of several zoning strategies including the analysis of detached accessory apartments and in the Town Center allowing singlefamily homes attached or unattached on smaller lots and allowing second floor apartments These strategies received a majority of positive reactions from participants in the Town Survey and workshops Attendees also supported the idea of exploring the possibility of open space or cluster subdivisions in the remainder of Town It may be worth reexamining this latter topic before the next Plan

Goal 6 Maintain Town services and plan for future trends Weston residents are overall very satisfied with the services provided by the Town There is also broad support for sharing services of various types apart from Town Hall services and police services Sharing these services with other towns will be a long term process and may warrant additional study Like those of many Connecticut communities Weston s population is aging The Town provides a variety of services that affect seniors including a Senior Center that occupies part of the Hurlbutt Elementary School To address the needs of seniors who would like to see the Senior Center upgraded and relocated the Town should explore creating a community center with broader usage and include provisions for senior use As mentioned schools are identified as Weston s greatest asset an indication that we are quite satisfied with the quality of public education offered by the Town This will remain a priority going forward Collaborate with the Board of Education for facility planning Weston Public Schools recently completed Phase 1a of the School Master Plan As of this writing the next phase is underway to evaluate three school alignment options This may affect the Senior Center and the Town Center Collaboration on the subsequent phases will be key to reaching a mutually beneficial plan for the future of these facilities The Town has established a Facility Optimization Assessment Committee to make recommendations regarding Town facilities generally including school buildings Anticipate future Town needs regarding new facilities and programs The Commission has already approved a new addition to the public library as well as needed upgrades of our police and EMT facilities both of which will enhance our Town services for our current and future residents Other services and facilities should be examined as needed to ensure that they are meeting demand and providing high quality service Objectives Ensure the built environment is accessible to anyone regardless of age disability or other factors Ensuring accessibility to public spaces makes Weston welcoming to everyone It is also critically important especially as Weston ages As the Town renovates and builds new facilities and infrastructure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is necessary Evaluate and explore opportunities to improve communications infrastructure Trends indicate that more people are opting to work partor full time from home To accommodate this desire communications infrastructure should be upgraded to keep Weston competitive with other communities and provide a vital service to residents To that end the Town should prepare for the rollout of 5G service and other subsequent innovations which will increase internet connection speeds connectivity and phone service quality Exploring opportunities to upgrade extend and open the Nutmeg Network to private connections should also be considered in the coming decade Curb Cut KFM Engage with neighboring communities regarding the sharing of services While the majority of Weston s services received high marks in the Town Survey some were underutilized It may benefit Weston to consider combining these services with neighboring towns to improve service quality and save money Weston Intermediate School Noroton Weston Plan of Conservation Development 29

Future Land Use Plan The Future Land Use Map see page 31 reflects the Town s vision and goals for desirable future development over the next decade The map depicts appropriate locations for and relationships between general categories of use and intensity ranging from priority areas for economic development and the creation of housing opportunities to low density rural residential lands The Future Land Use Plan graphically represents the general outcomes anticipated from implementation of the strategies contained in this Plan Due to its generalized nature there may be inconsistencies between the uses shown on this map and the actual use of individual properties The Future Land Use Plan does not encourage future development within natural hazard areas See Future Land Use Flood Hazard Areas Map see Appendix E The Future Land Use Plan looks very similar to the current Land Use Map However there is an important change for commercial uses Going forward commercial uses in Weston should focus on providing services and amenities for residents in a neighborhood style small storefronts that create a village feel and allow for community interaction The Future Land Use Map also offers the opportunity to provide new housing types in the newly defined Town Center 30 Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Weston Plan of Conservation Development 31

