BY DIRK PERREFORT
Hearst Connecticut Media
After more than a decade of planning and discussions, Bethel town officials hope to have a plan in place later this year for a revitalized downtown.
Economic Development Director Janice Chrzescijanek recently announced that the funding is in place and a consultant has been hired to move forward with a proposed transit-oriented design district that will encompass about 130 acres of industrial property surrounding the town”™s downtown train station. The consultants, she said, will also review the remainder of the downtown as well as part of a study that includes an economic and market analysis for the area.
“In the end, we decided that any new development that happens has to coordinate with and help support and grow the existing downtown,” Town Planner Steve Palmer said. “The goal of the project has always been to strengthen our existing downtown while maintaining its historic character for sustainable future growth.”
- City Planner Steve Palmer points out the area proposed near the Bethel train station for redevelopment as a transit-oriented district. Photo by Michael Duffy
Town officials have secured $250,000 for the effort, which includes a $100,000 state grant and money from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which is funded with state dollars. Earlier this month, the town selected Miami-based DPZ Partners out of more than a dozen bids to conduct the work. DPZ, whose bid came in at $234,000, is an urban renewal firm that also has offices in Washington, D.C., and Germany.
“DPZ met all the criteria we were looking for,” Palmer said. “We believe they have the kind of experience that”™s needed that will make for an implementable plan by the end of the process.”
Chrzescijanek said the process will include an economic and market analysis of the proposed zone and remainder of the downtown as well as a review of the water and sewer availability and transportation. A branding effort for the downtown will also be included and a set of proposed zoning regulations that could be implemented.
The idea for the transit district calls for the rezoning of industrial property surrounding the train station into higher density mixed use developments that include both residential and commercial components in a pedestrian-friendly area. The majority of property owners within the proposed district have been supportive of the plans.
DPZ has also hired its own set of specialists for the project, including Gianni Long Associates, who will work on community outreach efforts to gather public input as part of the process.
Both Chrzescijanek and Palmer stressed that public input is crucial to the process to create a meaningful plan that will work for the town and residents can have ownership of.
Chrzescijanek said public meetings will be held in October as well as a weeklong series of workshops in November that will allow residents to voice their concerns and ideas for the project.
“Residents will not only have the opportunity to see the analysis that has been completed at that point, the consultants will also be able to show the residents, in real time, what their ideas will look like if incorporated into the plan.”
The hope is to have the work completed within the next seven months, she said.
“It”™s really important to us that town residents have a voice in this process,” said Palmer. “We realize there are a lot of people out there who are curious about the plans and anxious about what the future might hold. Our hope is that by having an inclusive process we can provide residents with some level of comfort and certainty about how the town will develop in the future. If we don”™t take proactive steps now to plan for the future then we are doing a disservice to the community.”
Hearst Connecticut Media includes four daily newspapers: Connecticut Post, Greenwich Time, The Advocate (Stamford) and The News-Times (Danbury). See newstimes.com for more from this reporter.
