The Winchester Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) is the roadmap indicating what the Town's natural resources are and what is to is to be done to identify areas for development and areas of scenic beauty or historic importance to be preserved.

The POCD is a complex document that, done properly, includes the best thinking of experienced planners, the Town residents, boards and commissions, and takes great effort and expense to create.

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has the responsibility of updating the Plan every ten years. Because of the involvement of P&Z in the large Aurora Rosa projects in addition to their usual busy schedule, and the lack of funds to pay for professional assistance, the P&Z volunteers have not been able to update the existing 1994 Plan.

In order to assist the Town with this important project, the HLWA Government Relations Committee has been able to obtain, at no cost to the Town, the participation of the University of Connecticut NEMO (Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials) staff. NEMO was created in the early 1990s to provide information, education and assistance to local land use boards and commissions on how they can accommodate growth while protecting their natural resources and community character. The Winchester Town Planner, Charles Karno, is heading up the Town partnership with NEMO.

NEMO offers a number of workshops that focus on municipal needs. The P&Z and NEMO have already had a workshop meeting on the approach to updating the Town's POCD.

Added urgency has been created because the State Department of Environmental Protection cited the lack of an updated POCD as one of the reasons they have not approved the Town's application to extend water and sewer lines along the Route 800 (Torrington Road) Enterprise Zone corridor, which would also serve the Aurora Rosa developments.

The Board of Selectmen has authorized the P&Z to expend $15,000 to acquire professional assistance in completing that part of the POCD covering the corridor; it is expected this evidence of good faith on the part of the Town will induce the DEP to remove their objections.

The 1994 Plan is available on the Town Planner's website at www.winchesterctdevelopment.com. Although somewhat out of date, the Plan offers relevant guidance that is intended to provide a pathway for our Town's leaders and commissions to follow.

The P&Z and/or Charles Karno would undoubtedly welcome any constructive comments by the Town's citizens on the updating of the Plan. If you prefer, we would be happy to pass on such comments; contact Mark Schrader at 860.738.9214 or mschrader9214@charter.net.