Water and Sewer With few exceptions Weston households schools government buildings and commercial establishments rely on wells Weston Water Supply serves approximately 100 people Aquarion Water Company serves multiple towns including small sections of southern Weston There is no sewer service in Weston with the exception of Weston Schools which use a closed Advanced Treatment Sewer System ATS for on site disposal In 1979 Weston entered into an agreement to participate in the area Sewer Avoidance Program pursuant to the State Public Act 78154 as a part of the federal Clean Water Act The steps taken by the Town to comply with the requirements of the program include the adoption of a heat pump ordinance an erosion and sediment control regulation and ongoing testing of water quality New England GeoSystems 32 Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Consistency with Regional and State Plans Chapter 126 Section 8 23 of the Connecticut General Statutes requires that local 10 year plans take into account the State Conservation and Development Policies Plan and note any inconsistencies While a draft update to the State Plan was completed in 2018 it has not yet been adopted by the Connecticut General Assembly Therefore the 2013 2018 State Plan was reviewed Generally Weston s Plan is consistent with the State s six growth management principles as described in the following table The State Plan classifies land into priority funding areas protected lands conservation areas and balanced priority funding areas These land use categories are shown on the following Locational Guide Map see page 34 Overall the Locational Guide Map aligns well with the Future Land Use Plan in this Plan Priority development areas identified in the Weston Plan are generally recognized in the State s plan as priority funding areas including the Town Center Because the State uses larger Census Block Groups as the building blocks of its Locational Guide Map the State s priority funding areas spill over into the adjacent low and rural density residential areas Weston s Future Land Use Plan contains a higher level of detail and concentrates development within the Town Center while largely preserving the surrounding residential neighborhoods Balanced priority funding areas recognize both conservation and development objectives Priority funding areas are generally supportive of development It should be noted that the proposed 2018 2023 Locational Guide Map significantly converts balanced priority funding areas in rural and low density residential areas to conservation areas which better corresponds with the objectives of this Plan The State s priority conservation areas are concentrated within the public water supply watershed The Regional Plan of Conservation and Development was developed by the Western Connecticut Council of Governments WestCOG and adopted in 2020 The goals of the Weston POCD align well with the goals of the Regional POCD specifically regarding stormwater management communications infrastructure renewable energy affordable housing historic preservation and tourism water supplies and the protection of open space and forests These areas of agreement may enable future opportunities for collaboration between the Town and the Region Weston Plan of Conservation Development 33

CT State POCD 2013 2018 Locational Guide Map Priority Funding Areas PFA 34 Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Appendices Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Appendix A The Process The Commission began its planning process in 2018 by soliciting bids from consultants to help it meet its obligation under Connecticut law to produce the Plan After reviewing the proposals and conducting interviews the Commission chose as its consultant MMI to perform the necessary research interviews studies and initial drafting of the Plan The Commission asked MMI to prepare a Master Plan for the Town Center area that reflected community input as well as the results of interviews with property owners in that area In addition MMI was asked to assess bicycle and pedestrian transportation conditions to make recommendations and articulate strategies to support bicycling and walking and to evaluate and make recommendations regarding certain Town owned properties As the project developed and in response to community concerns our request was modified to eliminate that last set of evaluations and recommendations for Town properties and instead substitute a traffic study in the Town Center area to further inform the Commission and the public regarding the effect of more commercial development in that area In late 2018 the Commission in consultation with the Town s Survey Committee conducted a comprehensive online survey publicized through postcards sent to each residence in Weston and signs posted strategically throughout Town as well as articles in our local online paper Weston Today The survey ran from November 15 to December 15 2018 The response to the Town Survey was quite impressive as we received 2 675 responses from a potential total of approximately 6 800 registered voters in Town a response rate of over 30 that provided a very accurate guide to the community s opinions and objectives The results of the Town Survey can be found in Appendix B The feedback received helped MMI create exercises for a series of public community workshops Two workshops focused on Town Center and two spoke to the remainder of Town In April and May 2019 MMI led Town Center workshops The Discovery Session workshop in April 2019 was attended by over 120 Town residents and an online version of the workshop was also available for those who could not make it to the in person workshop The focus of this workshop was to determine what residents would like to see in the opportunity areas within the Town Center as well as to expound on traffic and pedestrian issues identified in the Town Survey Weston Plan of Conservation Development At the second workshop MMI presented two example concepts of how the Town Center could develop if different standards and strategies were employed The intention was to build consensus about what the goals for the Town Center should be and what kind of look and feel would unify the space In this workshop participants indicated their design preferences and discussed different configurations of buildings They were also given the opportunity to do so online In fall 2019 MMI led two more workshops The first was focused on open space and natural resources pedestrian and bicycle connectivity sustainability and housing The second reported back on the results of the first fall workshop received feedback on draft objectives and pointed the way forward for the completion of the Plan In addition MMI prepared and delivered to the Commission data analyses contained in Appendix D as well as a Weston Town Center Master Plan that is included here as Appendix C Finally the Commission in addition to coordinating with the Town s First Selectman and Town Administrator invited the Chairs of the following Boards and Commissions to share their perspectives with the Commission the Conservation Commission the Board of Education the Historic District Commission the Commission on Aging the Police Commission the Parks and Recreation Commission the Select Commission on Sustainability and the Beautification Committee M Wirtenberg

Appendix B Town Survey Report Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Appendix C Town Center Plan Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Appendix D Existing Conditions Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Appendix E Map Implementation Guidelines Relating to Sustainability Weston Plan of Conservation Development

Weston Plan of Conservation Development 41

Appendix F Transportation Improvements Maps Figures Weston Plan of Conservation Development